A major initiative to safeguard the future of Chichester harbour – one of the south's most important areas of natural beauty and wildlife habitat – is being publicly launched.
The harbour is under increasing pressure from a variety of sources – mainly housing development and intensive farming, and existing conservation efforts are claimed to be limited by lack of funds and weaknesses in the planning process.
The Chiches
ter Harbour Trust, an independent charity, has already raised more than £100,000 towards a long-term aim of building up sufficient funds to acquire key areas of land, sites and buildings "to promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the natural beauty and wildlife of the area for the public benefit."
Initial approaches were carefully directed at likely donors, and the first contribution has come from the Prince of Wales.
Now the trust is seeking wide public support for its initiative.
Trust chairman Sir Jeremy Thomas said: "There is a growing realisation among those who value the harbour that ownership is the only sure form of stewardship."
Further information is available from trust administrator James Davis on 01243 777632, or e-mail him at: admin@chichesterharbourtrust.org.uk
The trust's address is PO Box 327, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1ZN.
For the full story see the Chichester Observer on July 24.
