Chichester Wildfowlers and Conservation Association

09/08/2026

Brilliant turnout this morning at Cobnor for one of many conservation work parties.

Eleven CWCA members attended with a great amount of important conservation work achieved. If any member of the public happens to walk past and is interested in the importance of the harbours upkeep please chat to us. All work carried out by our volunteers who give up their own time and effort for free.

29/06/2026

Chichester Wildfowlers and Conservation Association

Like many Harbours, Estuaries and Fenland areas around the UK, Chichester Harbour also has a rich tradition and heritage of ‘Wildfowling’ dating back hundreds of years.

The ‘Protection of Birds Act 1954’ revolutionised ‘Wildfowling & Conservation’ within the UK and for the first-time balanced conservation with genuine sporting traditions which had always been carried out (and still is to this day) for the sole purpose of harvesting ‘Fowl’ for the pot.

Prior to the act anyone was free to shoot within the harbour, although the best territories were fiercely guarded. During the 1800’s and early 1900’s there were many so-called ‘Market Gunners’ - many of whom in the summer months would earn a living from fishing and farming but come the autumn & winter months would return to their ‘Punts’ in pursuit of duck & geese in order to feed their family.

Following the Act of Parliament in ‘1954’ the marshes, estuaries and harbours became regulated and ’CWCA’ was formed alongside hundreds of other clubs across the UK to regulate the activity by imposing strict rules among membership in order to sustain & increase bird populations of ALL type‘s and not just duck & geese. At the same time ‘Conservation’ became equally as important - as it still is today -consequently ‘CWACA’ along with hundreds of other clubs up and down the country became the founding-fathers of conservation - long before most other modern-day organisations were even formed, such was their foresight.

Picture below is a punt brought locally from Beddingham, Nr Hayling Island, by Mr S.Hoare (pictured below) in the early 1940’s. He was a good friend of Mr H. Pyecroft another well known ‘Punt Gunner’ and Wildfowler whom were the best of shooting, fishing friends.

27/06/2026

More Conservaton News 👀

Earlier this month Seven members of the Southbourne Environment Group attached to Southbourne
Parish Council enjoyed a visit to Cobnor Estate. Diana Beale and Dave Gatrell conducted a tour which included all the conservation projects carried out CWCA. Talks were given by Diana and Dave, SEG members were given a handout on the history of CWCA. Everyone of them were suitably impressed with CWCA’s conservation effort’s. Twelve members of SEG have already booked a tour of Peter Pond for July.

27/06/2026

Nore Barn Woods pond & reedbed conservation project

Part 1/2….

10 years ago the pond was reaching its final stage of 'Plant Succession'. This process
takes open water through reed-beds and silt build-up to young sallow, silver birch and
willow then finally back to full woodland. This is a natural process which results in
ponds and lakes completely disappearing. There is no natural way to reverse plant
succession. The water had virtually gone, and so too had the pond life and insects.
The pond was originally constructed 40 years ago by The Emsworth Wildfowlers
Association, since amalgamated into Chichester Wildfowlers & Conservation Assoc.
It was important that the pond was saved and the plant succession be taken back to its
early stages and held at one fixed stage with regular maintenance. This was going to
take a massive effort, and excavators were ruled out because of the access/
noise/cost and mess it would make to the habitat.
The Friends of Nore Barn Woods (FONBW) manage the woodland, but this project
was going to need huge manpower to save the pond it was decided by FONBW to contact Chichester Wildfowlers & Conservation
Association. An agreement was signed and a management plan was formulated. In
2020, the first work-party by CWCA was attended by 15 members with spades and
rakes, resulting in large amounts of dead reed, branches, leaves and silt being
removed from the pond area. When this type of habitat conservation is carried out, all
forms of wildlife benefit.
Once the dead reed, branches, leaves and silt were removed from the pond, the depth
and quality of the water improved and much pond life started to return. The pond
margins were replanted with sea club rush and bur-reed. There is now open water
once again with emperor dragon, damsel flies, hawkers, water boatman and water
beetles thriving.

27/06/2026

Nore Barn Woods pond & reedbed conservation project

Part 2/2…..

Roy Ewing, Chairman of FONBW said 'I cannot believe what the CWA have achieved.
They really are very knowledgeable about habitat management'. A new management plan has recently been signed with FONBW.
Alan Collyer, Chairman of the Conservation Sub-Committee said, 'What has already
been achieved at Nore Barn pond and reedbed is incredible.In the 1970's- 80's- 90's, the previous club, Chichester Harbour Wildfowlers
Association, managed 14 local ponds and wetlands including Stansted, AIdsworth
Lakes, West Ashling Pond, Fishbourne Ponds, Slipper Mill Pond and South Pond,
Midhurst.
The club won three national conservation awards and in 1979, won the WSCC
Conservation award.
CWCA are currently managing 6 wetlands and 2 reedbeds in the local area, as well as
owning marshes in Chichester Harbour, and an extensive wetland in East Sussex. One
member of CWCA owns Peter Pond at Emsworth and manages the Catchpool at
Chidham Lane, Chidham.

20/05/2026

The Appeal of Wildfowling:

Wildfowling is the pursuit of ducks and geese on tidal marshes and estuaries. People do it for the profound connection with nature, the physical challenge of navigating remote landscapes, the tradition of fieldcraft, and the reward of harvesting sustainable, organic wild meat. For the “fowler”- the appeal goes far beyond simply shooting birds as many a visit to the marsh will result in zero shots taken. The main draws of the sport include:

The Immersion of Solitude and Scenery in Nature:

Wildfowling gets you out at dawn or dusk in remote, rugged environments. Experiencing the marsh waking up or watching a winter sunset brings a sense of isolation and inner peace that is hard to find in modern society.

Weather and Tides:

Unlike casual estuary users, wildfowlers often embrace the worst weather—storms, ice, and strong winds—as in these conditions ducks and geese tend to fly lower therefore it can be more exhilarating.

The Challenge, Fieldcraft and Deep Knowledge Required:

Success demands an intimate understanding of the landscape. You have to learn the complex movements of the tides, avoiding dangerous areas by acquiring knowledge of where to walk safely, the flight paths of the birds, and how to identify them by sight and sound in near darkness.

Hard-Earned Rewards:

Because wildfowl are truly wild and wary which frequent an environment which is harsh, bags are small. Every bird (if fortunate) is extremely hard-earned, which makes the experience highly rewarding.

Conservation and Active Habitat
Management Heritage:

Wildfowlers are deeply tied to the health of the estuaries they frequent. Many join clubs affiliated with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) to actively fund wetland conservation projects, create nesting habitats, warden and monitor bird populations of ALL species including those which are considered red-listed and in decline as a whole such as curlew and lapwing etc.

Heritage and Companionship:

It is often a social tradition passed down through generations or learned through club mentorship programs. Many view working alongside a well-trained dog to retrieve a bird from challenging conditions as the pinnacle of the sport.

Clothing:

In recent times modern material’s have evolved enabling an individual to stay warm and dry within a chosen environment and activity such as golf, cycling etc. Wildfowler‘s are no different. Many “fowlers” opt for a camouflage style (the most popular called “Realtree”) which is designed to help an individual to blend in within a marsh surrounding. To some members of the public this might seem a little “military” on first encounters. However, the reality is that of “simple practicality”. But please bear in mind - beneath any wildfowler’s “Realtree” coat lies a countryman whose vast depth of knowledge, understanding and love of the marsh and wildlife is often unsurpassed.

19/05/2026

Wildfowling wouldn’t be the same without our faithful canine companions.
The magic of being on the foreshore, when most are still tucked up in their beds, and witnessing the wild inhabitants of the harbour awaken is a joy to behold - made even more special when accompanied by man’s best friend. Always “focused and alert“ ready to assist should their master be fortunate enough to harvest a sustainable wild dinner as many generations have gone before. Quite simply these dogs enjoy every moment equal to that of the “fowlers” themselves.

06/04/2026

Lovely brood of ducklings on one of the ponds we manage at Chidham.

So nice to see our efforts are worthwhile.

We are looking forward to continuing our efforts on the foreshore for many years to come.

As always if you see us out and about please stop and have a chat.

03/04/2026

22/03/2026

We were out again this morning clearing one of the many ponds we manage.
It’s always nice when the public engage with us and appreciate the hard work we do for our community and most importantly our local wildlife.
This pond will create a safe space for many species to nest, live and thrive which is what it’s all about for us as a club.
Great work to all the Wildfowlers who showed up and gave their time and efforts on a Sunday morning!