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The purchase of two key sites by the Trustees of Chichester Harbour Trust will play a significant role in the on-going protection of the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The first is 100 acres of environmentally sensitive coastal grazing marsh at Tournerbury Farm, running along the western shore of the harbour on Hayling Island. This important site will now be protected by the Trust for the long term to ensure it provides environmental protection for the harbour, its landscape, biodiversity and wildlife.

The second is a smaller site - Marina Farm in Emsworth. This 2.5-acre site is close to Emsworth marina. Over many years this site has become derelict with dilapidated buildings and has been described as an eyesore within the protected landscape. The Trust intends to clear it and create an environmentally friendly wildlife site for the community and to preserve the public right of way that runs through it. This community model has been used successfully on two other Trust sites within the AONB.

Chichester Harbour at Bosham by Nicky Horter. This photo does not seek to show the land acquired. See the attached video for images of that.

These acquisitions now mean that the Trust holds 15 sites within the Chichester Harbour AONB covering over 375 acres. The long-term protection of these environmentally sensitive sites is playing a significant role in protecting the Harbour.

John Nelson, Chair of the Chichester Harbour Trust, said: “These acquisitions have been made possible by the generosity of donors to the Trust. In particular, they would not have been possible without the launch of our Fighting Fund campaign six months ago. This fund has now accumulated around half of its £1.5 million target. Given the outgoings on these recent land acquisitions we will be redoubling our fundraising efforts to ensure we remain in a strong position to continue our work protecting Chichester Harbour.”

You can read about the fighting fund here: https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/environment/just-giving-page-launched-for-chichester-harbour-fighting-fund-this-is-how-you-can-help-save-this-vital-stretch-of-coastline-3753772

The Chichester Observer and Sussex World strongly support the work of the Trust and have welcomed the news. The harbour is one of the most environmentally important of its type on the planet and the newspaper believes its protection – not just from climate change but over-development of the surrounding area - is of vital importance.

Coastal Marsh at Tournerbury Farm, Hayling Island: 100-acres of unique coastal grazing marsh will be safeguarded for the future for the benefit of wildlife. The land will continue to be farmed in a low-intensity, environmentally beneficial way to maintain the habitat for migrating and overwintering birds and its special botany.

Marina Farm, Emsworth: This 2.5-acre property is now safe from inappropriate development and will be cleared and returned to countryside, maintaining the public right of way through the site.

The Chichester Harbour Trust is a registered charity established in 2002 to protect the natural beauty and wildlife habitats of Chichester Harbour, through the acquisition of land within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With ever-growing support from the local community, the Trust works in partnership with the Chichester Harbour Conservancy, landowners, local authorities and all those who love Chichester Harbour and wish to protect it for everyone to enjoy.

Chichester Harbour Trust buys two key sites after massive fund-raising campaign to protect this area of outstanding natural beauty