Wishing all of you who visit, appreciate and champion Chesworth Farm, a very happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year
Posted by: lhct | December 24, 2021
Christmas greetings
Posted in Public | Tags: Chesworth Farm, wreath-making
Posted by: lhct | December 17, 2021
Cattle grazing in public fields
Location map
Posted in Public | Tags: British White Cattle, Chesworth Farm, Great Horsham Hill, Jenny Bare Legs
Posted by: lhct | November 17, 2021
Cattle on the move this week
Update from Horsham District Council: “It’s that time of year again when the cows will be grazing the publicly accessible fields on the farm. This week will see the British White cattle moving to Spring Barn and Gravel Pit fields so please be aware if you are horse riding, dog walking or exercising in this area…”
Posted in Public | Tags: British White Cattle, Gravel Pit, grazing, Horsham District Council, Spring Barn
Posted by: lhct | November 12, 2021
Discoveries on the Friends’ fungi walk ’21
Every season it is a lucky dip as to what we will see fungi-wise on the farm. Visitors on this year’s fungi walk, led as in past years by local enthusiast Jonathan Simons, recorded nearly 20 species. We had four brand new ones to add to the farm’s running total of 211. These were Yellowing Knight, Angel’s Bonnet, Purplepore Bracket and Fairy Ring Mushrooms. The most dramatic was a hefty Giant Puff Ball. At the other end of the scale were some tiny – and virtually unidentifiable – specimens, mostly found on rotting timber. Plus the distraction of a splendid Sabre Ichneumon Wasp, the longest species of parasitoid wasp in the UK.
If you would like to see the full list of this year’s November sightings, please find the full report on our Resources page. With thanks to Jonathan Simons, supported by David Verrall and Tim Thomas.
Photographs (clockwise from top left): Deceiver (Samantha Verrall) , Fairy Ring Mushroom, Giant Puff Ball, Sabre Ichneumon Wasp (Samantha Verrall), tiny unidentified species, Angel’s Bonnet, Purplepore Bracket (all remaining photos David Verrall)
Posted in Public | Tags: Chesworth Farm, David Verrall, Friends of Chesworth Farm, fungi, Jonathan Simons, Samantha Verrall, Tim Thomas
Posted by: lhct | October 19, 2021
Cattle return to farm
The council’s grazing herd of British White cattle has returned to the farm, starting its residence in the enclosed Riverside fields. We hear this unexpected arrival is due to a severed water supply pipe at Chennels Brook Castle, which should have been the cattle’s next scheduled stop. We will share more grazing details when they are finalised by Horsham District Council.
Posted in Public | Tags: British White Cattle, Chesworth Farm, HDC, Horsham District Council, Riverside fields
Posted by: lhct | September 26, 2021
Restoring Nature: key speakers at free talk Mon 27 Sept
Posted by: lhct | September 8, 2021
Look out for bridleway works
Attention! The works on the “Arun Way” bridleway 1670 could start from Wednesday 8 September, and are scheduled to last up to three weeks, it was formally announced on 7 September. See details below.
These West Sussex County Council contracted works, to re-align the bridleway closer to its “legal line” and surface it, will be closely monitored by Forest Neighbourhood Council, as reported by them after their August meeting. Look out for closures, diversions and machinery of course.
Posted in Public | Tags: Arun Way, Bridleway 1670
Posted by: lhct | August 6, 2021
Horsham Green Gym tackle summer tasks
Our friends at Horsham Green Gym (HGG) have again proved they are ready for any wet, muddy and downright awkward task on the farm. Recently it was invasive balsam-pulling and removing aging chicken-wire from the wetland boardwalk.
Team member Matthew Garner reports: “We were pulling up the staples from the boardwalk where it had got a bit dangerous. A never-ending job… It was very sticky and damp this morning and luckily we stopped when we did as it poured down out of nowhere for a good 20 minutes! I was soaked through when I returned home.”
Brilliant work and hopefully worth the drenching. We know Chesworth visitors will appreciate it and join us in thanking you all!
With thanks to members of HGG for the pictures (from top left, clockwise): orange balsam, team at work on boardwalk (Ryan Allison), Luke and Mike “checking out” the observation hide (David Casey), in the wetland (Matthew Garner), wetland nest (David Casey) and orange balsam root (Matthew Garner).
Posted in Public | Tags: Chesworth, HGG, Horsham Green Gym, Matthew Garner, Ryan Allison
Posted by: lhct | June 8, 2021
Join our volunteers
We have some brilliant volunteers who help us run the Friends group. So, to boost their efforts, we’d like to fill some key vacancies.
Chairperson: a dynamic and outgoing individual, ideally who knows and values Chesworth Farm, to head up the group
Secretary: can you organise and minute our formal meetings, monitor our actions and generally keep volunteer communications flowing?
Events co-ordinator: help us set up our conservation tasks and our educational events
To find out more, contact us via chesworthfarm@hotmail.co.uk or tel 07512 966174 (answer machine) or via Horsham District Council Volunteer Sector Support.
Female orange tip butterfly on garlic mustard, by David Verrall, May 2021
Posted in Public | Tags: Chesworth Farm, Friends of Chesworth Farm, HDC, Horsham District Council
Posted by: lhct | June 7, 2021
Thank you to our volunteers
As the district celebrates its volunteers through #volunteer week, the Friends of Chesworth Farm are so grateful to everyone who helps maintain the farm – whether you do this on organised tasks, on administration or informally on your own visits.
This can be by sending in your wildlife sightings and fabulous photos or by reporting items lost or in need of repair, or litter-picking.
Whatever you do, the natural fabric and beauty of the farm benefits from every moment of your enthusiasm, care and time!
Thank you to our volunteers
Posted in Public
Friends of Chesworth Farm 