Wildlife and Nature near Chichester
Harbour birds, Downs habitats and local wildlife
The natural environment around Chichester is remarkably rich and varied, with three distinct landscapes, the harbour, the coastal plain and the South Downs, each supporting their own communities of wildlife. For a city of its size, the access to nature is exceptional, and the combination of protected habitats and a mild southern climate creates conditions in which a wide range of species flourish.
Chichester Harbour is the most important wildlife site in the area. The tidal mudflats and salt marshes support internationally significant populations of overwintering birds, and the harbour is designated as a Special Protection Area and a Ramsar wetland site in recognition of this. Between October and March, huge flocks of brent geese arrive from Siberia and spread across the harbour and the surrounding fields. Dunlin, grey plover, curlew, redshank, oystercatcher and many other wading species feed on the exposed mud at low tide, creating one of the great birdwatching spectacles of the south coast.
In the harbour channels, little egrets, cormorants and grey herons are a common sight. Kingfishers flash along the creeks, and in summer, little terns and sandwich terns fish in the shallows. The salt marshes support specialist plants, including glasswort and sea purslane, and the transition from mudflat to marsh to grassland creates a mosaic of habitats that supports an equally diverse range of invertebrates.
The South Downs to the north of Chichester provide a completely different set of habitats. The chalk grassland on the upper slopes is one of the richest habitats in Britain for wildflowers and butterflies. In summer, the downland turf is alive with orchids, scabious, thyme and other chalk-loving plants, and the butterflies include chalkhill blue, Adonis blue, marbled white and dark green fritillary. Skylarks sing over the open grassland, and yellowhammers, corn buntings and linnets inhabit the farmland margins.
The ancient woodland on the scarp slope of the Downs harbours bluebells, wood anemones and primroses in spring, and supports populations of dormice, badgers, roe deer and a rich variety of woodland birds including woodpeckers, nuthatches and treecreepers.
The coastal plain between Chichester and the sea, though intensively farmed, still supports wildlife in the hedgerows, field margins and along the waterways. Barn owls hunt over the fields at dusk, and brown hares are occasionally seen in the open arable land.
The Sussex Wildlife Trust, the RSPB and the Chichester Harbour Conservancy all run events, guided walks and volunteering activities in the area, providing opportunities for residents to engage with the wildlife on their doorstep.
The ancient woodland on the scarp slope of the Downs harbours bluebells, wood anemones and primroses in spring, creating carpets of colour beneath the trees that attract visitors from across the region. The woodland supports populations of dormice, badgers, roe deer and a rich variety of woodland birds including woodpeckers, nuthatches, treecreepers and, in summer, various species of warbler whose songs fill the canopy.
The coastal plain between Chichester and the sea, though intensively farmed, still supports wildlife in the hedgerows, field margins and along the waterways. Barn owls hunt over the fields at dusk, their pale forms ghosting along the hedge lines, and brown hares are occasionally seen in the open arable land during the early morning and evening hours.
The Sussex Wildlife Trust, the RSPB and the Chichester Harbour Conservancy all run events, guided walks and volunteering activities in the area, providing opportunities for residents to engage with the wildlife on their doorstep and to contribute to the conservation work that keeps these habitats in good condition. For a city of its size, Chichester access to nature is exceptional, and the variety of habitats within a short distance of the city centre means that there is always something to see, in every season of the year.