Friends of The Ham Brook

20/02/2026

Re Littering along Priors Lease Lane / Ham Brook. This is a real problem location, however a massive thanks to a few of the groups brilliant members and local councillor for reporting to CDC 👍🏼. We are grateful for the response below 😀

Great response from CDC James Harris: 'I will arrange collection of the bags/plastic. I have also raised a job to litter pick this stretch of road & get some of that hard to reach litter as well. We are fortunate enough to have several volunteers in the area.. We will continue to support their activities in any way we can but appreciate that the solution to this issue is to prevent the littering from happening in the first place. I understand this is a difficult task however as we have a good idea of where the waste is coming from. My hope is that something can be done to improve the issue here. '

👍🏼❤️

Ps Sorry , a borrowed pic from yesterdays litter pick

06/02/2026

I know this is another similar negative post , but I just wanted to show you how common this is during our increasingly wet weather.

This CSO shown clearly in available data , shows that the current non stop spilling in well over 30 hours now - into a chalk stream ( referred to as our Amazon Forest of unique habitat , into a public space at the Ford - into a SSSi ( Nutbourne Marshes ) and then into Chichester Harbour - National Landscape - A Ramsar site - gifted the highest protection in the world . Ps I’m happy to be corrected on this- as I am just the amateur in the room 🫣👍🏼

Now add in 1200 plus new houses , if the expansion of Southbourne is granted in the catchment of the Ham Brook

30/01/2026

Hi all

I’m attaching another video from 27 th January regarding flooding of the Ham Brook and CSO sewage spills into public spaces. During this flood, a few days ago, we had 35 hours of continuous CSO sewage spill into public into the Ham Brook , which flowed down stream with waters breaching the banks , creating ‘Sewage Soup ‘ for walkers and residents to walk through … with no warning to public

Is this an environmental risk to public ? Should the EA or Southern Water warn the public ? Should local govt be reacting ?

Or … is this just what we should get used to in the coming years , especially with well over 1000 houses possibly being built in the Ham Brook catchment ?

Ps Please take a look tomorrow ( Saturday) post further heavy rain and post this or any videos to your friends that might help coming this way over the weekend

27/01/2026

After around 6 hours overnight rainfall the Breakers Yard CSO is spilling a mixture of rainfall and sewage ( with toilet paper etc ). This all backs up from the Pumping Station next to the Ford off Farm Lane, backing up around 100 metres and dumping directly into the Ham Brook. Unfortunately on its way down, the Brook is breaching the banks and leaving a ‘ Sewage soup ‘ deep and dirty on Farm lane. Please wash any boots/ dogs paws and drive carefully through the flood . I am passing onto the CDC once more. Is basic health signage the least that Southern Water / Council / EA , could do, for people unaware to this spill ? district council 🙏

14/12/2025

After speaking with Southern Water team on site, they have filled us in with details of a burst mains sewage pipe. The pipe leaves the pumping station on its journey to Thornham sewage works and has caused the flooding of a garden just off Farm Lane. Unfortunately, quite a lot of sewage entered the Ham Brook, before SW were alerted and got the situation under control. The Lorries have been tanking off all sewage entering the pumping station whilst the pipe has been found and hopefully mended. It’s the second failure of the main pipe , and may be associated with the recent heavy rainfall. We hope to find out subsequent thoughts and assurances from Southern Water regarding any future damage to local residents property , the Ham Brook and the SSSi - Nutbourne Marshes . This is a highly protected site of special interest for nature. FOTH group

Ps Farm Lane and local manhole leaks should have all been cleared of sewage / toilet paper etc

18/11/2025

Another very relevant one

People in Sussex have been urged to 'play their part', amid the increasing risk of a drought in 2026.
Widespread impacts are expected on nature, agriculture, and navigation without sustained rain before the end of March 2026.
Story in comments

18/11/2025

We are so lucky to have a pretty constant flow of water from the Bore hole at the old Watercress beds and natural spring . Our Riverfly sampling is giving scores of between 7-13 pretty good compared to the scores of between 1-5 on the River Ems. Remember 0 is basically dead … no measured invertebrates . No water , no life .

21/10/2025

We have Water voles on the Ham Brook

23/04/2025

One for the diary - Guided bird Survey with CDC Strategic Wildlife Corridor Officer - Mark McManus Tuesday 29 th April Approx 7.30 - 10.30 am - meet on Priors Lease Lane to the front of Black Barn site Su 78155 06200 . Parking very limited - so suggest walking down from Hambrook - Times will be confirmed soon on here. reserve your place by reply on this facebook post ( spaces limited ) .

06/03/2025

We’ve done a thing! 🙌🥳