WHISPERING SMITH: Much is set to change but Mewsbrook Park will prevail...

‘Tis true you can’t make an omelette without breaking an egg or two and logs and sawdust bore witness to the beginnings of quite a few omelettes.

I never paid much attention in the past to that ugly white dome thing and its attendant rusting container hut, perhaps because it was hidden by lovely macrocarpa trees now felled to make way for the new leisure centre.

This Monterey Cypress is a super wood for carving and it is hoped that much of the timber can be utilised throughout the park as both sculpture and as bird feeding stations.

Tree felling in Mewsbrook Park making way for the new leisure centre

Every effort has been made by Arun and the local volunteers to ensure that the tranquillity of the park will prevail and that nature will always be one of the top priorities of all concerned.

Ecologists have worked with the developers to ensure that bats and other woodland creatures if present were protected before felling commenced.

Paw prints in the old fox earth showed recent usage but they too have found a new home and, I suspect, that to be somewhere close by as they do not like changing their territory.

It is understandable that some folk are worried for the future of the park but I firmly believe that all that can be done to preserve its integrity, including extensive new tree planting, will be done.

It was the wish of the people that the leisure centre be replaced and progress usually means change and, in this case, my thinking is that it will be a small change and a great success.

Mind you, Mewsbrook could always do with more volunteers to ensure that bright future is honoured.

Follow them on Facebook, or enquire at the excellent Park Café. Join up!

YET another vape shop in town? Unbelievable, what is that all about?

---

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LittlehamptonGazette

3) Follow us on Twitter @LhamptonGazette

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Littlehampton Gazette - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.