The following is part of the text from a study commissioned by the Worthing Society into the area that will be effected by the development

 Annex B

ECOLOGY                                                                                                         

Location

1. The area covered by this report is shown in the aerial photograph at Appendix 1  and has been mapped by the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre (SBRC)  whose invaluable help is acknowledged in compiling this report. (Maps 1 and 2  at Appendix 1). It comprises the Parkland (18.6 hectares), the Walled Garden (0.52 hectares) and the Built Area (3.48 hectares)[1]

Status and Designations

2. This part of the Castle Goring Estate has changed very little in the last 200 years. The Built Area (Area B on Map 2) includes the Grade I-listed Castle Goring and adjacent Grade II properties, all within a Local Conservation Area. Goring Wood and the Roundel, to the west and south (both within the designated National Park boundary) and Garden Wood (which we seek to include within the boundary) are within the local Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Map 1 and Ref 1) and are covered by a Tree Preservation Order (Ref 2). This SNCI should be seen in the context of the neighbouring Highdown and Ferring Rife SNCIs shown on this map.

3. The Parkland (Area A1 on Map 2) consists of semi-improved grassland, and is classified Grade 3, ‘best and most versatile land’ (BMV), and is used for sheep grazing. Garden Wood could be described as Wood Pasture. There is no evidence of any intensive agricultural practice. It should also be noted that the Parkland is defined in Worthing Borough Council’s West Durrington Development Brief as an area in which no development will be permitted. The Walled Garden (Area A2) is Grade 2-listed and with Forest Farm and its Great Crested Newt population and Bat roosts, together with those in the Grade 2-listed Mews/Hermitage, are complementary habitats. Photographs of the parkland, illustrating these habitats are at Appendix 2.

Survey Work

4. The area we propose for inclusion is on the edge of the woodland area already designated by the CA for inclusion in the National Park. The importance of linear features, corridors for wildlife and their habitats, are very well documented (English Nature Ref 3). The whole area is an important component in the woodland mosaic and has been covered in detailed survey work contained in SBRC’s Directory (Ref 4).. The Parkland is a logical transitional element.

5. The two major surveys conducted in the recent past (Refs 5 and 6) are important, well-informed work that has relevance to the proposed extension area. As an amateur naturalist, I do not claim any similar authority but as a Tree Warden and member of a number of environmental and ecological bodies I believe I am qualified to add to this data. Apart from the usual botanical and other references for identification purposes, the publications listed in References 7 - 11. have been very helpful and are Standard Expert References.

6. Over a period of about ten years I have observed, on a casual basis, the species recorded in Appendix 3 of this annex. This list is far from complete and should be noted in the context of the published material referred to in paragraphs 4 and 5. 

Conclusion

7. The character and naturalness of the area, and the owners’ management practices have contributed to the ecological diversity and interest. The potential value of the area to the National Park should not be underestimated; coupled with its intrinsic appeal it will be advantageous to existing floral and faunal communities.

References:

1.      West Sussex Sites of Nature Conservation Importance: Titnore and Goring Woods. Ref W4. 1994

2.      TPO/2/75/CL, Worthing Borough Council 1975

3.      English Nature No60. Linear Habitats and Wild Life Corridors. 1993

4.      SBRC Environmental Survey Directory 1.11.2000

5.      Environmental Statement, FPD Savills, September 2001

6.      Landfill Site at Titnore Road, Appendix 1 and 4. Chris Blandford Associates Ltd and P J Masters, 1991.

7.      The South East from AD 1000. P Brandon and B Short,1990

8.      Vision for the Wildlife of Sussex. Sussex Wildlife Trust, 1996.

9.      Trees and Woodland in the British Landscape. Oliver Rackham 1996

10.  The History of the Countryside. Oliver Rackham 1996

11.  The South Downs. Peter Brandon 1998 

Appendix 1: Photographs and Maps       

1.      Aerial Photograph, English Monuments Record, 1992

2.      Map 1: Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre. Sites of Nature Conservation Importance, Ferring, West Sussex ESD/00/217 01/11/00

3.      Map 2 : Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre. Land at Castle Goring ESD/03/496 03/12/03 

Appendix 2: Flora and Habitats – Photographs

            [to be displayed two per A4 sheet, each photo under the relevant caption]

1.                  Semi-improved grassland, SNCI woodland edge

2.                  Parkland – pasture and linear features

3.                  Garden Wood – wood pasture and Walled Garden

4.                  Garden Wood – wood and Walled Garden from boundary edge

5.                  Roundel – ruderal scrubland, pastureland, forage land and wildlife corridor

6.                  Forest Farm – Great Crested Newt and Bat site adjacent to linear feature and boundary edge 

Appendix 3: Species List

(Ratings -          D=Dominant, A=Abundant, F=Frequent, O=Occasional, R=Rare)

1. Trees & Shrubs - seen

Quercus robur                                     Common Oak             A

Fraxinus excelsior                                Ash                             A

Betula pendula                                    Silver Birch                  F

Acer campestre                                  Field Maple                  F

Corylus avellana                                 Hazel                            F

Craetagus monogyna                          Hawthorn                     F

Euonymus europeus                            Spindle                        O

Fagus sylvatica                                   Beech                          O

Ilex aquifolium                                    Holly                            O

Ligustrum vulgare                               Wild Privet                   R

Malus sylvestris                                  Crab Apple                  R

Prunus avium                                      Wild Cherry                 R

Prunus spinosa                                    Blackthorn                  O        

            Rosa spp                                           Field/Dog Rose            F

            Rubus fruticosus agg                           Bramble                      A

            Salix caprea                                        Goat Willow                R

            Sambucus nigra                                   Elder                           O

            Ulmus sp                                             Elm                              R

            Viburnum lantana                                Wayfaring Tree             R

            V. opulus                                            Guelder Rose                R

            Picea sp                                             Spruce                         R

            Pinus sylvestris                                     Scots Pine                    R

            Alnus glutinosa                                     Alder                            O

            Acer pseudoplatanus                            Sycamore                     F 

2. Ground Layer- recorded

Carex pendula                                     Pendulous Sedge           R

Carex sylvatica                                    Wood Sedge                 F

Hyacinthoides non-scripta                    Bluebell                        F

Agrostis sp                                          Bent Grass                     D

Deschampsia caespitasa                       Tufted Hair- Grass         A

Holcus lanatus                                      Yorkshire Fog                F

Phleum pratense                                    Timothy                         A

Dactylis glomerata                                 Cocksfoot                     A

Dryopteris sp                                         Fern                             F

Clematis vitalba                                     Traveller’s Joy            O        

Lonicera periclymenum                          Honeysuckle                O

Bryonia cretica                                       White Briony                O

Tamus communis                                    Black Briony                O

Hedera helix                                           Ivy                               A

Urtica dioica                                          Nettle                           A

Geranium robertianium                           Herb Robert                 F

Mercurialis perennis                               Dog Mercury                F 

Lower Plants, Bryophytes, Lichens & Fungi not included. 

3. Mammals – seen/detected

Pipistrellus pipistrellus                           Pipistrelle Bat               A                    

            Eptesicus serotinus                               Serotine Bat                O

Myotis natterii                                      Natterers Bat               R

Nyctalis noctua                                    Noctule Bat                  F

Plecotus auritus                                    Long-eared Bat            F

Talpa europea                                      Mole                            O

Sorex araneus                                      Common Shrew            F

Muscadinus avellanarius                       Dormouse                     R

Clethriomimys glaroelus                        Bank Vole                    F

Apodemus sylvaticus                           Wood Mouse                F

Scurius caroliensis                                Grey Squirrel                D

Mustela nivalis                                     Weasel                         O

Vulpes vulpes                                       Fox                              F 

4. Birds – seen/heard

Garrulus glaudarius                               Jay                              

Phasianus colchicus                              Pheasant

Fringilla coelebs                                   Chaffinch

Corvus corone corone                         Carrion Crow

Columba livia                                       Wood Pigeon

Erithacus rubecula                                Robin

Phylloscopus collybita                          Chiffchaff

Troglodytes troglodytes                        Wren

Pica pica                                              Magpie

Prunella modularis                                Dunnock

Dendrocopus major                             Great Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopus minor                            Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Certhia familiaris                                  Tree Creeper

Strix aluco                                           Tawny Owl

Falco tinniniculus                                  Kestrel

Parus major                                         Great Tit

Aegithalus candatus                              Long-tailed Tit

Turdus merula                                      Blackbird

Sitta europea                                        Nuthatch

Sylvia communis                                   Whitethroat 

5. Insects – seen/heard

Syrphus ribesii                                      Common Hoverfly

Formica rufa                                        Wood Ant

Vespula vulgaris                                    Common Wasp

Aeshna mixta                                        Hawker Dragonfly

Aeshna grandis                                     Brown Hawker

Sympetrum striolatum                           Common Darter

Enallagma ciathigerum                           Common Blue Damselfly

Ischnura elegans                                    Blue-tailed Damselfly

Artogeia rapae                                     Small White Butterfly

Pararge aegeria                                     Speckled Wood Butterfly

Maniola jurtina                                    Meadow Brown Butterfly

Pyronia tithonus                                    Gate Keeper Butterfly

Polygonia c-album                                Comma Butterfly

Vanessa cardui                                    Red Admiral Butterfly

Tyria jacobaeae                                    The Cinnabar Moth

Omocestus viridulus                              Common Green Grasshopper

Corthippus parallelus                             Meadow Grasshopper

Meconema thalassininium                       Oak Bush Cricket

Apis mellifera                                         Honey Bee

Bombus terrestris                                   Buff-tailed Bumble Bee

Coccinella 7-punctata                             7-Spot Ladybird

Araneus diadematus                              Garden Spider   

6. Amphibians/Molluscs

Rana temporaria                                     Common Frog

Triturus cristatus                                    Great Crested Newt

Cepaea nemoralis                                  Brown Lipped Snail

Helix aspersa                                         Garden Snail

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Recordings of Birds in Titnore Woods Sept '06 - Jan '07

Taken by a Resident of Camp Titnore

Possible recordings

Recordings of Trees in South Lodge Rue Sept '06 - Jan '07

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