Interpretation Boards
in the Goring Gap and the Ilex Avenue

The board on the sea front in the Goring Gap

The board in the Ilex Avenue at the sports ground

The board on the Ilex Avenue at the Ferring end

 
Four interpretation boards, organised by the Ilex Conservation Group have been placed in Goring. One is on the sea wall in the centre of the Goring Gap, the other three are spaced along the mile-long Ilex Avenue

Official unveiling was performed by the Mayor of Worthing on Tuesday 7th January. This was be on the Sea Wall in the Goring Gap, halfway between the Plantation and Ferring.

It is in this area which is proposed by the Worthing Council to be part of the cycle track along the shingle bank. A petition with 350 names protesting against the proposal , was presented to the WBC Executive on Monday 9th December. With this was a copy of the original manuscript deeds for the Goring Hall estate transfer to WBC showing the councillors, apparently for the first time, that the shingle bank is indeed protected against all nuisance, including cyclists.

The residents now await detailed plans for the cycle track so they can oppose these in detail. They believe that the existing South Coast Cycle Route along roads of Marine Drive and Marine Crescent are fine and they do not want them changed. And they certainly do not want the Goring to have just a formal extension of the Worthing Promenade.

First reaction to the four new interpretation boards is very favourable. The one on the sea wall in the centre of the Goring Gap has been compared to a lectern, and we expect people to give speeches from here. The three spaced along the Ilex Avenue have been noted for the wealth of detail in the picture. The horse riders, the fox running into the fields, the small dog wondering what to do about the fox, and if you look closely, the squirrel surveying the whole scene.

The Interpretation Boards are part of the Ilex Conservation Group initiative to make the public aware of the special character of the Goring Gap. The four boards with a total cost of £4800 were funded with contributions from Awards For All Jubillee Fund, WSCC, and Goring Gap Preservation Trust. Project Manager for the boards is Michael Tanner from Ferring, a key member of the Ilex Conservation Group committee.

The boards are mounted on substantial stands made from oak recovered by the Environment Agency from old breakwaters. The boards are protected with toughened glass and treated with an Ultra-Violet screen to minimise bleaching by the sun.

Goring Gap is the southern part of one of the few coastal Strategic Gaps in West Sussex and is unusual in that here farmland comes down to the sea. This Grade 2 agricultural land is under constant threat from development and requires ongoing vigilence to ensure its safe keeping.

Covering 180 acres (c 72 hectares) it provides important habitat for many resident species of insects, birds and mammals. It also serves as a vital roosting ground for wading birds deprived of their feeding grounds at high tide. Furthermore it provides a resting and feeding area for migratory birds in spring and autumn.

At least 160 bird species have been recorded on the gap over recent years. Just some of the species that you might see are listed below:

Highdown Hill (NT)
Rich artifacts from the bronze and iron ages and Roman times, have been found here; items are on display at Worthing Museum. The hill is also a Saxon burial site.

Highdown Gardens
Situated near the top of Highdown Hill, these lovely Grade II* chalk gardens were created by St Frederick and Lady Stern. Theynow belong to Worthiung Borough Council and are open to the public.

Ilex Avenue
This avenue of some 400 Evergreen or Holm Oaks (Quercus ilex) is almost a mile in length. It was planted c 1840 by David Lyon of Goring Hall as a carriage entrance to the property from the east and from the west, and is considered to be one of the finest examples of its type in the world.

Goring Hall
This Grade II listed building was constructed in the 1830's by the Lyon family who remained owners until the mid-1930's. For a time it was used as a school before being restord and enlarged in the 1990's for use as a private hospital.

The Plantation
This belt of trees marking the position of a walkway to the beach from Goring Hall is an important habitat for many resident birds and some uncommon plants.

Neolithic Axe Head
A polished flint axe head was found in the north-est section of Goring Gap in 1994. It is now held at Worthing Museum.

Shingle Beach Flora
This highly specialised habitat is being rapidly lost, mainly duie to disturbance. Remnants of this type, such as Sea Kale, Bittersweet, and even Yellow Horned Poppy can be seen beside the path.

Illustrations include:
Skylark, Wheatear, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher
Silver Y, Painted Lady, Clouded Yellow butterflies
Mallow, Field Bindweed, Yellow Horned Poppy plants
Bass, Flounder fish

Features on the skyline
which can be seen from the Goring Gap sea wall include:
Clapham and Patching woods
Chanctonbury Ring
High Salvington windmill
Cissbury Ring.

Distances from the sea wall:
Worthing pier 3 miles
Brighton 12 miles
Beachy Head 30 miles
Selsey Bill 18 miles
Isle of Wight 35 miles
Dieppe 68 miles

Ilex Avenue stretches for nearly a mile from St. Mary's Church, Goring in the east, to the Manor Farm ruins and Ferring Village in the west. It is considered by many to be one of the the finest of its kind in the world. The Lyon family who lived at Goring Hall, planted the Avenue about 1840 to form carriage entrances to The Hall from the east and the west. The lodge house which marks the original north and main entrance to The Hall has been carefully restored and can be seen in Fernhurst Drive.

Ilex Avenue is formed from over 400 evergreen Holm Oaks (Quercus ilex), The species name 'ilex' is derived from the fact that the immature leaves are spiny and similar to those of the Holly whose Latin name is Ilex aquifolium. 'Holm' is an ancient name for holly, again suggesting a connection between the two trees. They are however not related. The Evergreen Oak is a native of the Mediterranean, and grows particularly well near the sea since it is resistant to strong, salt-laden winds. The annual crop of acorns is an important source of winter food for local wild life.

The Avenue and the farmland to the south constitute an important habitat for wildlife in this suburban area, particularly for insects, birds and small mammals (including an bat important bat population) Nest boxes for Tawny Owls and roosting boxes for bats have been erected in an effort to retain and encourage wild life.

In 1935 Ilex Avenue was gifted to Worthing Borough Council to be held in trust for the town " as a public walk and pleasure ground in perpetuity." Many of the trees were severely damaged in the Great Storm of 1987 .

In 1983 a local body, The Ilex Conservation Group, was formed to protect the trees and support the Worthing Borough Council in its regular programme of care and maintenance of this very valuable amenity which is now a Conservation Area.

This avenue is a rare and beautiful asset which it is hoped you will enjoy and help to conserve for posterity.

Goring Hall
Home of the Lyon family from the 1830s. Rebuilt after a serious fire in 1888. More recently it was a boarding school and is now a private hospital.
The Lyon Family is related to the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother who is believed to have visited the house when young.
Originally fine wrought iron gates stood at both ends of the avenue.

Illustrations include
The Ilex Avenue, Goring Hall, the original iron gates
Holm Oak (immature and mature)
Navelwort, Harts Tongue, Holly Blue plants
Pipistrelle bat, Tawney Owl, Green Woodpecker
White letter Hairsteak butterfly
Firecrest, Jay birds
Stag Beatles

Published by the Ilex Conservation Group ©2002
Preserving the beauty and present character
of Ilex Avenue and the Goring Gap
Website www.goring-by-sea.uk.com/ilexgroup

Illustrated by Jenny Hawksley
Constructed by Darren Rolfe