By Mal Butler
An action group, which has been formed to try to reopen Harbour Farm, Bembridge, as a nature resort and tourist attraction, is hosting a protest meeting at the farm entrance on Sunday afternoon.
As previously reported, the land was bought 10 years ago by the Environment Agency and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), and is managed by the RSPB. It was designated part of an EU Special Protection Area to encourage wildlife, but the Harbour Farm Action Group’s chairman, Andrew Holman, is campaigning to have part of the land reopened to the public to include a nature walk and bird hide. He said: “Since the land was sold, it has gone to wrack and ruin, resulting in derelict and dangerous buildings and once beautiful gardens and orchards overgrown with impenetrable brambles.
“I have had an amazing reaction since I started the campaign with nearly 1,200 people signing my petition.
“I have also spoken on the phone to the Environment Agency’s operations manager, John O’Flynn, and he has said there will be a proper consultation with local people over the future of the farm, which has been an encouraging start.
“Now, we need to keep up pressure on both the Agency and the RSPB to show them the depth of public feeling on this issue.”
Mr Holman is hoping more than 100 people will join the meeting, which will start at 2pm, outside the farm’s main entrance.
Press Release