Due to unavoidable circumstances, we have had to change the date of the next volunteer Working Party to the third Tuesday of the month,

Tuesday 19th March, 10am – noon,

when our plan is to do a bird survey. Our apologies to anyone unable to make the new date.

For those who can, please bring binoculars if you have them. We meet by the green container at the west end of the Copse (by the entrance where there's on-road parking on the north-south section of Brandy Hole Lane). Meet location is approximately here (using What3Words).

If you use a smartphone, can't yet recognise most birdsong and haven't discovered the Merlin app yet, you may like to download and explore using it. It's a good way to get to know the birds you hear but cannot see.

At our February Working Party, six of us coppiced more chestnut for stakes (to be used in conservation projects) and cut down laurel. We are really seeing a difference in the amount of laurel standing (and the piles of brash, which need to decompose for the woodland floor to recover). The larger laurel trees will need professional felling, which we hope Chichester District Council can arrange (timing to be advised, to avoid nesting season). As you can see from the photo, the laurel was already starting to form flower buds, so cutting it has prevented more berries and their seeds being spread this year.

Do let me know, if you're intending to join us on 19th March. We'd also love to hear from anyone with a passion for birds or other wildlife who would like to share that knowledge and enthusiasm with others who would like to learn. Finding joy in observing and understanding the natural world around us is infectious and we'd love to help pass it on!

With best wishes,

Paula Chatfield
Committee Member, Friends of Brandy Hole Copse

email fobhc@treesinchi.org (please note that this is an incoming email address only - replies will come from my personal email which is paula@parklands-chichester.org )
tel. 07788 140698
www.treesinchi.org/brandy-hole-copse