Friends of the Earth Manhood Peninsula is a branch of the international environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth (FoE).  Members are FoE supporters drawn from the Manhood Peninsula, Chichester and the immediate area of West Sussex (see maps).

The Manhood Peninsula is an unusual region and exposed to difficult environmental conditions.  The land is quite flat. Most of it lies less than 6m (20 feet) above sea-level.   Much of the area is in danger being lost to the sea if, as expected, sea-levels continue to rise and no countermeasures are adopted. The coast is frequently battered by stormy seas resulting in serious erosion.  Yet the peninsula is home to 20000 people and also includes two nature conservation areas - Pagham Harbour and Chichester Harbour -  both recognised as having major international importance.

Members share an active interest in, and concern over, various environmental issues, both local and global.  Our immediate focus relates to the sustainability of the Manhood Peninsula and Chichester District, but our wider interests also extend to West Sussex, and the area of the proposed South Downs National Park.

Our organisation is informal.  Ongoing activities are split into a number of specific topics, each handled by a specialised sub-group.  Current sub-groups are listed on the left;  click them for more details.   Members participate in one or more these sub-groups depending on their particular interests and the amount of time they have available.

Of Friends of the Earth's international campaign targets climate change is by far the greatest concern for the Manhood Peninsula.  The prospect of the predicted rising sea-levels over the next 50 - 100 years whilst the land itself is slowly sinking has profound implications for many aspects of life on the Peninsula - peoples homes, local agriculture, tourism - will all be affected.  Our Energy, Coastal Strategy and Waste & Recycling sub-groups all include amongst their major aims aim the mitigation of climate change and its effects on a local basis.

A series of public consultations on how to plan for a sustainable future for the Manhood Peninsula has recently been undertaken by the EU funded ESPACE project "Climate for Change".  Members provided a great deal of input drawing on their knowledge of the Peninsula and its environment.

To join us, or just find out more about the various special interest sub-groups or other information about the Manhood Peninsula Group, click on the appropriate heading on the left.

We produce a newsletter which is issued to all members.   Non-members may also subscribe to receive copies by email, and copies of back issues are also available for downloading from here. 

And for members and non-members alike, please make your contribution to greening the planet. Take the WSCC 10% challenge now.