A new Arundel-based Not For Profit Community Organization, Mid Arun Valley Ecological Surveys (MAVES), has been formed to study this beautiful, hitherto under-surveyed area. Partner organisations include Sussex Wildlife Trust and Arundel Agenda 21. MAVES is employing a consultant ecologist, Jackie Thompson of Wildlife Splash Ltd, along with volunteer experts and students on university projects, to survey and assess this area's landscape habitats and wildlife.
The survey area covers the countryside from Walberton in the west to Lyminster in the east, and from the A27 in the north to the railway line in the south. It includes the open Arun valley watermeadows and river, the ancient woodland and hedgerows and fenland rife-valleys of Binsted and Tortington.
- A map of the individual survey areas is on the home page www.maves.org.uk
- The scope of the MAVES survey work is defined on this page
- There is a MAVES blog here
- Contact details for MAVES are here
Results will be freely available (with appropriate confidentiality for at-risk species) to land owners and occupiers, the public and interested organisations - irrespective of what their views may be on any bypass proposals.
MAVES is an educational and knowledge based rather than campaigning organisation. ABNC believes that all decisions about the Arundel A27 should be evidence based. So ABNC warmly welcomes the work of MAVES, which will provide more and better evidence, enabling better decisions to be made - whatever those may be.