The Habitat Map

The Phase 1 Habitat Survey of Selsey Parish was completed by volunteers in 2000, according to a set of guidelines produced by the Sussex Wildlife Trust. The results of the vegetation survey were placed on a map which was colour-coded to show the different types of vegetation, such as grassland, woodland and reedbed. The map was then digitised and today provides a tool to make it possible to protect the habitats and the species found in the local area. The project was completed in close collaboration with local landowners,  special interest groups, and others with good local knowledge.  At the same time, a Selsey Parish Map was produced, as part of the West Sussex Parish Maps project. The habitat map was used as the background for this.

The Biodiversity Action Plan – BAP

The Selsey Parish Biodiversity Plan was drawn up based on the map. It was the first Parish Biodiversity Action Plan in the UK. It is composed of a series of actions designed to ensure that the proposed local actions translated the already identified national and regional conservation aims  into practice, to protect the local wildlife and enhance the places where it lives.

The Wildlife Officer

From 2004-2010 a Selsey Wildlife Officer was appointed to, initially, implement the Selsey BAP and then, as Manhood Wildlife Officer [MWO], to spread our activities out across the Manhood Peninsula. The main focus of her work was to engage people, of all ages and abilities, in action for wildlife. Her work involved raising awareness, encouraging, co-ordinating and enthusing a growing band of volunteers, leading tasks, organising training, promoting the project through the media, giving presentations to community groups, liaising with landowners, schools, local authorities and anyone interested in our work.

In 2010 the MWO took on the role of Community Wildlife Officer to lead a Recreational Disturbance Mitigation Project in Chichester and the Bournes – Fishbourne, Nutbourne, Southbourne, managed in partnership by Chichester District Council and the group. The group has responsibility for implementing this project across the wider Manhood.

Water Vole Project Officer

In 2012, thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery fund, a Water Vole Project officer was employed to co-ordinate an Action Plan for Water Voles on the Manhood.  Her work is now supported and complemented by a Wetlands Project Officer, funded by grants from a number of organisations.

The endangered Water Vole is the fastest declining mammal in Britain but the network of ditches and rifes on the Manhood Peninsula provide a local stronghold for this national treasure, immortalised in ‘Wind in the Willows’. The project aims to create a ‘Vole Patrol’ of volunteers to assess ditches in relation to what Water Voles need, in order to draw up enhancement plans, and to carry out surveys to monitor Water Vole populations. It also aims to raise the profile of the species and its requirements via communication with key groups, such as Parish councils and landowners, and through the production of education packs and programmes for schools and other educational establishments.

Much of this work is very successfully underway but further funding will be required to maintain the experience, commitment and enthusiasm of the Project Officers, and thus fully implement the Action Plan for Water Voles. Most importantly, if water Voles are doing well, so will many other creatures. They are a good indicator of a healthy natural environment.

Management and Organisation

• The Manhood Wildlife and Heritage Group is run as a charity and is managed by a Management Team, overseen by a group of trustees. All of whom are volunteers. Most of the members also volunteer for the group and carry out the work, mainly in sub-groups which relate to particular activities, wildlife sites or parishes.

Funding

• The Group has been fortunate enough to acquire a number of grants since its inception and these are still its main source of funding.  Other sources include: members’ donations, donations from businesses and generated from walks and talks, the sale of publications and services we provide to other groups. All money raised is solely used to pursue the aims of the Group.

Awards

The work of the Manhood Wildlife and Heritage Group staff and volunteers has been acknowledged with many awards: 

• Winner of The National Green Apple Award For Conservation
• Green Champion for Conservation 2006
• The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
• This is the MBE for volunteer groups and is a unique national Honour conferred by the Queen.
• South and South East in Bloom Awards
• The following sites in Selsey: East Beach Pond and Manor Green Park and its Sensory Garden, which are managed by the group’s volunteers, have won Gold and Outstanding Awards in the Conservation and Neighbourhood categories.
• Green Flag/Green Pennant Awards

Heritage Lottery Funding  - the group is just at the start of a 4 year HLF funded 'FLOW' project to fix and link the wetlands of the Manhood Peninsula.