Objective 3 of the CHOG Strategy 2021-25 relates to Conservation:

To participate in, and offer advice on, conservation activities and projects

To support this objective, CHOG advises on and makes donations of funds to conservation projects that enhance the environment of Christchurch Harbour for the preservation and encouragement of wildlife.

Recent CHOG Conservation Projects

Each of the following projects have been part-managed by and received funding from CHOG:

• Fenced area at the northern end of the Sandspit – offering an area of minimal disturbance in the hope of attracting breeding waders, and to act as a refuge at high tides. In 2023, a pair of Ringed Plovers nested within the enclosed area: the first to have bred in the Harbour for 40 years! More details…

• CHOG Swifts – there are three strands to this project: fitting Swift boxes to suitable properties that have been proposed by owners; understanding where Swifts are currently nesting in our area; and approaching owners of suitable properties about fitting boxes for future breeding seasons. In 2023, with the kind help of Hampshire Swifts, we fitted ten boxes, bringing the total number of known and available Swift boxes in our area to 27.

• Extending the fence around Holloway’s Dock to enclose more of the Salt Hurns for wildlife. In 2022, an initial 130m of fencing was installed. In 2023, another 150m was added, funded by CHOG and a generous member contribution. Since the installation of the fencing, greater numbers of birds across a wider variety of species have been recorded within the enclosed area.

• Placement of buoys around Stanpit Bight – to show watercraft users the boundary of where it is recommended to use watercraft in the Harbour. More details…

• Design, production and manufacture of signage – to better inform and educate visitors to the Harbour of its wildlife and other heritage, allowing them to appreciate the reasons for access restrictions and encouraging compliance with notices. The last two signs in this project were put in place on 8th June 2022. As part of this project, CHOG developed guidance for users of watercraft in the Harbour. You can find this guidance, along with information about birds that depend on the Harbour, on our dedicated website page here.

To view larger image

• Renovation of brick building in the Nursery to a Bird Hide. More details…

• Three phases of pool and ditch restoration on Priory Marsh – to improve the attractiveness of the marsh to birds and other wildlife.

• Creation of pools on Central Marsh and by the Visitor Centre at Stanpit, plus a scrape on Central Marsh – to broaden the diversity of habitat on the marsh and attract a wider range of bird and other wildlife species.

• Viewing platform and interpretation signage on Wick – providing a screened viewpoint over the Wick Hams reedbed, with ramped access.