Lockdown has extraordinary impact on Chichester Harbour

Chichester Harbour Trust reveals some disappointments and concerns in its recent annual review but the overall message is that lockdown has been a time to reflect, regroup and move forward with positivity.

The trust continues to work closely with Chichester Harbour Conservancy and campaign group SOSCA, keeping a close eye on the new Chichester Local Plan after Chichester District Council applied for a one-year extension to July 2021.

One of the key concerns remains the wildlife and one surprise during lockdown has been the impact the quieter times have had on the flora and fauna in the harbour.

John Nelson, trust chairman, said: “The lockdown has focused our minds quite a lot, and the community’s minds.

“Here, we have just a tiny microcosm of the biodiversity work going on in the world. The change that has happened in such a short time is extraordinary.

“Since February, the recovery in the harbour just shows it is rescuable worldwide, if we take it seriously.”

There has been a notable increase in fish and birdlife, plus a seahorse was spotted, much to everyone’s excitement.

This comes in the wake of the recent Natural England study into the condition of Chichester Harbour Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Nicky Horter, trust administrator, said: “The study paints a bleak picture, 80 per cent of the area is now classed as unfavourable declining, reflecting the negative impacts on habitats and species of increased disturbance, nitrates and coastal squeeze.

“There has been a notable decrease, around 59 per cent since 1946, in salt marsh, so that is a big loss and it has big implications.

“These issues must be adequately addressed by the new Local Plan if Natural England is to endorse it.”

The trust feels lockdown has given many people in the community time to reflect and further recognise the importance of the harbour environment, which will help in the efforts to protect it.

Nicky said: “Life has slowed down and the community has realised the importance of the harbour as a sanctuary. It has been a lifesaver for a lot of people.”

Nitrates is a Solent-wide issue and the Don’t Destroy Chichester Harbour campaign, championed by the Chichester Observer, has, the trust believes, had an impact.

John said: “We need now to keep the momentum up. Rather to our surprise, the communities are really now even more concerned than they were already.

“We have no power over this, all we can do is influence. One thing that has come out of this is Chichester putting nutrient neutrality requirement on new developments, like Hampshire has been doing for a while.”

The trust is in a good position financially and, due to lockdown, has decided to stop its major fundraising for now but will probably restart in the autumn.

A major disappointment has been the loss of two key plots it hoped to purchase, an 11-acre saline lagoon at Birdham and a parcel of land in Bosham.

John said: “At Birdham, we had agreed terms and we were all ready to go. We had been working on it for six months or more. However, we were then informed that the land was being sold to a private individual.

“The support has been extraordinary. In both cases, we had managed to raise the money from the community, and this is not insubstantial amounts of money, so it was very disappointing.

“There is a bit of a pattern and ultra high net worth individuals keen to protect the land around their property. But if you put the land with the trust, it is there for the community for perpetuity.”

Nicky said going forward, the trust would be reviewing its approach to land purchases.

She added: “We have to adapt and look at other types of agreement. We have relied on goodwill in the past but forewarned is forearmed.”

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.