TRUST SECURES WOODLAND FOR CONSERVATION

The Chichester Harbour Trust is delighted to announce that it has secured six-acres of woodland at Westlands Lane in Birdham, known locally as Creek Copse.

Chairman Nick Backhouse said, “This represents the third property secured by the Trust just this year, taking our total land holding to 18 sites with over 385 acres, all within the Chichester Harbour National Landscape. Together, these success stories are helping secure the future of our unique landscape, both for people to enjoy and for wildlife to thrive. It has been a tremendous effort by the Trustees, our partners and our communities to raise all the funding needed to buy these special places, to ensure they will be protected forever.”

The site at Creek Copse is made up of six acres of woodland, established approximately 30 years ago and comprising native tree and shrub species including oak, beech, hazel and hawthorn. The site is already open to the public, accessed via a pedestrian gate from Westlands Lane and with a network of footpaths around the site. The previous owner wanted to ensure that the land would be protected forever and was delighted that the Trust was able to purchase the woodland for the benefit of the local community and for wildlife, providing a nature reserve for quiet enjoyment by the public.

The Trust plans to replace the front boundary fencing and gate to make it more accessible, and provide seating and signage to promote learning and enjoyment by local people about the wildlife found in the woods. Local volunteers will help to care for the woodland and keep the footpaths open, and practice traditional coppicing to maintain the hazel woodland.

Together with the two other recent important acquisitions at Chidham Harbour Nurseries and Birdham Church Field, this project helps to deliver the Trust’s goal of “Reversing the Decline” of the environment of Chichester Harbour, ensuring that the land is protected forever, allowing nature to thrive and providing green spaces for all to enjoy.

The Chichester Harbour Trust received contributions from two local grant-making bodies and eight individual donors to achieve its goal of securing Creek Copse. We are immensely grateful for all their support.

Anyone wanting to make a donation to support the Trust’s ongoing work can find more information on the Trust’s website at www.chichesterharbourtrust.org.uk

Image copyright Brian Bracher, Compass Aerial Photography.