Work begins on transforming Chidham woodland

Maybush Copse in Cot Lane was purchased by funds from the community, the Chichester Harbour Trust and the Chichester Harbour Conservancy in April last year.

Work is under way to start clearing the area ahead of planning permission which has been applied for to carry out more heavy-duty work on the site, which includes tree planting, creation of footpaths, and grass areas.

AONB manager at Chichester Harbour Conservancy Alison Fowler said: “It’s all looking very positive and we are just waiting for the planning permission.

“At the moment what’s happening is we have to make sure there are not any reptiles.

“It’s going to be a woodland area with lots of tree planting, there will be an area of open space the local community can use which will be grassed and have pathways going through the wooded areas.

“There also need to be some improvements to allow vehicles 
to access the site for the works to 
take place.

“The local people have been involved throughout and we very much enjoy working with them.

“It really is such a community-focused project. It’s great, there is a lot of passion and commitment to it.

“It really is an example of a project where different groups can work together.”

The field has had a number of different uses in the past, including as a brick field in 1932, and in 1959 when it was a caravan park.

A contamination survey did find above-average levels of lead and arsenic in small soil samples, 
thought to relate to the site’s use as a brick field.

To reduce that risk it is proposed to put a soil cover system in place for the grassland areas, and footpath surfacing to provide a barrier between the soil and the public.

A reptile survey and relocation programme has been undertaken to remove and protect slow worms, which are in an area proposed to have a soil-cover system in place.

The site has been signed over to the Chichester Harbour Conservancy on a 99-year lease and will be overseen by Maybush Copse Friends which has a formal constitution and a membership of 100.

The committee membership includes the CHT, CHC, Southbourne Parish Council, Chidham and Hambrook Parish Council and community representatives.

To comment on the plans write 
to Chichester District Council, quoting the application number CH/10/04552/COU.