Bepton Down Countryside Walk In West Sussex
My second Countryside Walk for this year near Midhurst
South Downs National Park Midhurst West Sussex
South Downs National Park is one of the most popular attractions in Midhurst West Sussex. Even if you know the area well we are here to help you and can offer advice to help you make the right decision. Simply visit our website.
Countryside Walk - Southdowns Way - West Sussex 2018
Countryside Walk - Southdowns Way - West Sussex 2018
Sunday 9th September 2018
Iping and Stedham Commons - Midhurst - Iping skógur
Iping and Stedham Commons - Woodland in West Sussex, South Downs, England - Horft allan hringinn í Iping skógi 13 October 2011. It´s in Iping village that great and well known HG Wells story The Invisible Man begins.
Iping and Stedham Commons represent some of the best that this scarce heathland habitat can offer. As rich in atmosphere as it is in wildlife. ping and Stedham Common Nature Reserve is situated just west of Midhurst and is one of the best examples of lowland heathland in Sussex. Its extensive 125ha is mostly owned by Sussex Wildlife Trust and also now includes Trotton Common and Bridgelands Plantation. It is a great place to see some of the amazing wildlife that can only be found on this declining habitat. Over 80% of lowland heath has been lost from the UK in the last couple of centuries. On top of this the UK has 20% of the world’s lowland heath making the total area rarer than tropical rainforests. See more:
Iping Common represent some of the best that this scarce heathland habitat can offer. As rich in atmosphere as it is in wildlife.The commons are a local nature reserve and provide a habitat to a wide range of flora and fauna. They are areas of lowland heath, now thought to be a rarer habitat than tropical rainforest, and many of the animals and plants on the commons are dependant upon the continued existence of this rare habitat.
Iping Common is managed by the Sussex Wildlife Trust and you can see birds like the nightjar, dartford warbler and stonechat as well as a whole host of weird and wonderful insects and beetles.
Iping and Stedham Commons is a nature reserve owned and managed by the Sussex Wildlife Trust. This is described by Natural England as one of the richest areas of heath in the county. Most of it is dry but there are also areas of wet heath, two ponds, woodland, scrub and grassland. It has a rich invertebrate fauna and breeding heathland birds include nightjars and stonechats. See more:
Follow the heathland trails across these two pretty commons on this walk in Midhurst in Sussex. There's a car park off Elsted Road which gives direct access to the footpaths. On the commons you'll find a large pond and lots of wildlife. Look out for woodlark, Dartford warbler, nightjar and stonechat. To extend your walking in the area you can head north towards Woolbeding Common. The National Trust managed area has miles of good footpaths taking you to woodland, heathland and ponds. Also nearby is the New Lipchis Way which runs through the lovely Rother Valley. You can pick up the riverside trail just to the north of Stedham. It can be followed east all the way to Midhurst or north to Woolbeding Common. The Serpent Trail also crosses the common. You can follow it west towards Petersfield or east towards Midhurst Common, Graffham Common and the National Trust owned Lavington Common. See more:
The South Downs National Park - West Lavington - Midhurst - Pendean Sandpit - Sandpittur
West Lavington - Midhurst - Pendean Sandpit - Sand Filling in the United Kingdom. Mars 2014 - The threat of sand quarries across the Midhurst and Petworth area has returned after the initial report from a government planning inspector. Sandpittur - Fyrst var í mörg ár tekinn sandur úr skóginum en síðan var ákveðið að fylla í risastórar holurnar og planta trjám - Náttúruspjöll. Gigantic hole will remain.
The South Downs National Park was the Government’s gift to the nation and future generations. In the words of the Park’s own website: “As a National Park, the SDNPA has statutory purposes and socio-economic responsibilities as specified in the Environment Act of 1995 to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area”. This 220,000 square metre site will be a massive scar in the countryside, almost at the centre of the South Downs National Park. The visual impact will be apparent from all directions; including the South Downs Way, the A 286 (and beyond), Cocking Causeway, Bex Lane and Heyshott Down. Quoting from the ‘Mineral Sites Study 2014’ itself: ‘the site is considered to have a High (visual) sensitivity to sand extraction’ and ‘was not considered to be acceptable in the Minerals Development Plan.... 2005 due to landscape impact’ (page 95). In several decades time the pit may be 'reinstated'. This does not mean restored to its former beauty, all they do is slightly re-contour the edges and scatter a few plants. The gigantic hole will remain. This is precisely what is happening to the adjacent Pendean Pit at this time. The large amount of heavy plant required to dig and transport up to 3 million tonnes of sand will hardly be inconspicuous. This site is very close to Midhurst, Cocking, West Lavington and Heyshott and depending on the wind direction, it will be heard over large areas and on occasion cars will suffer a mild dusting of sand. Many HGV movements, over many years, will be required to transport the three million tonnes of sand. They will pose a danger when they meet the A286 at the fast stretch south of ‘The Greyhound’, which is already an accident black spot. The nearest connection with a ‘Strategic Lorry Route’ is the junction of the A272 with the A3(T) at Petersfield, over 11 miles away. They will damage (already potholed) country lanes and will have to pass through small villages and towns such as Midhurst, damaging fragile architecture and causing nuisance to the inhabitants. The old workings at Pendean have a well documented history of causing flooding, landslides and damage to Costers Brook by silting and erosion. Hawkhurst Farm is much closer to the brook and even more likely to cause severe problems. See more:
Chief planning officer at the South Downs National Park, Tim Slaney has warned that former proposals for soft sand quarries will have to be re-examined on the orders of the planning inspector who carried out an examination into the park and West Sussex County Council’s joint mineral local plan. He told members of the planning committee the soft sand policies had been expected to have a ‘difficult passage’ through the examination because of a ‘significant under supply’. He added that while there were no allocations inside the park boundaries in the draft plan ‘this is something we are going to have to look closely at’. “By and large the principle of being more careful about allocations inside the national park is sound,” said Mr Slaney, “but if there is that much of a lack of aggregates coming forward from soft sand, that’s where the inspector said he would like us to go back and have another look.” See more:
They had been hoping their battles were over when in March last year the county council and the national park published their draft minerals plan ditching all sand quarry sites inside the national park. Instead only Ham Farm at Steyning, outside the park, was allocated for soft sand extraction. As campaigners try to digest what the inspector’s initial view will mean for their areas, chairman of Bepton Parish Council, Howard Ewing told the Observer: “We would be very concerned if this meant the sites at the Severals came back into play. “There are very serious environmental, conservation, habitats and traffic issues which should rule out the Severals sites in planning terms, not to mention make them non-viable. See more:
St Ann's Hill Ruins - Midhurst - Kastalarústir í Englandi
St Ann's Hill Ruins in Midhurst
The ruins are reduced to a low lying 'wall' circumscribing the top of the hill. It is all grass and a wonderful place to have a picnic. :
A gate at the foot of St Ann's Hill will lead you into the heart of historic Midhurst, :
In 1316 the old St. Ann's Hill house was vandalised. In an attempted law suit the new owner, Sir John's grandson, claimed that the main building, Geldwin's hall, was worth £50 and the furnishings of its two principal rooms were valued at £62 and £12. A separate kitchen was put at £6 13s 4d and a granary contained corn worth £2 8s 4d. Both the domestic chapel and the one on Court Green were by now disused; the empty structures were rated at £5 each. The damage was never paid for and no-one accepted responsibility. The Bohuns may have exaggerated the extent of the destruction and, judging from the finds of 14th century pottery, the hall continued in use, not by them but leased out, perhaps to their steward. The site was abandoned by the 15th century and all traces gradually disappeared. THE RUINS For centuries no-one knew about the structures on the hill. In 1913 they were investigated, together with other historic buildings that formed part of the estates purchased by the first Lord Cowdray. His expert, Sir William St. John Hope, examined the Cowdray Ruins, Easebourne Priory and St. Ann's Hill, interpreting the sites and putting them into context. The deserted hill was hastily dug over by an unskilled workforce and it was decided to build-up above ground level the wall lines that were discovered. This is what we see today. In 1994 a series of key-hole archaeological searches found further evidence which, unlike that of 1913, was fully reported. See more :
A castle on St. Anns Hill, at the southern edge of Midhurst, was built soon after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Built by the de Bohun family, they later moved down to a moated mansion close to the site of todays Cowdray ruins. Foundations show a tower to the right of the gateway, with a chapel next. Then the main hall with probably a kitchen, or outbuildings further. It is also likely that other buildings constructed of timber, stables etc, stood within the walls, of which no evidence now remains. Around 1300 the castle, now empty, was dismantled by the Bishop of Durham, except for the chapel which was recorded as still standing in 1367. See more :
St Ann's Hill was the site of Midhurst's Castle from Norman times until the middle ages. - See more :
Midhurst Castle was originally an Norman earth and timber ringwork fortress. In the 12th century, it was probably the Bohuns who founded the stone fortified manor house, encased by an oval curtain wall. The castle was probably occupied until 1280 and abandoned by the early 14th century, for a new manor house called la Coudraye. The foundations of a residential tower, a hall house, a chapel and a range of buildings remain and a small break in the curtain wall may indicate the site of the gateway. :
St Ann's Hill, which includes a Scheduled Monument, is thickly wooded on three sides with fine mature trees located around its highest part. It rises above and to the east of the historic core and can be seen from many vantage points, making it a green landmark and an essential contributor to the town's character. Several footpaths cross the wooded slopes and could form part of a 'Heritage Walk' for the town. There are excellent views over the town's varied roofscape and the surrounding country. :
Midhurst is the home of English polo and matches are played from May to September. The season's highlight is the Veuve Cliquot Gold Cup attracting international players and large crowds. The Cowdray Estate offers a host of outdoor pursuits including golf, cycling, fishing and clay shooting. See more:
Midhurst is situated in the Wealden Greensand, which lies between the South Downs and the Low Weald. The town is located in the Rother Valley: the River Rother flows east-south-east to join the River Arun near Pulborough, from which point the river flows southwards to reach the sea at Littlehampton. See more: file:///C:/Users/Linda/Downloads/Midhurst_EUS_report_and_maps.pdf
Midhurst - South Pond - Mallard - Goose - Endur - Gæsir - Tjarnarlíf
Midhurst - The South Pond - West Sussex - Birds paradise. Lítil tjörn í Englandi. A walk around the pond at Midhurst - South Pond. Birds - Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos - Stokkendur - and Canada goose - Branta canadensis - Brandgás - Kanadagæs - Kanadagæs er friðuð á Íslandi - The black head and neck with a white chinstrap distinguish the Canada goose from all other goose species.
The South Pond Group is a community project committed to the improvement of South Pond and Jubilee Path, in Midhurst, West Sussex. We joined together in the summer of 2012 because it was clear that the wildlife around the pond was seriously out of balance, and the potential of South Pond area as a more dynamic part of Midhurst life was not being fulfilled. See more:
South Pond is the second oldest structure in Midhurst, second only to St. Ann's Castle: it is thought to have been dammed in the early 12th century as a fish-pond for the Castle. To the west the South Mill was in existence by 1284, and used initially to grind corn. In 1634 it was converted to a fulling mill, and in the mid-1800s it was converted again to leather production.[41] The pond is prone to silting due to its underlying greensand geology, and has in recent years become polluted and lifeless, in large part due to over-population of ducks as a result of artificial feeding. The South Pond Group was established in 2012 to conserve and develop the area around the South Pond as a wildlife corridor. Activities include clearance parties, water quality monitoring, newsletters, talks and maintaining notice and interpretation boards. Major renovation works, involving dredging and establishing reed and waterplant beds to reconstitute the natural ecology, capable of supporting a full range of pond life, were undertaken in 2014– 2015, under the leadership of the South Pond Group with community support. See more:
Midhurst's South Pond has a history as old as the town itself. It is fed by two streams which were once the boundaries of Saxon settlements. For more than a millenium those streams have seperated Cocking from Bepton on one side and from Heyshott on the other.The Wharf, South Pond. The South Pond was formed when one of the medieval lords of Midhurst dammed the streams with the object of making a breeding pool for the fish which the household ate on Fridays and in Lent. There were perch, bream, tench, roach and carp. The lord's servants netted them from a boat but the Earl was only permitted to catch those in his own sector, using a rod and line. The Bridge at South Pond. The old boundary disappeared when the land was flooded, and was marked by a row of stakes. South Pond and Lower Pond 1632 map Down one side is a brook, formed by the overflow from South Pond. Most of this area was flooded deliberately in the mid-16tth century by the first Viscount Montague of Cowdray with the object of creating another holding place for his fish. This was necessary because the pond had become polluted. The slaughterhouses of butchers in West Street were illegally dumping carion there and this, combined with excreta from humans and from their pigs kept in backyards, made it very unwholesome.The slaughterers were supposed to take their waste products to the pond in Carron Lane - (carrion) Lane, but that involved sending a boy with a handcart on an unprofitable journey. See more:
The South Pond Group is a community project committed to the improvement of South Pond and Jubilee Path, in Midhurst, West Sussex. We are proud of the 800-year history of South Pond, and want to do what we can to address its many challenges, so that its full potential is realised. See more:
During the second year of their lives, Canada geese find a mate. They are monogamous, and most couples stay together all of their lives. If one dies, the other may find a new mate. The female lays from two to nine eggs with an average of five, and both parents protect the nest while the eggs incubate, but the female spends more time at the nest than the male. Its nest is usually located in an elevated area near water such as streams, lakes, ponds, and sometimes on a beaver lodge. Its eggs are laid in a shallow depression lined with plant material and down. See more:
The name Mallard originally referred to any wild drake, and it is sometimes still used this way. It was derived from the Old French malart or mallart for wild drake although its true derivation is unclear. It may be related to, or at least influenced by, an Old High German masculine proper name Madelhart, clues lying in the alternate English forms maudelard or mawdelard. Masle (male) has also been proposed as an influence. See more:
The South Downs National Park - Pendean Sandpit - Midhurst - Sandpittur - Náttúruspjöll
West Lavington - Midhurst - Pendean Sandpit - Sand Filling in the United Kingdom. Mars 2014 - The threat of sand quarries across the Midhurst and Petworth area has returned after the initial report from a government planning inspector. Sandpittur - Fyrst var í mörg ár tekinn sandur úr skóginum en síðan var ákveðið að fylla í risastórar holurnar og planta trjám - Náttúruspjöll.
The South Downs National Park was the Government’s gift to the nation and future generations. In the words of the Park’s own website: “As a National Park, the SDNPA has statutory purposes and socio-economic responsibilities as specified in the Environment Act of 1995 to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area”. This 220,000 square metre site will be a massive scar in the countryside, almost at the centre of the South Downs National Park. The visual impact will be apparent from all directions; including the South Downs Way, the A 286 (and beyond), Cocking Causeway, Bex Lane and Heyshott Down. Quoting from the ‘Mineral Sites Study 2014’ itself: ‘the site is considered to have a High (visual) sensitivity to sand extraction’ and ‘was not considered to be acceptable in the Minerals Development Plan.... 2005 due to landscape impact’ (page 95). In several decades time the pit may be 'reinstated'. This does not mean restored to its former beauty, all they do is slightly re-contour the edges and scatter a few plants. The gigantic hole will remain. This is precisely what is happening to the adjacent Pendean Pit at this time. The large amount of heavy plant required to dig and transport up to 3 million tonnes of sand will hardly be inconspicuous. This site is very close to Midhurst, Cocking, West Lavington and Heyshott and depending on the wind direction, it will be heard over large areas and on occasion cars will suffer a mild dusting of sand. Many HGV movements, over many years, will be required to transport the three million tonnes of sand. They will pose a danger when they meet the A286 at the fast stretch south of ‘The Greyhound’, which is already an accident black spot. The nearest connection with a ‘Strategic Lorry Route’ is the junction of the A272 with the A3(T) at Petersfield, over 11 miles away. They will damage (already potholed) country lanes and will have to pass through small villages and towns such as Midhurst, damaging fragile architecture and causing nuisance to the inhabitants. The old workings at Pendean have a well documented history of causing flooding, landslides and damage to Costers Brook by silting and erosion. Hawkhurst Farm is much closer to the brook and even more likely to cause severe problems. See more:
Chief planning officer at the South Downs National Park, Tim Slaney has warned that former proposals for soft sand quarries will have to be re-examined on the orders of the planning inspector who carried out an examination into the park and West Sussex County Council’s joint mineral local plan. He told members of the planning committee the soft sand policies had been expected to have a ‘difficult passage’ through the examination because of a ‘significant under supply’. He added that while there were no allocations inside the park boundaries in the draft plan ‘this is something we are going to have to look closely at’. “By and large the principle of being more careful about allocations inside the national park is sound,” said Mr Slaney, “but if there is that much of a lack of aggregates coming forward from soft sand, that’s where the inspector said he would like us to go back and have another look.” See more:
They had been hoping their battles were over when in March last year the county council and the national park published their draft minerals plan ditching all sand quarry sites inside the national park. Instead only Ham Farm at Steyning, outside the park, was allocated for soft sand extraction. As campaigners try to digest what the inspector’s initial view will mean for their areas, chairman of Bepton Parish Council, Howard Ewing told the Observer: “We would be very concerned if this meant the sites at the Severals came back into play. “There are very serious environmental, conservation, habitats and traffic issues which should rule out the Severals sites in planning terms, not to mention make them non-viable. See more:
West Lavington - Midhurst - Pendean Sandpit - Massive scar in the countryside - Sandpittur
West Lavington - Midhurst - Pendean Sandpit - Sand Filling in the United Kingdom. Mars 2014 - The threat of sand quarries across the Midhurst and Petworth area has returned after the initial report from a government planning inspector. Sandpittur - Fyrst var í mörg ár tekinn sandur úr skóginum en síðan var ákveðið að fylla í risastórar holurnar og planta trjám - Náttúruspjöll. Gigantic hole will remain
The South Downs National Park was the Government’s gift to the nation and future generations. In the words of the Park’s own website: “As a National Park, the SDNPA has statutory purposes and socio-economic responsibilities as specified in the Environment Act of 1995 to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area”. This 220,000 square metre site will be a massive scar in the countryside, almost at the centre of the South Downs National Park. The visual impact will be apparent from all directions; including the South Downs Way, the A 286 (and beyond), Cocking Causeway, Bex Lane and Heyshott Down. Quoting from the ‘Mineral Sites Study 2014’ itself: ‘the site is considered to have a High (visual) sensitivity to sand extraction’ and ‘was not considered to be acceptable in the Minerals Development Plan.... 2005 due to landscape impact’ (page 95). In several decades time the pit may be 'reinstated'. This does not mean restored to its former beauty, all they do is slightly re-contour the edges and scatter a few plants. The gigantic hole will remain. This is precisely what is happening to the adjacent Pendean Pit at this time. The large amount of heavy plant required to dig and transport up to 3 million tonnes of sand will hardly be inconspicuous. This site is very close to Midhurst, Cocking, West Lavington and Heyshott and depending on the wind direction, it will be heard over large areas and on occasion cars will suffer a mild dusting of sand. Many HGV movements, over many years, will be required to transport the three million tonnes of sand. They will pose a danger when they meet the A286 at the fast stretch south of ‘The Greyhound’, which is already an accident black spot. The nearest connection with a ‘Strategic Lorry Route’ is the junction of the A272 with the A3(T) at Petersfield, over 11 miles away. They will damage (already potholed) country lanes and will have to pass through small villages and towns such as Midhurst, damaging fragile architecture and causing nuisance to the inhabitants. The old workings at Pendean have a well documented history of causing flooding, landslides and damage to Costers Brook by silting and erosion. Hawkhurst Farm is much closer to the brook and even more likely to cause severe problems. See more:
Chief planning officer at the South Downs National Park, Tim Slaney has warned that former proposals for soft sand quarries will have to be re-examined on the orders of the planning inspector who carried out an examination into the park and West Sussex County Council’s joint mineral local plan. He told members of the planning committee the soft sand policies had been expected to have a ‘difficult passage’ through the examination because of a ‘significant under supply’. He added that while there were no allocations inside the park boundaries in the draft plan ‘this is something we are going to have to look closely at’. “By and large the principle of being more careful about allocations inside the national park is sound,” said Mr Slaney, “but if there is that much of a lack of aggregates coming forward from soft sand, that’s where the inspector said he would like us to go back and have another look.” See more:
They had been hoping their battles were over when in March last year the county council and the national park published their draft minerals plan ditching all sand quarry sites inside the national park. Instead only Ham Farm at Steyning, outside the park, was allocated for soft sand extraction. As campaigners try to digest what the inspector’s initial view will mean for their areas, chairman of Bepton Parish Council, Howard Ewing told the Observer: “We would be very concerned if this meant the sites at the Severals came back into play. “There are very serious environmental, conservation, habitats and traffic issues which should rule out the Severals sites in planning terms, not to mention make them non-viable. See more:
West Lavington - Midhurst - Pendean Sandpit - Gigantic hole will remain - Sandpittur
West Lavington - Midhurst - Pendean Sandpit - Sand Filling in the United Kingdom. Mars 2014 - The threat of sand quarries across the Midhurst and Petworth area has returned after the initial report from a government planning inspector. Sandpittur - Fyrst var í mörg ár tekinn sandur úr skóginum en síðan var ákveðið að fylla í risastórar holurnar og planta trjám - Náttúruspjöll. Gigantic hole will remain.
The South Downs National Park was the Government’s gift to the nation and future generations. In the words of the Park’s own website: “As a National Park, the SDNPA has statutory purposes and socio-economic responsibilities as specified in the Environment Act of 1995 to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area”. This 220,000 square metre site will be a massive scar in the countryside, almost at the centre of the South Downs National Park. The visual impact will be apparent from all directions; including the South Downs Way, the A 286 (and beyond), Cocking Causeway, Bex Lane and Heyshott Down. Quoting from the ‘Mineral Sites Study 2014’ itself: ‘the site is considered to have a High (visual) sensitivity to sand extraction’ and ‘was not considered to be acceptable in the Minerals Development Plan.... 2005 due to landscape impact’ (page 95). In several decades time the pit may be 'reinstated'. This does not mean restored to its former beauty, all they do is slightly re-contour the edges and scatter a few plants. The gigantic hole will remain. This is precisely what is happening to the adjacent Pendean Pit at this time. The large amount of heavy plant required to dig and transport up to 3 million tonnes of sand will hardly be inconspicuous. This site is very close to Midhurst, Cocking, West Lavington and Heyshott and depending on the wind direction, it will be heard over large areas and on occasion cars will suffer a mild dusting of sand. Many HGV movements, over many years, will be required to transport the three million tonnes of sand. They will pose a danger when they meet the A286 at the fast stretch south of ‘The Greyhound’, which is already an accident black spot. The nearest connection with a ‘Strategic Lorry Route’ is the junction of the A272 with the A3(T) at Petersfield, over 11 miles away. They will damage (already potholed) country lanes and will have to pass through small villages and towns such as Midhurst, damaging fragile architecture and causing nuisance to the inhabitants. The old workings at Pendean have a well documented history of causing flooding, landslides and damage to Costers Brook by silting and erosion. Hawkhurst Farm is much closer to the brook and even more likely to cause severe problems. See more:
Chief planning officer at the South Downs National Park, Tim Slaney has warned that former proposals for soft sand quarries will have to be re-examined on the orders of the planning inspector who carried out an examination into the park and West Sussex County Council’s joint mineral local plan. He told members of the planning committee the soft sand policies had been expected to have a ‘difficult passage’ through the examination because of a ‘significant under supply’. He added that while there were no allocations inside the park boundaries in the draft plan ‘this is something we are going to have to look closely at’. “By and large the principle of being more careful about allocations inside the national park is sound,” said Mr Slaney, “but if there is that much of a lack of aggregates coming forward from soft sand, that’s where the inspector said he would like us to go back and have another look.” See more:
They had been hoping their battles were over when in March last year the county council and the national park published their draft minerals plan ditching all sand quarry sites inside the national park. Instead only Ham Farm at Steyning, outside the park, was allocated for soft sand extraction. As campaigners try to digest what the inspector’s initial view will mean for their areas, chairman of Bepton Parish Council, Howard Ewing told the Observer: “We would be very concerned if this meant the sites at the Severals came back into play. “There are very serious environmental, conservation, habitats and traffic issues which should rule out the Severals sites in planning terms, not to mention make them non-viable. See more:
Midhurst Common - Boy´s on motorbikes - Strákar á mótorhjolum
A walk in Midhurst Common and saw this guy´s practicing on a bikes. Quarry area.
For people who like to ride Motorcycles :
West Lavington - Midhurst - Pendean Sandpit - Gigantic hole will remain - Sandpittur
West Lavington - Midhurst - Pendean Sandpit - Sand Filling in the United Kingdom. Mars 2014 - The threat of sand quarries across the Midhurst and Petworth area has returned after the initial report from a government planning inspector. Sandpittur - Fyrst var í mörg ár tekinn sandur úr skóginum en síðan var ákveðið að fylla í risastórar holurnar og planta trjám - Náttúruspjöll. Gigantic hole will remain
The South Downs National Park was the Government’s gift to the nation and future generations. In the words of the Park’s own website: “As a National Park, the SDNPA has statutory purposes and socio-economic responsibilities as specified in the Environment Act of 1995 to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area”. This 220,000 square metre site will be a massive scar in the countryside, almost at the centre of the South Downs National Park. The visual impact will be apparent from all directions; including the South Downs Way, the A 286 (and beyond), Cocking Causeway, Bex Lane and Heyshott Down. Quoting from the ‘Mineral Sites Study 2014’ itself: ‘the site is considered to have a High (visual) sensitivity to sand extraction’ and ‘was not considered to be acceptable in the Minerals Development Plan.... 2005 due to landscape impact’ (page 95). In several decades time the pit may be 'reinstated'. This does not mean restored to its former beauty, all they do is slightly re-contour the edges and scatter a few plants. The gigantic hole will remain. This is precisely what is happening to the adjacent Pendean Pit at this time. The large amount of heavy plant required to dig and transport up to 3 million tonnes of sand will hardly be inconspicuous. This site is very close to Midhurst, Cocking, West Lavington and Heyshott and depending on the wind direction, it will be heard over large areas and on occasion cars will suffer a mild dusting of sand. Many HGV movements, over many years, will be required to transport the three million tonnes of sand. They will pose a danger when they meet the A286 at the fast stretch south of ‘The Greyhound’, which is already an accident black spot. The nearest connection with a ‘Strategic Lorry Route’ is the junction of the A272 with the A3(T) at Petersfield, over 11 miles away. They will damage (already potholed) country lanes and will have to pass through small villages and towns such as Midhurst, damaging fragile architecture and causing nuisance to the inhabitants. The old workings at Pendean have a well documented history of causing flooding, landslides and damage to Costers Brook by silting and erosion. Hawkhurst Farm is much closer to the brook and even more likely to cause severe problems. See more:
Chief planning officer at the South Downs National Park, Tim Slaney has warned that former proposals for soft sand quarries will have to be re-examined on the orders of the planning inspector who carried out an examination into the park and West Sussex County Council’s joint mineral local plan. He told members of the planning committee the soft sand policies had been expected to have a ‘difficult passage’ through the examination because of a ‘significant under supply’. He added that while there were no allocations inside the park boundaries in the draft plan ‘this is something we are going to have to look closely at’. “By and large the principle of being more careful about allocations inside the national park is sound,” said Mr Slaney, “but if there is that much of a lack of aggregates coming forward from soft sand, that’s where the inspector said he would like us to go back and have another look.” See more:
They had been hoping their battles were over when in March last year the county council and the national park published their draft minerals plan ditching all sand quarry sites inside the national park. Instead only Ham Farm at Steyning, outside the park, was allocated for soft sand extraction. As campaigners try to digest what the inspector’s initial view will mean for their areas, chairman of Bepton Parish Council, Howard Ewing told the Observer: “We would be very concerned if this meant the sites at the Severals came back into play. “There are very serious environmental, conservation, habitats and traffic issues which should rule out the Severals sites in planning terms, not to mention make them non-viable. See more:
Weekends Are For Nature Walks
Saturday evening nature walk with my boyfriend, my pit bull Pickles, and myself (Sarah Beth).
See more at
Music: Half Moon Run- Hands in the Garden
P.S I know my stair jumping skills are horrible; Pickles was in the way.....