Chidham and Hambrook Village - everyday

Chidham and Hambrook - Our Environment

Environmental News
Dec 09
Creating new ponds at Cobnor Point - work begins and it's muddy!
The next stage of habitat creation at Cobnor Point has now started, with diggers and dumper trucks moving in for about 4 weeks. The conditions are somewhat damp and muddy, with some incredible squalls to contend with, but it could all be much worse, given the battering in other parts of the country recently!
New ponds are being created, mainly for water-voles, but a whole diversity of wildlife will benefit at the same time. In 2010 the ponds will settle down and all the plants will colonise around.  There will be a guided tour in the summer with Charlie Smith, the Environment's Agency's water vole expert (details to come later) when we'll be able to report on progress.
from l to r. 1 'New pond takes shape: 2 Greg, the archaeologist, liaises with the contractors and looks for more signs of bronze age settlements: 3 Interpretation boards are now in place on the footpath.
 top: The diggers roll in ...
above : Preparing for a pond at the South end of the site
Try this website
Eat the seasons aims to promote an understanding of food seasons. Each week it focuses on one food, which is currently in season, with facts, useful tips and recipe ideas.
See also our links page
March 11th 2009  - Dell Work Party
If you went down to the Dell this morning, you would have seen a group of around twenty volunteers and Harbour Conservancy Rangers giving those brambles a good thrashing - to improve the Dell for families and for wildlife
......or perhaps because it felt good.....
or perhaps for the coffee and biscuits .....
GREEN FOOT IS UP AND RUNNING
The community carbon foot print reduction project is underway with over 600 flyers delivered to every household in the parish

The flyers contain information about the need to reduce our carbon footprint and also what the Sustainability Group would like each of  us to do about it. The first stage is to have every household in the parish work out  their Carbon Footprint - full details are in the flyer but  this can be done online using the web site or you can call one of the  numbers on the flyer and have a paper questionnaire  dropped off to  you or one of the  Sustainability Group volunteers can pay a visit  and help you.
The project has been set up to help everyone reduce their energy use,  so an hour spent now could help save our beautiful environment and  save you a load of your hard earned cash.  The sooner the flyers are  completed and returned the sooner the real work can start so don't  delay, start counting  those light bulbs

June 15th
Transport Group Walk
A great Father's day midsummer walk around the village in company, enjoying our beautiful countryside...and ending in 'The Old House at Home'.
Lucky with the weather, too.

I came across a stag beetle crossing the road near Harbour Way. I helped it across the road .....and didn't think to take a photo!

Kicked myself all the way back to 'The Old House at Home'
Charlotte (ex Chidham Primary School) came over for the day and came on the walk.
Isn't Father's day great!
Thanks to Clare Smith and Nicky Bell for the idea, and for arranging it all.
Sustainability Network
Astronomy Evening - report.
Community
Carbon
Footprint
Audit
Do your own audit



Follow the story of a migrating Osprey from Africa to Scotland
(via Heathrow!)
Osprey's also pass through Chichester Harbour on their migration
Community
Carbon
Footprint
Audit

Launch Sat April 19th - report
Despite rather dismal weather over sixty people came. If you weren't there you can still join in.
Go to the 'Act on CO2' website
and do your own audit.
First (local) Cuckoo claimed - April 14th. Can anyone confirm, or claim an earlier hearing?
'Lambs at Cobnor'  
see more Photos 
April 6th - (Snow Sunday) Lambs at Cobnor:
Photo/report

Could there be Otters in Chidham?
From Lynda (18/8/07)
Hi there, re your country diary this month, John makes a comment about otters being extinct in Sussex (to his knowledge). I felt I must tell you that, a good few years ago, must be at least 4-5 years ago, driving along the main road at cut mill, opposite Newells  Lane, my husband and I stopped our car to allow what we were gobsmacked to see, was an Otter crossing the road! We sat and watched and waited for it, got a real good look, and it was definitely an Otter, sure as eggs is eggs, I'd stake my life on it.
Where it had come from, and where it was going to, is still a mystery. But it was there, large as life, moving like it had a purpose. I will never forget it, it was such a strange sight.

Advice about Fireblight (From Robin Yeld)
I had a visit from Paul Barnett recently. Paul is a tree grower and very knowledgeable person on all aspects of tree breeding, growing and pruning. He showed me the poster he received this week and also went on to show me the infection in my own garden. Fireblight is a bacterial disease that has been made a serious  problem this year by the unusual weather.
Initially he has recommended pruning each infected piece off and  burning the waste. Secateurs MUST be cleaned thoroughly inbetween  each cut.
Link to RHS advice on Fireblight

4000 trees to be planted in Chidham by the Chichester Harbour Conservancy over the winter.

2000 trees will be planted in the Chidham west tidebank area over the weekend Dec 9/10, with the rest in January. part of a 10,000 tree planting project..

Full story

Rangers Richard Townsley and Alastair Hearmon getting ready to plant thousands of new trees in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

DELL IMPROVEMENT SCHEME SECURED
The Harbour Conservancy, the Harbour Trust, the District Council, local residents and the Parish Council have worked together to secure a scheme for the improvement of the Dell to return it to a state where it is a important environmental habitat and a valuable leisure amenity for residents.

 

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