As a well-respected and passionate conservationist, academic, author, television presenter and explorer, George McGavin’s interest in the natural world and especially insects began at a young age, conducting his own rock pool surveys along the beaches on the east coast of Edinburgh where he grew up. This fascination drove George to overcome a severe stammer and become an academic zoologist for 30 years, taking his degree at the University of Edinburgh, followed by a PhD in entomology at Imperial College, London. He then went on to research and teach at the University of Oxford.

George was also at one time the Assistant Curator of Entomology at Oxford University’s Museum of Natural History. Later becoming a popular and regular contributor to the BBC One Show, delighting viewers with his ecology reports and bug-life presentations. George has also presented and advised on many other television programmes including The Secret Life of Landfill and the multi award-winning documentary After Life: the strange science of decay.

George said that insects have model organisms for research into genetics, physiology, behaviour and ecology but their decline will have a very serious effect on wildflower meadow areas which are now very rare with a 97% decline in 50 years (rarer than a rainforest in fact). Also alarmingly in a province of China, farm workers are having to ‘hand pollinate’ pear trees through the decline of pollinating insects.

George hates the popular term ‘sustainable growth’ as he stressed ‘growth cannot possibly be sustainable’. He is especially proud of the fact that several insect species have actually been named in his honour.

A packed audience thoroughly enjoyed his professional and at times amusing presentation, and the afternoon was well and truly rounded off with the announcement by Stephen Abbott that that very morning news had come through that the Planning Inspector had dismissed the appeal by Persimmon Homes to build a large estate of 475 houses at Chatsmore Farm (north Goring Gap). This excellent news was celebrated by those present and the wider local communities as it would have destroyed a much needed Local Green Gap and affected the setting of the adjacent South Downs National Park, as well as causing all manner of local infrastructure issues.

Members and visitors welcomed Martin Jarvis, the owner of Culberry Nursery in Angmering which has been in existence for over 75 years. Martin explained that in the beginning it was run by his parents as a market garden with a 99-year lease where they lived in a caravan on the site; this is where Martin’s sister was born. By the time Martin came along his parents had bought a house and had begun to grow mushrooms which they initially grew in old wooden fish boxes but this soon progressed to greenhouses. Good hygiene became crucial to prevent the introduction of bacteria or viruses to the crops – this also applied to the areas around the greenhouses. Interestingly at one time there were around 100 mushroom farms in West Sussex.

These days, Culberry Nursery only supplies bags of highly regarded mushroom compost and also grows and produces a wide variety of plants, including a large selection of herbs. These are all grown without the use of chemicals and instead beneficial bugs are used.  The Nursery staff attend many local Farmer’s Markets which produces an additional income and much to the delight of the many keen gardeners among the audience, Martin brought along a good selection of plants and herbs to sell during the break for refreshments.

Following a short break, Pete Coe and David Bettiss delivered February’s Nature Notes by showing some excellent photographs of wildlife along the Rife taken by member and keen wildlife photographer James King. There had been many reported signs of spring being sprung, including Snowdrops in Sea Lane, Crocuses on the Village Green, and Daffodils at the Community Orchard. Brent Geese, Chaffinches, Lapwings, Skylarks and a Song Thrush had all been spotted in and around the vicinity. David also delivered the sad news that the body of a deceased dolphin had been washed up on Ferring Beach.

To conclude the meeting Stephen Abbott advised the audience of recent planning news. There is still no decision by the High Court regarding Persimmon’s Appeal on Chatsmore Farm. The planning application for 3 houses at the back of Ferring Nursery remains undecided together with the Pool House proposed at ‘Mayfield’ Florida Road. Stephen also advised the Group of a new application to convert a garage into a self-contained annex at 8A South Drive in Ferring.

Kevin, the head falconer from ‘Hawking About’ based in Arundel, gave over 100 members and visitors a wonderful opportunity to enjoy getting close and personal to several of his beautiful Birds of Prey, including a Barn Owl, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon and and two Harris Hawks.

Not only were the audience enthralled by the precision indoor flying displays of these magnificent birds but were also educated along the way by Kevin imparting his extensive knowledge and passion that he had gained over many years. This initially started as a hobby for Kevin and he gradually developed the skills to enable him to train a collection of Birds of Prey and he now attends some of the top tourist attractions in the South of England including Arundel Castle, Parham House, Petworth Park and Natural Trust sites giving talks and flying displays.

Busby the Barn Owl was the first bird to show off his flying skills and headed straight for the ceiling bars looking down on the audience. With encouragement from Kevin tempting him with a piece of fresh mouse, he swiftly returned straight to his perch to greedily claim his reward.  These birds have an average lifespan of 18 months in the wild and are the most widely distributed group of owls in the UK and they enjoy a variety of habitats, including open countryside, wetlands and roadside verges.

The next bird to show off its flying skills was a pretty Kestrel named Mo whose hunting skills are so well developed and with such razor-sharp vision, he is able to detect mouse urine in ultra-violet from the air but sadly 75% of Kestrels do not survive the winter in the wild.

Kevin then showed the audience the Peregrine Falcon, and these birds are the largest falcons in the UK with the male around a third smaller than the female. Their lifespan in the wild is only around 10 years but in captivity they can live for 25 years. Its distinctive feature is the black ‘moustache’ which contrasts with its white head.

A female Harris Hawk gave the last flying display of the day, which was shown alongside a male, and this formidable hunter is the only bird to hunt in a pack and will share out any food caught. They primarily hunt for rabbits, lizards, birds and occasionally carrion.

At the end of each flying session the birds were given the command of ‘Box’ by Kevin and amazingly each bird flew with great skill into its individual box – an astounding feat and could only be achieved by many hours of intense training and the special bond that is so evident between Kevin and his birds.

In Graham Tuppen’s absence, David Bettiss delivered the popular Nature Notes session following the usual break for refreshments. This month a Water Rail has been spotted swimming on the Rife north of the road bridge, also a number of Red-throated Divers and Red-breasted Mergansers have been seen off the coast at Goring Gap, alongside an amazing total of 220 Great Crested Grebes on the water. A member of the Group was fortunate enough to see an attractive little Weasel in his garden and it is believed there may be a small breeding colony somewhere along Ilex Way. While members were busy observing their gardens for the Big Garden Birdwatch there were reports of a Goldcrest, Greenfinch and a Song Thrush, although bird numbers were generally worryingly low. Various other sightings of a Heron, a Red Kite and a Buzzard together with a variety of Gulls plus 2 Skylarks were reportedly observed locally.

Stephen Abbott concluded the meeting by advising members there are still issues to be resolved regarding an additional property at 1, Sea Drive and also an application for a large garden structure has been submitted at 1, Birch Place in Ferring.