The Fire and Rescue team are looking for volunteers to report any fire risk that they find, including fly tipped flammable waste (especially glass, which can act like a magnifying glass), burnt out bbqs and bonfires, or areas with lots of cigarette butts. It helps the fire and rescue service know where they might have an issue that needs additional attention. Volunteers will never be asked to tackle a fire and it’s mainly aimed for ramblers, dog walkers and joggers. I am reliably informed that it comes with a snazzy high viz jacket for dogs that says something similar to “wildfire patrol”. The initiative has been running for a number of years and has been so effective that its been copied by our neighbouring counties, the fire and rescue service are always looking for new volunteers because a good network of well-informed residents is the best way to prevent wildfires.
News Category: Environmental
Keep Garden Birds Healthy This Summer
With the hot summer weather, the RSPB is encouraging people to think carefully about how
they help garden birds.
Many people are surprised to learn that, after cats, one of the biggest causes of premature
death in garden birds is disease spread through dirty bird feeders and the ground beneath
them.
Greenfinches are particularly vulnerable to trichomonosis (sometimes known as
“canker”), a disease that has become increasingly common in finches over recent decades.
The disease is spread through infected saliva on food and in drinking water. Birds that are
unable to swallow often drop contaminated food, which can then infect others. The parasite
survives much longer in damp conditions, such as wet, decomposing food beneath feeders or
in bird baths, than it does on clean, dry surfaces.
For this reason, if you choose to feed birds, it is essential to clean feeders regularly, remove
uneaten food and debris from the ground, and refresh and scrub bird baths frequently. During
very hot weather, it may even be worth taking feeders down for a short period if you cannot
keep them clean, while continuing to provide fresh, clean water.
A clean bird bath can be a lifeline during the summer, but only if the water is changed every
day and the bath is scrubbed regularly to prevent the build-up of harmful organisms.
For more information on keeping garden birds healthy, visit the Vine House Farm guide to
bird feeder hygiene:
https://www.vinehousefarm.co.uk/hygiene
Tree Watering Alert
Young highway trees now need 30–40 litres of water once a week, ideally as one good soak.
Despite the recent rain, Chichester’s trees are still under stress after a very dry spring. Young street trees, especially those under five years old, need help while they establish deeper roots.
If there is a young tree on your road, in your park, or on a regular walk, could you give it a weekly soak? Even better, team up with neighbours and take turns.
Neighbourly watering really can help keep these trees alive and thriving.
Contact Chichester Tree Wardens: info@treesinchi.org
Dog Control Rules in Chichester District
Communities invited to give feedback on dog control rules for the Chichester District
Chichester District Council is asking residents, businesses and community groups to comment on proposed changes to dog control rules across the district.
The council is reviewing its Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for dog control, which is due to expire in October 2026. The proposals include extending dog fouling rules so that dog mess must be cleared up on all publicly accessible land, including some privately owned land that is open to the public.
Existing dog exclusion areas would remain, including fenced children’s play areas, Priory Park, Bishop’s Palace Gardens and the seasonal dog-free section of Selsey Beach. The council is also proposing that all fenced children’s play areas on privately owned land should be dog-free all year round.
The consultation also asks for early views on whether extra dog control measures may be needed in parts of Chichester Harbour, where off-lead dogs can disturb protected birds. People can respond online through the council’s Let’s Talk: Dogs in Public Spaces consultation before 5pm on Friday 5 June 2026. A paper copy can be requested by emailing letstalk@chichester.gov.uk.
Extinct Butterflies spotted back in England
A conservation charity says that a butterfly officially classed as extinct in the UK has been seen at sites across southern England. Back in Autumn 2024, Dr Ray McGlone, a local resident, wrote an article in out Newsletter entitled “The Glamorous Models of the Insect World” in which he talked about his project to raise butterflies that are in decline and release them into the wild. One of those butterflies was the large tortoiseshell!
Read more about the sighting here