Newsletter Autumn 2007

Contents

A Personal Thank You

Friends committee celebrating Jim's contribution to the copse over the years

In October, the current Committee members raided their own piggy banks and took Jim Ayling and his wife Irene for a meal at a local Chichester pub. It was our way of personally thanking Jim, and Irene, for all the hard work Jim has put into the Copse over many years.

Jim has been a leading light in our Brandy Hole Copse Group since 1989 when, as Secretary of the Summersdale Residents’ Association, he was invited to a meeting to discuss how things could best be managed following the Great Storm. The Brandy Hole Copse Conservation Group was eventually formed, with Jim as a key member, and over the years Jim has been Chairman, Secretary and latterly Committee member.

Throughout much of this time Jim has organised the weekly work parties and has put countless hours of his own time into both conservation and administration, tirelessly campaigning on behalf of the Copse on many issues. He was also instrumental in our involvement in the South East in Bloom competition and hence the awards reported elsewhere in the Newsletter. Jim decided to step down from the Committee earlier this year but we do hope he will continue to be involved in the Copse as and when he can. It is no exaggeration to say that without Jim’s dedication the Copse would not be the enjoyable oasis it is today.

Thanks Jim!

What have you seen?

From Tom Snow, Secretary

We would like to better record the flora and fauna of the Copse and who better to ask than you our loyal friends. Surveys are carried out from time to time but it would be great to record what is seen on a daily basis.

In the summer, I took a late evening walk with my wife and dogs and was delighted to encounter a fox in the Copse and two grey partridge in the larger field. On another occasion it was nice to see a slow worm and I know a number of you have seen deer – unfortunately I haven’t! More recently at the pond we have delighted in the moorhens (who raised at least a couple of broods), many mallards and the often to be seen grey wagtail. But what else have you seen? If you would like to help us get a better idea of what is in the Copse please let us have a record of your sightings (date, time, what you saw and your name). You can either e-mail it to me (tomgsnow@btinternet.com) or post a note through my door (Walnut House, 6A Brandy Hole Lane) or that of our education officer Judi Darley ( 2 Bristol Gardens).

We may even try to put sightings (and representative pictures) on the notice boards from time to time to help and encourage other visitors.

Happy hunting!

Volunteering – the essence of community

The most fundamental aspect of our group is that we have responsibility for a wonderful local amenity and there is, in my view, an onus on the local community to make sure it remains as such. We can, alternatively look to the District Council to do it all, as long as we are all willing to pay additional council taxes to fund it, but that seems to me to defeat the whole essence of a community. We have never so far measured the extent of public use of the Reserve (because we do not have enough volunteers to do it) but we believe it to be thousands of people who use it on a regular basis – which is great. Those people can come and enjoy the place, exercise their dogs, entertain their children, but they do not contribute anything to protecting, supporting and maintaining the reserve.

If only a small percentage of those people were willing to give up a small amount of their time to help in one way or another, we would be awash with volunteers!! In practice we have a very few active members, all of whom have busy lives including demanding jobs, family commitments, other public roles etc. What they have in common is a deep concern for the Reserve and the willingness to do something practical about it, so that the other 99.9% can enjoy it.

The loss of a few of those active volunteers could see the end of the group and a threat to the Copse. Is that what we want. Are we all happy to leave the work to a few people?

I know you have heard this from me before, but I make no apology for raising it again. There are very few of our members and visitors who could not do something to help, whatever their personal skills and abilities. We can find a role for anyone. Please see the list of possible volunteer activities in this newsletter and think very seriously about giving just a very little of your time so we can all continue to enjoy our Nature Reserve.

Please can you help us build an archive of Old Photos?

How can you help the Friends to preserve the Copse?

• Help to publicise the Friends and their work in the local community
• Help to generate wider membership of the Friends
• Help with survey work in the Copse – trees, birds, butterflies, insects, flowers etc.
• Carry out a visitor survey in the Copse
• Assist with campaigns against housing
• Assist with guided walks
• Help run events for children and families
• Help with practical conservation activities – including physically ‘easy’ tasks
• Assist with surveys of safety of the Copse
• Act as a volunteer warden on an occasional basis
• Anything else you feel you can do – challenge us to find you a role!

Even if you have only half an hour a month, you can do something valuable to help. Contact the Chairman or the Secretary with your interests and ideas.