About us

The Marsh which is owned by Christchurch Council is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It attracts thousands of people a year and therefore requires very careful management, it was with this in mind that Pat Woodward and Peter Holloway decided to start a support group to arrange adequate funding to help to manage the Marsh. A meeting took place in a local pub which rallied twenty supporters and The Friends of Stanpit Marsh was born. This was in 1983 and now today our membership stands at well over four hundred.

Over these years we have raised a substantial amount of money with many regular events such as garden parties, bring and buy stalls, car boot sales, evening socials, coffee mornings, walks and quizzes. This money has enabled us to give a very substantial donation towards the building of the Information Centre, as well as helping towards funding a Summer Warden (see duties of the Warden below) which we always consider a priority. We also help financially with other projects associated with the centre.

The Marsh now has a centre that informs and educates the large number of visitors to the site about the variety of wildlife that can be found on the Marsh, and we sincerely hope that they will respect and cherish their visits.  

We are very keen to encourage new members to our friendly association, please see section below ‘About Membership of FOSM’. All members receive an Information Leaflet on joining, and three Newsletters and Programme of Events a year.
The Friends is a very strong support group with a committee that holds regular meetings which involve a great amount of discussion about the welfare of the Marsh. All of us have a great love of this area and take a very keen interest in its wellbeing. Our aim is to continue with our fund-raising, as money will always be needed to help maintain the Marsh and the Information Centre.

 

Summer Warden’s Duties
Patrols the site every day, checking fences and livestock – there are about 20 New Forest ponies that graze the Marsh all year round.
Studies bird records from the local bird group (CHOG), and updates daily sightings board.
Advises Marsh users of the sensitivity of certain areas and monitors dog control.
Carries out necessary conservation work such as trimming vegetation, maintaining fences and litter-picking.
Looks after the interior of the Information Centre.
Conducts surveys of rare plants – Althaea officinalis (Marsh Mallow), Hippuris vulgaris (Marestail) and Eleocharis parvula (Dwarf Spike-rush) – and Butterflies.
Raises Natterjack tadpoles in a nursery pond.
Takes children’s groups on tours of the Marsh (CRB checked) and gives talks to school groups in the visitor centre.
Organises or assists with various events for adults such as photography workshops, history walks and bird-watching walks.
Liaises with local groups interested in the Marsh, such as FOSM.
Produces two reports at the end of the summer – one about the Natterjack toads, which is sent to Amphibian & Reptile Conservation in Bournemouth, and one about Stanpit Marsh for the Countryside Service, which is available to FOSM.

 

FOSM Projects

FOSM Newsletter Archive
We now have an up-to-date archive of copies of all FOSM Newsletters in the Local History Society’s room on the first floor of Christchurch Library. The archive dates from FOSM’s inception in 1983 onwards, and there is an Index listing the articles in each Newsletter. The archive is available to everyone and makes interesting reading. Please contact Christchurch Library for the History room’s opening times.

Items Purchased by FOSM 
Open Sign for outside the Information Centre

Items in the pipeline to be paid for:
A Notice Board fitted to the fence outside the Centre
Stacking Chairs for the Centre
A set of Steps for children to use when looking through the telescope on the Information Centre veranda
Two pairs of Binoculars for use by visitors to the Centre
A Moon and Tide Clock to be put up in the Centre to compliment a working model of tides which will be installed later in the year as part of the Countryside Services’ new information display

Ongoing discussion with Countryside Services about the design and purchase (by donation) of two wooden cupboards  -  one for general use, and one which will form part of FOSM’s display area.  These will be a lasting memorial to Pat Woodward who was a founder member.

Liaison with Countryside Services regarding  -   
Their permanent information display for the Centre which will be installed later this year, to which FOSM will be contributing financially
The lettering for the outside of the Centre

 

-------------------------------------------------------------

About Membership of FOSM

About FOSM events and activities

About the Marsh month by month

Picture Gallery of FOSM events

About our major fun-raising event the FOSM Garden Party

About the New Stanpit Marsh Information Centre

History of Stanpit Marsh and its Habitats

About rare plants on the Marsh

About saltpans on the Marsh

Contact the FOSM Committee