Picking up crisp packets and rusty old drink cans is all part and parcel of saving wildlife and preserving the area of outstanding natural beauty that is Chichester Harbour.

"I remember very clearly what I first thought of it all – a magical mirror of very still reflective water and in the far reaches there were wonderful golden reeds," recalls volunteer Julian Marshall.

"I've been doing this for 15 years now. I sail in the harbour and wanted to be a part of it.

"I moved here with my parents in 1960 and that was the first time I was introduced to the harbour."

Chichester Harbour was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1964 and it covers 22 square miles of shoreline
and estuary.

As well as providing a service to the thousands of boating enthusiasts, it also has responsibility for 50 miles of footpaths.

Volunteers walk one of 30 designated sections in the harbour and report back to the conservancy office in Itchenor once a month with their findings.

The area covered by volunteers is being extended to include Saltern's Way cyclepath.

They provide extra pairs of eyes on issues such as the state of the footpaths, amount of litter and sea defences.

Tony Weller is also one of 34 conservancy volunteers, and lives in the Chichester Harbour.

He says the first time he saw the harbour was when he brought a boat from London in 1964.

"I've been doing this for ten years and I suppose the main reason I do it is to keep the footpaths clean. If people see it's clean, they won't drop litter.

"You get all sorts of things floating ashore here and I don't know where some of it comes from.

"The materials could do damage, especially to the smaller boats, if they aren't picked up."

A heritage lottery grant of £1.2m allowed Chichester Harbour to start projects such as its Goose Watch scheme and pay for all the volunteers' uniforms.

Chichester Conservation Volunteers hold regular events, such as tree and hedge planting and creating wildlife habitats.

Members can also be part of the Friends of Chichester Harbour.