A nationally-important wildlife habitat in Chichester Harbour is to be transferred from West Sussex County Council to a charitable trust – ensuring its protection for future generations.
Eames Farm, on Thorney Island, belongs to the county council at present, but the ownership of the 71.7 hectare (177.1 acres) site will move to the Chichester Harbour Trust on a 999-year lease, with a peppercorn rent.
The trust was formed as an ind
ependent charity in 2002, with the aim of acquiring and conserving land around the harbour of landscape or environmental value, to protect it for public benefit.
"The trust plans to lease the farm to the Harbour Conservancy, which will install a tenant farmer to graze the land on the low-key sustainable basis required to maintain the site's environmental value," said a statement released by the county council this week.
"In the longer term it is intended to use some of the farm outbuildings as an education and visitor centre, showing people the importance of conservation and environmental management.
"The farm will also be an example of environmentally-sensitive farming in an area of outstanding natural beauty."
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The full article contains 266 words and appears in OS-Chichester Observer newspaper.
