We were delighted to see so many at our AGM in the Village Hall on 22nd October. Our Chairman, Mick Denness, reported on the our activities throughout the year, followed by the presentation of the accounts (we are keeping our head above water). Mick then gave an illustrated talk on our recently completed major project – the securing of the river bank in Fryern Dell.
Our guest speaker, David Petrie from IGas, presented an informative illustrated account of the extraction of oil at the Storrington well, from the application for permission to explore the site in 1985 up to the present. Currently permission runs up to 2018. Four wells have been drilled, only one being active at present. David stressed that IGas is concerned to be a good neighbour, as well as being closely regulated. Their work here has caused no major concern, and in due course the site will be returned to its former use. IGas has a Community Fund, and has made £16,830 worth of grants in Storrington to date. Our Society has benefitted from their grant for materials for the river bank project.
We also benefited from a grant for this work from Arun & Rother Connections. The ARC Project is a partnership between Southdowns National Park Authority, West Sussex County Council, the Environment Agency, Sussex Wildlife Trust, the RSPB, the Arun and Rother Rivers Trust and Natural England. Its aim is to help local communities to deal with issues such as pollution, flooding, invasive species, declining wildlife, and to encourage people to engage with nature.
Our work party on 5th November enjoyed the autumn colours while carrying on with clearing the bank of the pond in Fryern Dell. This work continues on 3rd December, 10.00-12.00. We always have a break for coffee and chat Anyone interested in our work, or perhaps joining us, is welcome to come along. For details of the Thursday work party on 15th December at 2.00pm, please refer to our website.
For information about this and all our activities, or becoming a member, please get in touch with Mick Denness on 01903 745971, or look on our website www.storringtonconservation.org.uk.
We wish all our readers and supporters a Merry Christmas and an environmentally friendly New Year.