When: Saturday 31 May, 10:00 – 16:00
Where: Fishbourne Church Hall (St. Peter’s Place), St. Peter & St. Mary, Fishbourne
About the Drop-in Session?
The drop-in session is an opportunity for members of the public to learn more about the Fishbourne Footpath to Nature Recovery project.
Representatives from Chichester Harbour Conservancy and the Environment Agency will be present to explain the project in more detail and answer questions.
Visitors will be able to see artist impressions of the site as it is predicted to look in the future at: 2030, 2050 and 2075.
There will also be an opportunity to talk with representatives about the project in-situ at Apuldram Meadow.
The Project
The Fishbourne Footpath to Nature Recovery project seeks to realign footpath 3059 along higher elevations within Apuldram Meadow while creating up to five hectares of habitat suitable for saltmarsh.
Following a 2021 Condition Review of Chichester Harbour, Natural England downgraded the SSSI status of Chichester Harbour to “unfavourable, declining” condition mainly due to the extensive loss (approximately 2.54 hectares lost each year) of saltmarsh habitat.
Hard structures such as sea walls block the natural, landward migration of saltmarsh plants causing saltmarsh to get drowned out as sea-levels rise. This phenomenon is known as coastal squeeze and is one of the main threats facing Chichester Harbour’s remaining saltmarsh.
In Apuldram Meadow in Fishbourne, the seawall is failing and a public right of way (PRoW) 3059 has been closed for safety.
In 2023, HaskoningDHV undertook a feasibility study to consider management options for the site. The report recommended realigning the footpath (PRoW 3059) further inland and creating space for saltmarsh.
As a result of the feasibility study findings, in November 2024, Chichester Harbour Conservancy commissioned JBA Consulting to design a footpath realignment project for Apuldram Meadow. The project was named, The Fishbourne Footpath to Nature Recovery. The project seeks to realign footpath 3059 along higher elevations within Apuldram Meadow while creating up to five hectares of habitat suitable for saltmarsh.
Visit the drop in session on Saturday 31 May, anytime between 10am and 4 pm to learn more about this exciting project.
Read more about Nature Recovery in Chichester Harbour: Nature Recovery – Chichester Harbour Conservancy