There are two types of oyster here in Chichester Harbour – native oysters and pacific oysters. But what is the difference, and why does it matter? Native Oysters Native oysters were abundant here for thousands of years, supporting a thriving commercial fishery. But populations plummeted by 95% due to factors including over-fishing, habitat loss, predation, […]
World Ranger Day is on 31 July every year. Let’s take a look at how our rangers and volunteers have been working in the Chichester Harbour National Landscape recently. With a unique blend of coastal, wetland and terrestrial habitats, our rangers Rosie and Jack have a wide and varied work plan. Supported by a team […]
Our tern rafts were recently the subject of a podcast episode, made by The Wandering Ecologist, Pen Green. Pen joins our ecologist, Pete Hughes to find out all about the success of our tern rafts in restoring the Common Tern populations of Chichester Harbour. Part of the Return of the Tern project, the rafts provide […]
An exciting new historic building restoration project in Chichester Harbour National Landscape has been recognised with a Heritage Trust award.North Barn at Itchenor Park Farm won the commercial category in the recent Sussex Heritage Trust Awards 2025. The awards celebrate excellence in architecture, conservation, and craftsmanship across Sussex and the best in new design, rejuvenation […]
A new byelaw has come into force within the Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) district relating to the gathering of marine organisms in the intertidal area. This is good news for wildlife within the harbour, enabling the regulation and recording for a range of marine organisms including shellfish, bait species and seaweeds. This […]
Chichester Harbour Conservancy has produced three exciting new animations explaining the issues affecting our precious coastal habitats and what we can do to protect them. Narrated by “Terri the Tern”, the short films take you over, alongside and under the waters of Chichester Harbour, providing a unique view into the threats facing our wildlife. The […]
A blog post by Helen Winter, Chichester Harbour Education Officer. As the exam season is now upon us, I reflect on all the students that have visited us at Chichester Harbour in the last year, my first year as Education Officer at the Education Centre here at Chichester Harbour Conservancy. This time last year I […]
We caught up with Lottie and Poppy Johns from Harbour Oysters to find out how the 4000 native oysters under the jetties at Emsworth Yacht Harbour are getting on. The oysters were introduced into cages under the jetties in March, a project funded through the Friends of Chichester Harbour. The oyster cages need regular checks […]
If you take to the waters of Chichester Harbour in the summer, you can help our coastal birds breed successfully for future generations… Each year, coastal birds including Little Terns, Oystercatchers and Ringed Plover attempt to nest on Chichester Harbour’s shingle spits and islands. There are very few places around the harbour that are free […]
Two sections of footpath 1 between Itchenor and West Wittering will be temporarily closed on weekdays between: 19 May 25 – 13 June 25 The footpath closures are to allow surface improvement works to be undertaken by contractors appointed by West Sussex County Council. This map shows the sections that will be closed with the […]
Efforts to protect and restore the natural beauty of Chichester Harbour took another step forward last week when key stakeholders gathered at the latest Chichester Harbour Action Summit. Senior figures from a range of influential organisations came together for their bi-annual review of progress on projects to reverse the environmental decline of the harbour identified […]
Chichester Harbour Conservancy will be hosting a public drop-in session for people to view plans for the footpath and habitat creation at Apuldram meadow. The project is titled Fishbourne Footpath to Nature Recovery. When: Early autumn – date TBC Notifications will be sent out by our monthly newsletter. Where: Fishbourne Church Hall, St. Peter & […]