For our September meeting we welcomed Clare Blencowe, who came to talk to us regarding the work of the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre (SxBRC). Clare has recently taken up the post of Record Centre Manager and gave us an enthusiastic insight into the importance of the data collected and its diverse uses. One of many local record centres around the UK they collect, manage and disseminate wildlife data, providing an information service for the whole of Sussex. The SxBRC is also part of the Association of Local Environment Record Centres and the National Biodiversity Network.

SxBRC works closely with many partners, including local planning authorities, government agencies, conservation bodies, water companies and other organisations. Through these relationships high quality environmental information can be made available to decision-makers in planning, land management and conservation across Sussex. To provide this valuable information the SxBRC is reliant on the local recording community in Sussex. Driven mostly by volunteers and enthusiasts who have taken the time to observe and identify the variety of species and habitat around us and then to enter this information into the SxBRC database via their on-line recording system. Some individuals find the time to record thousands of sightings and it is this tide of recorders that the SxBRC relies heavily on and is always keen to attract additional volunteers.

After a break for refreshments Tricia Hall delivered her Nature Notes and opened by informing us that the new boat in Sea Lane had been planted up with a variety of plants suited to coastal conditions. Swallows, House Martins, Brent Geese, Wagtails, Teals and Herons had all been sighted in and around Ferring. A Kingfisher and a Water Vole had been seen on the Rife near the Country Centre. Tricia concluded her talk by showing us some interesting photographs from her recent holiday on the Isles of Scilly.

Planning news followed with Ed Miller advising us that the planning application for a 4-bedroom detached house in Hangleton Lane had been refused by Arun DC although permission had been given for the caravan, gazebo etc. to remain. There has been no further news regarding the Goring Gap and Worthing BC are still opposed to any building on this site.

Michael Brown concluded the meeting with news of the Rampion Windfarm. The laying of cables in the East Worthing area should be complete by spring 2017. To minimise any damage to the chalk grassland Eon are to use a re-turfing machine. All 116 turbines should be installed by spring 2017 and the blades should all be attached by spring 2018.

For our July Group meeting Dr Geoffrey Mead from the University of Sussex talked to us about the ‘Quiet Corners of the Sussex Coast’. Dr Mead explained that Sussex has a varied coastline and in West Sussex the coast is low lying but in East Sussex there are bold cliffs of chalk and sandstone separated by sedimentary lowlands. The present coastline is very recent in origin and continues to evolve. In the past, coastal geomorphology linked to weather, seasons, coastal processes and tides, and the hand of man, have all contributed to dramatic changes in the position and configuration of the coast.

A few undisturbed sand dune and shingle habitats remain. Most of the surviving examples are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) such as West Wittering beach, Climping and Shoreham beach in West Sussex. East Sussex also has SSSI areas including Rye Bay, Rye Harbour, Camber Sands and Pett Level.

Many holiday homes were established along the Sussex coastline during the first half of the 20th century and although many were demolished during World War Two some have still survived. Many of the homes have been constructed from decommissioned railway carriages.

Dr Mead showed us photographs, taken in July and August, of some deserted beaches in East and West Sussex, proving that if you know where to look there are many ‘Quiet Corners of the Sussex Coast’.

In the second half of our meeting Tricia Hall delivered her Nature Notes and told us that the Rife is looking particularly attractive at the moment with Hog Weed, Great Willow Herb and Fleabane all in bloom. Tricia was pleased to say that Little Egrets, Herons, White Throat, Willow Warblers and a Kingfisher had been sighted. Also there have been 3 separate sightings of Water Voles.

News of planning issues followed with Ed Miller advising us that Peugeot had submitted a further planning application for an additional facility at their premises along the A259. A fresh planning application has been submitted for the Newview building in Ferring Street, similar in content to the original application but this time taking advantage of new Government guidelines.

Our Chairman, David Bettiss, opened the meeting with details of our Group winning ‘The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service’, the MBE for volunteer groups. David then went on to welcome Dr Dawn Scott, Assistant Head at Brighton University, and on her second visit to us, this time to talk, in her usual enthusiastic and informative way, about her work on The Urban Fox Project. Dr Scott began by informing us that by the year 2020 over 80% of people will live in an urban area and with population growth dictating greater land use change, wildlife faced new risks but also new opportunities. Few species can adapt but foxes, badgers and hedgehogs can compete and share habitat. In recent years press reports regarding attacks on humans in towns and cities by foxes have suggested that urban foxes have increased in number. It is possible that we are seeing more of them as urban foxes are becoming more accustomed to humans and getting braver, but there is no data to suggest an increase in population. The only major change that has occurred in urban fox populations over the past 30 years has been down to an outbreak of sarcoptic mange, a common disease of mammals, which severely reduced fox numbers in some areas. In 2012 Channel 4 launched ‘Foxes Live: Wild in the City’, an interactive natural history event which encouraged viewers to submit photographs via their smartphones and to contribute to natural history research by taking part in the largest ever urban fox survey.

After a break for refreshments Tricia Hall advised us that Salsify had appeared in her garden, probably from seeds spread by the wind. The boat of flowers situated at the end of Sea Lane had been demolished by a road traffic accident but there is a possible replacement offered by Lancing Parish Council. Tricia showed us photographs of a Painted Lady Butterfly sitting on the Thrift and Birds’-foot-trefoil and a bumble bee with full pollen sacs on a Sea Daisy along the Patterson’s Walk shingle beds. Also there is good shingle flora there including Mallow and Yellow Horn Poppies, which have the largest seed pods in Britain. Deadly Nightshade is growing along the west side of the Rife as well as the Common Spotted Orchid, Early Marsh Orchids but no Bee Orchids this year, also absent were dragon flies in the area.

To conclude the meeting Ed Miller advised us that the public toilets on Ferring Village Green and in the Bluebird Café car park may well be closed by Arun District Council. David Bettiss has written a letter of objection to Councillor Roger Elkins regarding this situation.

Our Member’s Meeting commenced this year with a talk from Clive Hope on ‘Birds at Goring Gap’. Clive began by telling us that already this year skylarks had been seen hovering overhead and were hopefully nesting among the crops. The numbers of these birds are in decline due to modern farming practices so it is reassuring to have them in the vicinity. Last October a short eared owl flew over the beach and was eventually chased off by a crow. Little Egrets, many types of gull and sandwich terns fishing for sand eels, were regular visitors. Brent Geese were sighted from October to March as well as many wading birds such as dunlin, grey plovers and oyster catchers, also Redshank had been seen in pools on the greensward. In August and September large numbers of Ring Plovers were spotted on the beach, well camouflaged against the shingle. Also sanderlings, small plump wading birds, have been seen rushing along the shoreline. Clive told us that according to a ‘Wetlands Bird Survey’ the Goring Gap area is of national significance for the many different bird species it attracts.

Sue Palmer followed with news that 30 members attended the last beach clean on 7th May. This time the weather was kind to the volunteers and altogether 15 bags of rubbish were collected. The beach clean scheduled for Saturday, 17th September will contribute to the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Nationwide Beach Clean and a comprehensive list of litter found will be submitted to their national survey statistics. The results from the 2015 survey showed that litter had increased and that wet wipes litter was up by 31% and balloons by 11%. The MCS are pushing for deposit return bottles and wet wipes to be flushable. Sue, together with Paula Curran, inspect the local footpaths in Ferring at 15 month intervals. They report any footpaths that have become overgrown to West Sussex County Council who then arrange to carry out the clearance of overhanging branches and brambles etc. Also broken stiles and steps are reported as well as very muddy areas. If some footpaths are impassable, fast track funding can be found for speedy repairs and for hard-core to be laid to improve the path surface.

Gregg Plenty gave a talk entitled ‘Every Cloud has a Silver Lining’ and attempted to cheer us by saying that although conservationists were always ready to depress us with news of everything being in crisis, there were many areas where climate change was beneficial to humans and the animal world. Greg highlighted a newspaper report in March of this year where the RSPB had stated that Climate Change had assisted more UK bird species than it had harmed. The dartford warbler, wren, robin and long tailed tit had all increased in number and most immigrant birds were staying longer. The growing season is now 29 days longer and bee orchids were more abundant. Greg pointed out that as a result of warmer air our energy usage goes down and although the hottest day of the year is getting hotter, the annual minimum temperature has become colder at night by 2% over the last 50 years. Greg left us with the thought that since the early 1980’s little egrets from Southern Europe have been enjoying the varied habitats in Ferring so at least these birds must think it is warmer.

Tricia Hall gave us an informative and interesting talk on Fish. Tricia explained that there are 2 types of fish; bony fish and cartilaginous fish. The bony fish has bones, a swim bladder, gill covers and scales and examples are sea bass, cod and haddock. The sea bass goes a long way out to sea and is covered in scales and a thin layer of skin. Its fins are the main propulsion; the dorsal fin has little bony structures and a pair of pectoral fins and all other fins help propel the fish forward. Behind the head are 4 pairs of gills these are where oxygen is extracted from the water. It has a large mouth with no teeth and a lateral line along its body for detecting other animals in dark water. The cartilaginous fish do not have bones but they do have skeletons and a back bone. An example of this type of fish is a lesser-spotted dogfish which has the usual fins but 5 gills and its mouth is underneath its body. Tricia ended her talk with news that a 20 foot long conger eel had been caught off the coast of Plymouth in Devon.

After tea Mike Hall’s beautiful film ‘Wildlife in Ferring Gardens’ was given a very welcome second showing and Ed Miller concluded the meeting with the news that the campsite proposal for part of the Goring Gap was likely to be refused as there were over 300 objections. The TRO to stop the overnight parking of unoccupied caravans and motorhomes along Marine Drive is likely to come into force soon.

To an audience of over 90 members David Plummer, a professional wildlife photographer, gave us an insight into his work during 2015. David’s extensive knowledge of animals and birds and their environment give him the essential ingredients for his breath-taking images, many of which feature in leading wildlife publications. David only photographs wildlife in the wild and studies the behaviour of a subject before heading off into the field. He has endless patience as he often waits for many hours in various hides or disguises awaiting the perfect shot. David showed us some beautiful images of kingfishers, small birds, foxes, badgers and waterfowl all taken from hides sited on land or in the water, and he is also passionate about a new local venture in owl conservation and protection.

Technology assists David’s job tremendously, as wherever he is in the world he can have instant communication and access to people and information. This is particularly useful as 4 to 6 months of the year David works overseas particularly in Brazil and Hungary and he also runs photographic trips to places such as Rwanda, Kenya and India to photograph the big cats such as cheetahs and leopards.

After a break for tea, a short AGM took place where the existing committee members were re-elected unopposed. The ever popular Nature Notes followed and Tricia Hall commented that the willow and blackthorn trees along the River Rife were growing well and also the willow stakes planted on the boundary of Ferring Country Centre were thriving. Tricia said the information board sited along Patterson’s Walk had been revamped and work on the board along the Rife will soon be complete. There have been sightings of stock doves, a green woodpecker, 2 great spotted woodpeckers and Tricia has enjoyed watching the antics of wood pigeons and fox cubs playing in her garden.

Ed Miller concluded the meeting with planning news and advised us that WSCC have requested a traffic study to be carried out in respect of the planning application submitted by the Kingsley Group earlier this year. The Andalucía Restaurant has submitted plans to extend its premises to accommodate an additional 30 covers. Ed was also pleased to announce that most of the motorhomes had moved from Marine Drive and the TRO was out for consultation to prevent motorhomes and towed caravans from parking between 10pm to 9am. The Bluebird café has been granted a new licence to allow the sale of alcohol unaccompanied by food (only beer and wine to be sold), although it will still remain a ‘food led’ business. The evenings will be reserved for pre-booked parties only.

At our March meeting an audience of around 75 keen members and visitors enjoyed an illustrated talk from Paul Stevens on Amphibians and Reptiles in Sussex. As chairman of the Sussex Amphibians and Reptiles Group and with his other role as Grounds Manager at Arundel WWT, Paul came well equipped to educate us in his usual relaxed and informative manner. Paul began by concentrating on amphibians and reptiles that are found in the wet habitat of Arundel WWT, namely grass snakes, common lizards, slowworms, palmate newts, smooth newts, spotted newts, common frogs and common toads. Paul said there was evidence that the frogs had already spawned but the toads were still on the move but when they eventually breed the females will each produce 2,000 to 4,000 eggs. Paul explained that the ideal habitat for water voles and dormice can conflict with that of birds and bats so careful thought must be given to creating a good compromise. Grass snakes are easy to identify with their distinctive yellow and black collar and corrugated tin sheets laid flat on the ground provide excellent protection during the winter months. Each snake has a unique pattern on its underside and 3 snakes named ‘Terry, Pat and Bob’ are currently monitored for their breeding patterns. ‘Bob’ and ‘Terry’ travel widely around the WWT site but as Pat is the female of the trio she is sedentary. Elsewhere in the UK, heathlands are the most important area for reptiles as all 6 species can be found there (the common lizard, sand lizard, adder, grass snake, smooth snake and slowworm). Heathlands provide the perfect habitat, with open areas for reptiles to bask and an ample food source can be found due to the invertebrate populations. Amphibians also thrive (the common frog, common toad and the rare natterjack toad), using the damper areas close to water where they can lay their eggs. The common newt, palmate newt and great crested newt, favour ponds to breed in and can be quite at home in a garden pond, they may also take advantage of nearby grass and dried leaves.

After tea Tricia Hall delivered her Nature Notes with the news of tree planting by some of our members on the west side of the Rife. These small, holly, downy birch, mountain ash, hazel, crab apple and hawthorn trees will hopefully provide food and shelter for wild birds as well as acting as a good wind break. Also 150 willow stakes (all from one tree) were planted along the western boundary of Ferring Country Centre.

To follow Ed Miller updated us with news of planning issues including the newly erected ‘no overnight parking’ notices along Marine Drive to prevent motorhome owners sleeping in their vehicles in this area. The planning application at 44, Ferringham Lane for 5 properties in addition to the existing house has been withdrawn by the applicant. The Kingsley Group have applied for planning permission for the conversion of a garage building, behind their current site, into offices to accommodate an increase in staff from 57 to 91 with no provision for additional parking. This application also includes a request for extended opening hours for the offices and café from 7am to 10pm. The Bluebird Café has applied for a full licence to serve alcohol from 10am until midnight and to permit dancing and live and recorded music to 12.30am.

David Bettiss concluded the meeting by thanking the sponsors and planters of the Community Orchard and informed us that John Coote from the Brighton Permaculture Trust, and also a local resident, has kindly offered to help us maintain the fruit trees.

Our meeting opened with Ed Miller informing us that David Bettiss and Tricia Hall presented a cheque for £600 to Caroline Roberts-Quigley, head of fund-raising at Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice. This money was raised from the sale of Christmas cards, calendars and painted pebbles designed and painted by Tricia. Ed went on to say that the Community Orchard trees were doing well at the Glebelands recreation ground and that a tree planting session was planned on Tuesday 15th March for the banks of the river Rife for a 10am start, meeting at the footbridge. The Woodland Trust have donated 100 small trees for this project. Also our annual Rife Clean is planned for Saturday 19th March, meeting at 11am at the Bluebird Café car park. Refreshments at the Country Centre will follow both events. Ed asked if members could e-mail any articles or photographs they may have for our annual magazine to Tricia Hall by the end of February.

To follow, Tricia Hall advised us that a red kite and 7 buzzards had been spotted over Ferring and then showed us a buoy with goose barnacles attached to it that was found at the Winter Beach Clean on 7th February. These barnacles start life like small shrimps and are filter-feeding crustaceans that live attached to hard surfaces but can occasionally be found on debris that has been dislodged from the seabed and washed up on the shore.

Ed Miller commenced his planning update with the news that the Arun Local Plan is to be redrafted to meet the Planning Inspector’s requirement of 845 homes per year for the next 15 years. It will be autumn before the draft plan is ready and it is unlikely to be adopted before 2017. The Peugeot car compound application has been granted on appeal and 3 further applications have now been submitted for the same site. Also an application for 23 yurts plus ancillary buildings off McIntyre’s Lane has been submitted by Hatch Homes Ltd.

After tea Matthew Thomas an ecologist gave an interesting, illustrated talk regarding the Steyning Downland Scheme (SDS). This scheme was started when it was realised by the current owners of the Wiston Estate that much of the 160 acres of chalk grassland was not being managed. A well-attended public meeting was held in 2007 with the aim of bringing together the needs of the people and wildlife. A steering group was formed of local people where aims and objectives for the scheme were developed. An area has been designated for mountain bikers; a team of local people can survey the plant life; a website has been created; children enjoy educational days on site, and the addition of suitable fencing has allowed cattle to graze there once again. This scheme has achieved charitable status since 2009 and the Wiston Estate continues to invest in many different ways. There are over 120 volunteers involved and the scheme has blossomed into a much bigger reality than was first conceived. It has also been discovered that this area is one of the top sites for the rare Brown Hairstreak butterfly. Also the rapidly declining and threatened Duke of Burgundy butterfly has been handed a lifeline with the help of the SDS, the Southdown National Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Over the next 2 years, with the help of Neil Hulme, a butterfly expert, and local conservation volunteers, work to encourage the Duke of Burgundy back to the chalk grasslands of Steyning by creating the right habitat and by planting cowslips, which are their main food source, will get underway.

Rachel Curruthers, Household Waste Prevention Officer from West Sussex County Council, gave an interesting and informative talk to around 70 members of Ferring Conservation Group regarding Waste Prevention in West Sussex. Rachel informed us that the UK generates 177 million tonnes of rubbish each year and that just one family uses 6 trees worth of paper per year. The good news is that at least 60% of this waste can be used again.

Rachel’s message to us all was ‘Reduce’ what we use, ‘Reuse’ what we can and ‘Recycle’ what we really cannot use again, and she warned us that as plastic is made from oil it will eventually run out.

Recycling is collected from all households in West Sussex and delivered to the ‘Viridor’ Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) at Ford via a network of transfer stations. At the transfer stations the recycling is bulked up onto bigger vehicles before being transported to the MRF to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. The mixed recycling is mechanically sorted and separated into individual types of material, baled up, then transported to re-processors for manufacturing into new goods and products. A range of technology is employed at the MRF to sort and separate recycling and Rachel stressed the importance of householders ensuring that they only place clean, dry and loose items in their household bins.

After tea Tricia Hall delivered her ever popular Nature Notes by informing us that approximately 2,500 gulls, plus several hundred waders were seen foraging on the Goring Gap. Also around 1,000 Common Gulls had been spotted and despite their name these birds were not often seen in this area. Tricia informed us that mainly due to the recent stormy weather several small sharks (Dogfish), Sea Slugs, ‘By the Wind’ jellyfish (a relative of the ‘Portuguese Man O’ War species), plus 2 porpoises or dolphins had all been washed up on the beach and had sadly succumbed to the elements.

To conclude our meeting Ed Miller updated us with the latest planning news. He advised us that at a meeting to discuss the Arun Local Plan on 14th January, it transpired that although the Planning Inspector had set a revised target of 760 sites per year for the next 15 years, developers are seeking approval for 900 sites per year totalling 13,500 new homes in the Arun district over the next 15 years. The Peugeot garage have won their appeal for a storage facility for up to 100 cars adjacent to their current site. Globe Estates (Southern) Ltd are still awaiting the decision on their appeal for the building of a block of 10 apartments on the former site of Beehive Cottage. Ed advised us of 2 new planning applications the first at 44, Ferringham Lane for 5 bungalows in addition to the existing house and at 34, Sea Lane for 2 bungalows also in addition to the existing house.

Our Chairman David Bettiss opened the November meeting with news of a proposed Community Orchard at the Glebelands recreation ground. David asked members if they would like to donate Sussex Heritage Fruit Trees available from the Ferring Country Centre.

Next on the agenda we were taken on ‘A Sussex Wildlife Safari’ by Michael Blencowe from the Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT). This was Michael’s second visit to our Group this year and with his usual flair and enthusiasm he invited us to jump aboard and tighten our seatbelts for a whistle-stop tour of the SWT reserves in Sussex. Michael highlighted the fact that we in Sussex are fortunate to have over 1800 hectares of land, covering 30 reserves that include a natural diversity of varying landscapes providing ideal habitats for a wide range of species.

Our first pit-stop was at Amberley Wild Brooks. Michael informed us that these grazing meadows were ideal for spotting insects, mice, voles and owls, and if you were fortunate you may experience a rare glimpse of a white-tailed eagle. Also miniature wet woodlands have been formed by willow and alder trees.

Further along our route we came to Levin Down. This chalk grassland is part of only 3% that still exists on the South Downs and over 40 species of wildflowers can be found per square metre of land.

Graffham Common is the newest of SWT’s reserves and was the 8th stop on our journey. This reserve is a ‘work in progress’ as tree clearing is still ongoing although 30% of pine trees will remain as perches for birds and woodlark and nightjars are regular visitors.

With our journey through West Sussex at an end we crossed the border into East Sussex and eventually arrived at Rye Harbour where we learned that this SSSI area is ideal for spotting many wading birds, including lapwings, golden plovers, curlew, oystercatchers and many other winter visitors.

With over 200 miles on the clock we crossed back into West Sussex to reach our final destination at Wood Mills, the SWT headquarters. At this reserve we were able to finally stretch our legs and learn that with a coppice woodland, meadows and large reed-fringed pond this is an ideal area to spot kingfishers and nightjars.

‘Conserving nature’ was a new concept introduced in May 1912 by Charles Rothschild, a rich landowner. This initiative eventually became the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts which campaigned to secure Government protection for sites worthy of preservation across the UK. If only all landowners were as enlightened and sympathetic to wildlife as Charles Rothschild.

After tea Martyn Burkinshaw, a Community Parks Officer from Arun District Council, spoke to us regarding ‘Wildflower Meadows’ in the open spaces in Ferring. Martyn stressed the importance of the correct maintenance of these mini wildflower meadows by mowing only after the flowers have had a chance to reseed. He also advised the strict control of grasses and thistles but even with this plan in place this did not guarantee native species only would grow.

In news of bird sightings in and around Ferring Clive Hope advised us that the recent cold snap had increased the number of visiting wading birds to around 400, plus 150 brent geese had been spotted foraging on fields in the Gap. The short-eared owls were still present in the area, goldfinches were seen at the Country Centre and buzzards at East Preston. Clive commented on the absence of blackbirds and song thrushes in local gardens and that chiffchaffs were often seen in the tamarisk trees along Patterson’s Walk.

To conclude our meeting Ed Miller gave us an update on planning issues by informing us that Peugeot had appealed against Arun DC decision to refuse permission for a distribution centre on adjacent land to their existing garage. Ed advised us that the planning application by Foschini’s Nursery for 6 holiday lodges and conversion of a packing shed to owner’s accommodation had been supported by Ferring Conservation Group with the condition that the 6 holiday lodges were built first.