Historically, kelp was abundant along the West Sussex coastline. But this important habitat has diminished over time, leaving just a few small patches and individual plants, mostly in shallow water and along the shoreline. The Help Our Kelp partnership (Sussex IFCA, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Blue Marine Foundation, Portsmouth University, Big Wave Productions, Marine Conservation Society) want to bring it back through a marine kelp rewilding initiative by Sussex IFCA.

Follow this link to see a short film, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, talking about the value of Sussex kelp forests called Help Our Kelp.

Read more about Sussex IFCA's rewilding project on their website

Read more about Help Our Kelp on the Sussex Wildlife Trust website

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and UK Research and Innovation-led review in collaboration with Plymouth Marine Laboratory and Exeter University, showed that Brits spending time by the sea reported increased happiness, better general health and were more physically active during their visit, compared to visits to other types of environment.

The Evidence statement called The Well-being and Human Health Benefits of Exposure to the Marine and Coastal Environment highlights the important role of marine conservation work as visits to marine and coastal areas with designated or protected status and those with higher levels of biodiversity were associated with higher levels of calmness, relaxation and revitalisation, compared to locations without this status.

The report also warns that in the coming decades, climate change and extreme weather has the potential to jeopardise sensitive marine habitats, demonstrating the importance of the UK’s network of Marine Protected Areas.

Follow this link to read Defra evidence statement on The Well-being and Human Health Benefits of Exposure to the Marine and Coastal Environment

Follow this link to read what Defra has to say about it

Follow this link to find out more about the Inquiry and Call for evidence

If you prefer to walk round Chichester Harbour, the latest self-guided walks are downloadable here:

Chidham Circular (9km / 6 miles): A shoreline and countryside walk of the Chidham peninsula in the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with great views of the Bosham and Thorney channels and to the Harbour entrance. The middle section of the walk is tidal so check when high tide is before setting out and aim to reach that section at half tide if timings permit.

Easier Access Route - Itchenor (1.6km / 1 mile)
Begin in the Itchenor car park and follow the John Davis permissive path  to the shoreline. Turn left and follow the path to a viewpoint looking across the Harbour to the Bosham Channel. Return the same way if you are using a wheelchair, or if not you can go via a path through the boatyard to reach the viewing platform by the Harbour Office.

Easier Access route - Emsworth (1.6km / 1 mile)
A stroll on good paths around the thriving Harbourside settlement of Emsworth with a choice of cafés and pubs. Check for high tide in order to
see the water and boating activity.

More pdfs will be posted on the Chichester Harbour Conservancy website when they are ready.

Please park your car with respect to the environment, businesses and residents.  There has been a rise in a new phenomenon called ‘fly parking’ where cars are left on any bit of verge or even tight into hedges.  Some of these seemingly empty spaces may still be homes to breeding birds as the nesting season isn’t quite over and grass verges are often managed for wildflowers, a source of seed and food for wildlife as the summer progresses.  Help protect these spaces by parking only in designated locations.  Why not park in Chichester and then cycle down to West Wittering beach along the quiet route of the Salterns Way or park in Havant and cycle down the similarly enjoyable Haying Billy route to the beach on Hayling sea front?

Follow this link to find out what your children and grand children could be doing as part of school programs with the RSPB in the Pagham Harbour and Medmerry reserves.

These highly protected marine areas would enable a greater recovery of the marine ecosystem and enhance the Government’s commitment to a national ‘Blue Belt’, which has already seen an area of 92,000 square km protected - 40% of English seas.

Follow this link to read more about the proposed HPMAs

The Sea's the day project has recipe cards willingly provided by local eateries and suppliers to get you started. You can find the recipe cards in the link in the box at the bottom of this page.

Follow this link to find out more about what Seafish has to say about the 'Sea for Yourself' campaign.

Follow these links to meet some local suppliers:

Selsey Willows Seafood

Potters Fish

Fresh From the Boat

Julie's Hut

Whether you live near Chichester Harbour or further away here are five things you could stop to notice and do this month

1. Exercise: walking is the most natural form of exercise

Get the most out of your exercise.

Please only walk from your home, do not travel.  We are advised to only go out for exercise once a day so make it count.  Try intervals of fast and slow walking or mix your walking with some jogging building it up over time.

If you have some walking poles you can use them to bring your arms into practice - keep them at a 45 degree angle pointing behind you and try not to plant the ends of the poles forward of your feet. At the end of your walk ‘salute the sun’!  Raise your arms up above your head, take a deep breath and then, while breathing back out, bring your arms back down in a wide arc either side of your body.  It’ll bring a smile to your face.

2. April is THE month for birdsong   

Our nesters are back now and the males are finding and keeping territory and working to attract a mate. Just stop and listen to the birdsong and notice where it is coming from.  Soon you will be aware of all those singing birds all around you that you can’t see.  If you are starting out on this, look up online e.g. at RSPB, the songs of the robin (slightly melancholic), blackbird (short and melodic song, no more than 5 seconds), great tit (squeaky bicycle pump), greenfinch (Star Wars sabre), chaffinch, (cricketer’s run and bowl).

3. Some wildflowers and trees are flowering now

Notice the different colours and count the number of petals to each type of flower. Set up a new photo album on your phone for wildflower pictures. You can use Google reverse images or one of the may wildflower ID sites online to help identify them.

4. Plant something

If you have a garden then sprinkle some wildflowers and veggie seed now or plant in a pot. Don’t worry if they get some damage by nibbling – it shows your garden is rich for nature!

Make sure you have a hole in your fence or wall near ground level so that hedgehogs can pass through.  Make a pledge to garden for wildlife, especially if you live in the AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

Everyone who buys a home in the AONB should pledge to garden for wildlife right at the start when they sign on the dotted line!

 If you are looking after youngsters why not generate a treasure hunt around your garden.

Rather than make a list of specific things let the children use their imagination by making a list such as finding something smooth, something green, something light, something a bird might like, something special.

Have fun and notice how being outdoors can really lift your spirits.  If you do find yourself brooding on things that are worrying you as you walk along, just stop, look up to the sky and straight away you will notice that this small movement will stop and break your train of thought. Give it a try!

It's aim is to make images of the town’s past available to a wide audience and encourage people to celebrate and engage with Selsey’s unique history.

Follow this link to see the images and stories in the Selsey Photo Archive

Follow this link to read the Defra press release about the benefits of England's Coastal Paths