News archive

February 2020

Friday, 21 February 2020

Tomorrow's walk at Medmerry

Wellingtons recommended. Though 95% of the new gravelled cycle track is dry and mud free, 2 puddles 2-3 inches deep are unavoidable.

Around 5 miles round trip

Thursday, 13 February 2020

Waitrose Community Matters - Chichester

Waitrose Community Matters - Chichester

Chichester Waitrose has selected the RSPB Chichester Local Group as one of its three Community Matters charities this month!

Customers of each Waitrose are encouraged to help out local charities each month by placing the green tokens they can pick up at the tills into one of three charity bins. And were very fortunate this month that we've been chosen as a deserving charity.

So, you know what to do! The next time you visit the Chichester branch of Waitrose, please help by posting your green token in the RSPB Chichester Local Group slot, and don't forget to encourage your friends and family to do the same!

It all goes to help the RSPB's vital local work in conserving and raising awareness of our local birds!

Thank you!

Wednesday, 5 February 2020

Love Letters to UK's Red-listed Birds:

Love Letters to UK's Red-listed Birds:

The British Trust for Ornithology has announced the publication of a new charity book called Red Sixty Seven, which has been created to help raise awareness of the plight of the UK's rarest and most endangered birds.

Published on Valentine's Day, 14 February, the book is described as "67 Love Letters to our most vulnerable birds". The result of a collaboration between 67 writers and 67 artists, the book includes a detailed description and appreciation of each bird, accompanied by a unique and beautiful illustrative artwork.

All profits from the sale of the original artwork (already all sold out), the book itself (which is available to pre-order) and accompanying merchandise will be donated to the RSPB and the BTO to contribute to their vital work on protecting our rarest birds.

Please see the link below for more details on the book and how to order copies.

Wednesday, 5 February 2020

RSPB Scientists Map Seabird Movements

RSPB scientists have produced new maps identifying, for the first time, the location of key feeding areas for some of our most threatened seabirds. A five-year RSPB project previously tracked the movements of kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills and shags from colonies around the UK during the breeding season. Hotspot mapping techniques were then applied to these data to identify the most important areas used by the birds during this crucial time. The information will be used to lobby for protecting these important areas.

The UK and Ireland host globally important numbers of breeding seabirds, with over eight million seabirds of 25 species. However, with increased human activity and exploitation of the sea, the UK's seabird population indicators have shown an overall decline of 22% in the last 50 years, with kittiwakes and Arctic skuas particularly badly affected. These birds continue to face the major threats of rising sea temperatures - affecting availability of key prey - and overfishing.

See link below:

Wednesday, 5 February 2020

News item from the Knepp Estate:

News item from the Knepp Estate:

We're delighted to announce that Natural England have granted our application to release beavers into an enclosed area at Knepp Wildland! Working in partnership with a number of organisations including the fantastic Sussex Wildlife Trust we hope to bring the beavers here in 2020.

The beaver is a keystone species because of its beneficial impact on flood and drought mitigation, and on biodiversity, so we can't wait to see what benefits this wonderful engineer brings to us on the Low Weald clay.

Take a look at our blog for more information about the beavers coming back to Sussex