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Chichester Harbour Events - February

It's nearly half-term time, so get ahead of the game and book on to some of our great family events. Have a go at the colourful craft of felt making (16 Feb), or get our your hammer and workmate on the 18 Feb and make a bird box to take home. There are also the last of the bird watching walks and boat trips. Enjoy!

Sat 6 Feb    Top Of the Harbour Walk - Emsworth to Chichester
9.20 for 9.30am start / up to 6 hours for the walk
A 10 mile (16km) walk from Emsworth and finishing by the Cathedral in Chichester, passing through Prinsted, Nutbourne, Chidham, Bosham and Fishbourne along the way. Bring a packed lunch and snacks. The walk will finish in Chichester City centre where there are cafes, shops, bus stops and a train station close by. For public transport information please see our website for links.
Meet: The Square, Emsworth village centre. Train and bus stops close by. Parking in South Street and North Street car parks (pay and display).

Sun 7 Feb    Birds by Boat
Departs: Itchenor At: 10:30 Fare: £7 / £3.50
Come onboard for a 1½ hour trip on the Solar Heritage. A guide will help you identify the birds that spend the winter in Chichester Harbour. All tickets to be booked in advance on 01243 513275.

Sat 13 Feb   Bird Walk North Common
9.20 for 9.30am start / 1½ hours
A short stroll around North Common taking time to look for and identify the harbour birds. Dress warmly and bring binoculars. No dogs please.
Meet: in small free car park to North Common, Hayling island. From road bridge on to Hayling, take first left towards Northney Marina, follow road round past entrance to marina and hotel, shortly you will pass some houses on your left, look out for car park entrance (with height barrier) on your left.

Tue 16 Feb    Earth, Air and Water: Harbour Colours in Felt: Family Fun
10am / 3 hours
Firstly, a short stroll along the shoreline to collect some finds to inspire the colours for creating, back in the classroom, a work of art in wool felt. Wear old clothes and bring outdoor gear. Fee £3 per person to include materials and refreshments. BOOKING ESSENTIAL call 01243 512301.
Meet: Harbour Education Centre, Dell Quay. Roadside parking.

Wed 17 Feb    Little Cockles: Harbour Babies
10am / 1½ hours
A fun session for families with children up to 5 years old. Today we will be thinking about the harbour's babies including the birds and the trees. Some of this event will be outside so bring outdoor gear and a small bucket for any shoreline finds. Safety briefing 10am prompt.
Meet: Education Room upstairs at the Lifeboat Station, by kind permission of the RNLI. Off Bracklesham Road (entrance gate shared with Hayling Island Sailing Club), Hayling Island. Parking next to lifeboat station.

Wed 17 Feb    Solar Boat Trip: Harbour Nature
Departs: Itchenor At: 14:30 Fare: £7 / £3.50
Come onboard the Solar Heritage to learn more about this unique Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. All tickets to be booked in advance on 01243 513275.

Thur 18 Feb    Bird and Bat Boxes
10am / 1½ hours
As spring approaches we will be thinking of the birds beginning to nest in the gardens and the bats emerging from their winter hibernation roosts. Make a bat or bird box (or both) to put up in your garden. £4 per box made, payable on the day, but please phone the Harbour Office on 01243 512301 to reserve the number of kits you would like to make (it is possible to make two per person in the time allowed). Reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance. Bring a hammer and a workmate if you have them, if not use ours. Safety briefing 10am prompt.
Meet: Harbour Education Centre, Dell Quay. Roadside parking.

Sun 21 Feb    Last Birds by Boat for this Season
Departs: Itchenor At: 10:30 Fare: £7 / £3.50
Come onboard for a 1½ hour trip on the Solar Heritage. A guide will help you identify the birds that spend the winter in Chichester Harbour. All tickets to be booked in advance on 01243 513275.

LATEST CHICHESTER HARBOUR NEWS OUT NOW

The 2010 edition of the Chichester Harbour News & Guide is now available. This full-colour, 84 page annual magazine is packed with features for locals and visitors to the harbour.

This year's edition showcases over 80 colour photographs, many of which were entered into the 2009 Chichester Harbour Photography Competition. In addition features, interviews and suggestions for days out all highlight the importance of Chichester Harbour as one of England 's finest landscapes.

Local journalist Janet McMeekin met four people who are lucky enough to live within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. They all tell their own story and explain why the harbour is so special to them. Sandra Reidel took a trip around the harbour to investigate a number of ways in which the Conservancy has helped young ones to get out on the water. More experienced sailors will enjoy Keith Walker's exposition on how to use the harbour's currents to good effect when dinghy racing. History enthusiasts will enjoy the account of Arthur Ransome sailing in Chichester Harbour .

In addition there are updates on many of the Conservancy's projects including a seal tagging project and improvements to navigation in the harbour. Tourists and visiting yachtsmen will benefit from the navigational guidance and review of the harbourside villages. As always twelve months worth of tide tables are included, as is a useful map of the harbour area.

The Chichester Harbour News & Guide is funded by advertisers and a generous donation from the Friends of Chichester Harbour. This enables all 38,000 copies to be distributed free of charge. Boat owners registered with Chichester Harbour will receive a copy through the post. Copies are also available from local libraries, Chichester Tourist Office, the Harbour Office and other local outlets.

LIVING IN CHICHESTER HARBOUR AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY

Many people locally are unaware that they live in or near to a special, naturally beautiful area. A new project by Chichester Harbour Conservancy aims to raise awareness of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Residents and locals will be encouraged to learn more about the AONB and find out ways that they can help protect it now and for the future.

A recent visitors survey found that although 87% questioned were aware of the AONB designation, only 54% correctly identified Chichester Harbour as the nearest AONB. When asked who managed Chichester Harbour AONB, 42% named CHC but another 42% didn't know.

To raise the profile of the AONB & the work of the Conservancy a 12-page booklet has been produced. It will be delivered to 35,000 homes in and around Chichester Harbour AONB. The full-colour booklet gives an introduction to what an AONB is, why Chichester Harbour is special and a map so people can identify how close their home is to the AONB. Further sections feature the work of the Conservancy and then give ideas for how you can get involved.

Ali Beckett, Publicity Officer said, ‘We are privileged to have this beautiful area on our doorstep. It is one of Britain 's finest landscapes and we want everyone in the area to appreciate how special it is and to find ways to care for it into the future.'

The booklet will be delivered by Royal Mail over an eight week period. It contains a feedback form to gauge how useful the information has been and gives readers the opportunity to win a trip a Solar Heritage, solar-powered boat trip.

The cost of the project has been met by the Chichester Harbour Sustainable Development Fund, the Friends of Chichester Harbour and Chichester Harbour Trust.

Top Tips for Living in or near an AONB

What can you do to look after this special area for all to enjoy now and into the future? Here are a few tips that are featured in the Living in An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty booklet.

•  Look after our footpaths – public footpaths are only for people on foot. Our coastal paths are particularly vulnerable to erosion and are not designed for safe use by bikes or horses.

•  Garden for wildlife – make space in your garden for a bird or bat box. Create compost heaps and leave dead wood piles for our insect friends.

•  Plant native species – to attract wildlife and maintain the character of the AONB. For hedges use species such as Holly, Blackthorn or Hawthorn.

•  Buy local produce – support our farmers by buying local produce from farm shops and farmer's markets.

•  When planning an extension or improvements to your property, consult the AONB Design Guidance to think about suitable materials and colours.

•  Join the Friends of Chichester Harbour to lend your support to protecting one of the finest landscapes in England .

Harbour Users Urged Not to Disturb Harbour Birds

The ongoing freezing weather is proving to be a challenge for the birds and wildlife of Chichester Harbour.

Around 50,000 birds are in Chichester Harbour at this time of year. Frozen mudflats and snow lying on the fields around the harbour is making it difficult for many birds to feed. Frozen water on ponds and ditches is affecting small ducks, coots and moorhen who are being forced to search further afield for food.

Chichester Harbour Conservancy is urging all those using Chichester Harbour not to disturb the waders and wildfowl. With minimal food supplies available, and an increased energy requirement just to keep warm many of the birds are in danger of death if they have to expend unnecessary energy.

Ed Rowsell, the Conservancy's Conservation Officer at Chichester Harbour said, ‘If you are out walking around Chichester Harbour, please do not disturb birds. Making them fly up unnecessarily can be fatal for birds that are malnourished. Please keep your dog on a lead near flocks of birds in and around the Harbour.'

REDUCED DEPTHS CHICHESTER BAR

1. Mariners are advised that a bathymetric survey of Chichester Bar undertaken 9 December 2009 shows a least depth of 1.2m below Chart Datum.

2. Mariners are reminded of our standing advice that Chichester Bar is periodically dredged to 1.5m below Chart Datum. However through gradual accretion and after severe gales the depth can vary markedly and it is then prudent to assume a least depth of 0.8m below Chart Datum.

3. The latest survey is available to view on the Conservancy's website: www.conservancy.co.uk

JQ Davis OBE
Manager & Harbour Master
14 December 2009

Footpath Surveying

Chichester Harbour Conservancy has commissioned a team of surveyors from Worthing Borough Council to carry out a survey of coastal footpaths in Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The survey will tell us which paths are most at risk from erosion, and will form the basis of an ongoing maintenance programme.

Small Boat Auction

Chichester Harbour Conservancy have a number of small boats available for disposal by sealed tender. The catalogue can be downloaded  from the Conservancy website. 

If you wish to bid on any of the vessels, complete the form at the end of the catalogue with the lot(s) of the vessel(s) you are interested in and your offer price, along with your contact details. Return the form to Chichester Harbour Conservancy, Harbour Office, Itchenor, Chichester PO20 7AW in an envelope marked 'TENDER FOR BOAT AUCTION'. Any envelopes which are not clearly marked will be void.

All vessels listed for disposal may be in need of attention and repair and are sold on an 'as seen' basis with no guarantee.

The Conservancy reserve the right to withdraw any craft up to the final date of the sale.

CLOSING DATE FOR TENDERS: MIDDAY 30th OCTOBER 2009

1. General
Mariners are advised that a capital dredge of the approach channel to Birdham Pool will commence Tuesday 6 October 2009. The dredged material will be transported by barge for disposal at the Nab Spoil Grounds

2. Vessels
Dredging operations will be undertaken by an 18m spud leg barge, with a backhoe digger, call sign JML 60. This vessel will be towed to site by the 14m Tug Glenesk, prior to the start date.

The dredged material will be loaded into a 44m self-propelled, split hopper barge, call sign Needles, for transport to the disposal site.

All vessels will display the lights and shapes prescribed by the collision regulations and maintain a listening watch on VHF channels 16 and 14

3. Mooring
JML 60 will moor on its spud legs adjacent to the Birdham Pool approach channel.

Needles will moor to a buoy laid for the purpose in the Fairway anchorage in approximate position: 50° 48´.55 N, 00° 52´.70 W.

Alternatively Needles may at times anchor in the Emsworth Channel in approximate position: 50° 48´.1 N, 00° 56´.5 W, and will also moor alongside JML 60 at Birdham.

4. Caution
Both of these vessels will be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre and mariners are requested to give them a wide berth. This will be particularly important in the confined waters of the Itchenor Reach.

5. Cancellation
These works are expected to continue until the end of October, subject to favourable weather, and a further notice will be issued on completion.

JQ Davis OBE
Manager & Harbour Master
1 October 2009

Chichester Harbour Mooring List Now Open
Are you looking for a mooring for 2010?
If so, you can register your interest now