| Sullington
Concerns by Michael John Johnson 9th. October 2008 |
| I am concerned about the fate of The Marley's old sand pit. Over the years I have legally been in to the old quarry a few times, and I therefore know that in the oldest part of the workings there is a large colony of Sand Martins. At the present time nothing much seems to be happening at the old pit, but with excavation rights presumably still in place, excavation could resume at any time. That is as it must be, for that was why the quarry was established. But my fear is that with the quarry almost worked out, it could become a landfill site. That would be a disaster for the Sand Martins, also for other wildlife in the quarry, for much of the site has nicely filled in with trees, shrubs and other plants. I would therefore ask that anyone who has the money and the means to purchase the Marley Sand Pit and designate it as a nature reserve. A note of urgency now accompanies this appeal because I recently learned that the Marley's old factory site, now called The Chantry Estate, has been earmarked for extensive housing development. |
| I am also concerned about the missing Bronze Age Burial Urn. In 2009 it will be 200 years since the Burial Urn was removed from a tumulus on Sullington Warren in 1809. In 1826 a rather more spectacular Burial Urn was removed from a tumulus in the neighbouring parish of Storrington, and that ended up in Alnwick Castle Museum. But the Burial Urn removed from the tumulus in Sullington has seemingly disappeared from the face of the Earth. For years I have been trying to track it down, but all to no avail. If the Burial Urn could be found, it might be possible to return it to Sullington and place it in a secure display case in Sullington Parish Hall for all to enjoy. Please help to find the Sullington Burial Urn. |