Three Harbours Beef
21 Lower Grove Road, Havant, Hampshire PO9 1AS
Tel: 07807 951885 sales@threeharboursbeef.co.uk
www.threeharboursbeef.co.uk
P R E S S R E L E A S E – 2 PAGES
17th May 2015
On 31st May 2015 Three Harbours Beef with The RSPB and
Chichester Harbour Conservancy are holding a free Walks &
Talks experience on the beautiful Coastal Grazing Marshes of
Medmerry Marshes, Earnley, Chichester
This special event is being held to help locals learn more about this
significant RSPB nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest
These stunning coastal marshes, which the Three Harbours cattle graze upon, are part of the
important new Medmerry flood defence scheme.
Our farmers, the RSPB and Chichester
Harbour Conservancy will talk about the scheme in detail, including how and why the land has
been changed to benefit and protect the local community and promote a thriving inter-tidal
habitat.
All are welcome to come along to the Medmerry Marshes’ RSPB Nature Reserve, with the walks
starting from Medmerry Park. The walks will last around 1-1.5 hours and other themes discussed
will be the management of the grass and wetland, the importance of the cattle grazing, issues
associated with coastal farming including sea level rise, the future of sea walls and the important
role farmers play in supporting and managing the wildlife, habitats and landscapes. Plus the
reasons behind Three Harbours Beef, how it supports farmers in conserving these important
environments and of course about the lives of the cattle free ranging happily upon these valuable
sites.
James Parkin, Farming and Wildlife Officer from Chichester Harbour Conservancy said ”Coastal
grazing marshes are of national and international importance for biodiversity, and the traditional practice
of cattle grazing on these habitats is central for maintaining the conditions required for the variety of
wildlife that thrives on them. For example Lapwing and Redshank will breed on these habitats during the
spring and summer while wildfowl such as such as Brent Geese, Widgeon and Teal will graze on them
throughout the winter. In buying beef from Three Harbours, one is supporting conservation of wildlife
locally”
There will be walks in the morning and afternoon, starting at 10.30am. Walks are free of charge.
Weather permitting, a BBQ will be held with Three Harbours Beef Burgers available for a small
charge. On site parking and other facilities are available at Medmerry Park, including hot and
cold snacks and refreshments from the Medmerry Arms Country Pub.
The Walks and Talks event is being organised by Three Harbours Beef with special guests The
RSPB and Chichester Harbour Conservancy. To attend the event, please book places with Nicki,
Colin or Stella on 07807 951885 or email sales@threeharboursbeef.co.uk.
Three Harbours Beef would like to thank Medmerry Park, The RSPB and Chichester Harbour
Conservancy for their much appreciated support in running this event.
ENDS
For further detail please call Nicki or Colin at Three Harbours Beef on
07807 951885
Information on Medmerry Marshes
Right next to Medmerry Park, between Selsey and Bracklesham, the Environment Agency has created the largest
managed realignment of the coast anywhere in Britain. Managed realignment is where major new sea defences are
built inland and the existing shingle bank is breached, allowing a new intertidal area to form. The Medmerry
scheme's overriding objective is to greatly improve the standard of flood protection for over 300 homes in Selsey, for
the water treatment works, and for the main road into Selsey. But this is a win-win scheme that also creates
important and much needed new wildlife habitat. The new reserve, including habitats both seaward and landward of
the new sea defences, is managed by the RSPB, who already own the Bracklesham Bay Nature Reserve just south of
Medmerry Park. For more information please see www.environment-agency.gov.uk/medmerry
Information on Three Harbours Beef
Three Harbours Beef supports local farmers in marketing their Free Range coastal marsh traditional beef. We help
them to achieve a fairer price for their beef, therefore supporting them in continuing to graze their cattle on the
marshes. The coastal marshes are vitally important and specified as Special Sites of Scientific Interest and Areas of
Outstanding Natural Beauty. The marshes support many species of wildlife and plant-life (some endangered) and
without the grazing of the cattle these species would be under threat. Three Harbours Beef also ensure the customer
receives a consistently high quality premium beef product, with local, environmental and ethical benefits, including
naturally matured, suckled cattle, traditionally reared. For more information please see
www.threeharboursbeef.co.uk
Information on The RSPB
The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. Together
with our partners, we protect threatened birds and wildlife so our towns, coast and countryside will teem with life
once again. We also play a leading role in a worldwide partnership of nature conservation organisations. For more
information please see www.rspb.org.uk
Information on Chichester Harbour Conservancy
The Chichester Harbour Conservancy is the statutory harbour authority for Chichester Harbour with a legal duty to
manage the harbour and the surrounding land for the purposes of recreation and leisure, conservation and landscape
protection. It has a wide range of powers to control navigation, moorings, works and dredging, as well as to maintain
and improve the wildlife value and the landscape. The Conservancy also manages the Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty (AONB) to ensure that it is conserved and enhanced for the enjoyment of all. AONB officers and their staff
work with national and local government, environment organisations, landowners and managers and their local
businesses and communities to ensure that these unique landscapes and the rare and wonderful wildlife living in
them are protected and enhanced. For more information please see www.conservancy.co.uk