By Mal Butler
More than 60 protesters held daffodils, as part of a demonstration to remind people of what they are missing in the locked gardens at Harbour Farm, Bembridge, on Sunday.
The Harbour Farm Action Group, set up by Andrew Holman, wants part of the farm to reopen as a nature resort and tourist attraction with a nature walk and bird hide.
As previously reported, the land was bought 10 years ago by the Environment Agency (EA) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and is managed by the RSPB. However, it was designated part of an EU Special Protection Area to encourage wildlife, and has been closed to the public to protect a variety of wildlife.
Among the protesters were bird watchers, naturalists, ecologists, local politicians and educationalists. Also present were Councillor Sir Paul Kenny, ex-general secretary of the GMB union, Vix Lowthion, East Wight candidate for the Green Party, Chani Courtney, representing Surfers Against Sewage, and former MP, Andrew Turner.
Mr Holman said: “Before the farm was bought, it included beautiful gardens, rare apple orchards, a farmhouse, cottages, stables and barn.
“I wrote various plans and options for the farm, and was cock-a-hoop when the EA said it would share my draft ideas at a meeting last June, but, since then, nothing.
“This pressure from all of us today will, hopefully, commit us to pursue our voices being heard and, more importantly, acted upon. We can have a site which is accessible to all, a site which offers a haven to both humans and birds, and could open up a truly marvellous window to bird-life on our doorstep.”
The group is willing to set up a Community Interest Company to run the site responsibly, and for the benefit of all – the countryside, wildlife and people.
As with all good protests, they had their own song sung to the tune of Old MacDonald.
Vix Lothian added: “We are all stakeholders in this land and we have a right to have our voices heard in the consultation. We need to find the right balance, but we won’t threaten anything here by having a couple of bird hides and a nature trail. This is the perfect opportunity to encourage young people to find out more about the natural world and help preserve it. What really threatens nature is the lack of access to it, people need to know the different birds they have got and the land they have got. It is really important that sites like this are a part of education.”
A four-point plan has been drawn up to include: Clarification about what has happened and is being planned for the site; a commitment from the EA to proper consultation; work with other organisations such as the Wildlife Trust and the Isle of Wight Biosphere; to keep the pressure up and keep the lobbying going.
Image: Andrew Holman (centre in red) and the protestors
Isle of Wight Observer