An Anniversary Bonanza for the Copse

Since our last newsletter, the Friends have received a significant boost to our funds thanks to the generosity of local couple, Les and Lin Edmonds.

In celebrating their 40th Wedding anniversary, they kindly decided to forgo personal presents and instead encourage their guests to donate to the Friends. As a result our coffers are now over £500 to the good.

The couple regularly walk their dog in the Copse and it is a great encouragement that they so generously wished to give something back. They hope that others may be inspired to do the same whilst celebrating some happy event!

Wild Flowers in Spring

Judi Darley

Bluebells in the Copse

Committee member Judi Darley asked ecology enthusiast Dr Mike Perry of the Chichester Natural History Society for his top 6 spring flowers to be seen in Brandy Hole Copse. Mike said “it’s a bit like selecting records for Desert Island Discs”! After some careful thought Mike came up with the following 6 wild flowers to look for in the Copse this spring:

Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) voted Britain’s most popular wild flower in a recent Plantlife poll. The Natural History Society recently made a count of about 250,000 flowering stems in the main body of the Copse. Mike is concerned that these native bluebells are protected from the Spanish Bluebell, a species often planted in gardens and now seen along Brandy Hole Lane and by the west end entrances. Mike said “it appears to hybridise freely with the native bluebell … I’d like to see the Spanish Bluebell removed from the Copse”.

Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) low growing, with white flowers sometimes flushed with pink. It does very well in the sweet chestnut coppiced area, where the trees have been cut down to let the light in before they grow to maturity again.

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) a stunning display of shiny bright yellow flowers, found around the edges of the ponds and in the damp area between Brandy Hole Pond and Centurion Way.

Common Dog Violet (Viola riviniana) low growing with violet flowers, like the sweet violet but it has no scent. This plant is important because it is the food plant for the caterpillars of the uncommon Silver-washed Fritillary butterfly.

Wild Arum (Arum maculatum) also known as Cuckoo Pint and Lords and Ladies. The large fleshy leaves appear in December and January and tiny flowers appear, surrounded by a green ‘hood’, in April-May time.

Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) Bright blue flowers with a pure white ‘eye’, they are small but spectacular in large numbers. Mike said “I’ve included this one because it is one of my all time favourite flowers”.

Do you agree with Mike’s list? Do let us know which are your favourite spring flowers in the Copse!

Housing

Vivian McPhee

The potential for housing development on the large field adjoining the copse is still of concern to us. Despite the loss of the field to cultivation- many of you will have seen the maize- we wish to continue pressure to ensure it remains available to support the copse in its entirety.

You will be aware that CDC have been obliged to reschedule the production of the Core strategy for their local development framework. Consultation will restart in November. The document which deals with large areas of land for housing development (delivering development opportunities) has also had to be rescheduled. However, it is important that we all make our views known about the damaging effect on the copse of housing in the fields next to it at every opportunity.

We will try to keep you informed, but if you are interested, you can visit the CDC web site and find out more through the LDF link on the Planning page of the web site.

And volunteers

From Tony Dignum

Yes, I’m afraid I am asking for more volunteers again. The challenge that we have as a group is that the huge success we have had and the current level of practical events and campaigning is totally down to a small handful of great people who give up some of their spare time on a regular basis to make it all happen. They are a fantastic group and I am hugely grateful to them.

BUT ….. we cannot assume that they can necessarily continue with that level of commitment, and we are constantly in need of new volunteers who can give up just a small amount of time to help us plan events, run events, help to administer the processes that are required to keep the Reserve as good as it is. Please, please, please think about whether you could spare a little time to help, in any way at all. Tell us what you could do and we will find a role for you!!!!

The problem was well highlighted by events at the AGM. It was a really good meeting with lots of valuable contributions and ideas from members. Thank you for that. This included issues about campaigning against housing development . Our problem is very simple. We cannot deliver these things because we do not have the additional help to make it happen, so please join in and help our existing committee members . call me on 538585 or email tonydignum@btinternet.com