THOUGH only a short distance from the popular resort of Bognor Regis, with plenty of family entertainment and activities on site, Haven’s Church Farm offers more than just a traditional seaside holiday. On the edge of Pagham Harbour and its sheltered lagoon – inter-nationally important wetland habitats for birds, the park is perfect for those who want to walk, cycle, birdwatch and commune with nature, as well as enjoy candy-floss days and a lively nightlife.

Pagham Harbour was important in medieval times, but silted up over the centuries and is now reserved for flora and fauna. The nature reserve covers 1,500 acres, with a visitor centre at Sidlesham, plenty of paths, some suitable for wheelchairs, and a number of hides for serious birdwatching.

Church Farm is attractively laid out in closes and cul-de-sacs. It’s fairly large, with more than 850 homes, but plantings of trees and shrubs make it seem smaller when you are tucked away in your own corner. Most homes are owner-occupied – and Haven will arrange rental of your home for you, if you wish.

The park’s entertainment complex offers a bar and restaurant plus the show lounge and bar, where there are nightly musical spectaculars, cabaret, discos etc. Holiday home owners have their own lounge, as well, and there are regular Owners Exclusive events.

Also part of the complex are the general store, fish and chip takeaway, games arcades and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Nearby are tennis courts, bowling greens, archery range and the hire shop, where you can pick up cycles – for one, or even six!

The lounge-bar-café and outside deck-ing area is being rebuilt over the winter at a cost of more than £1 million to provide even better facilities for 2010. We’ll be there to show you what it looks like in the spring, when work is complete.

FOR SALE

New homes available at Church Farm include a 2009 Willerby Bermuda 2 or 3-bed at £36,995 and a brand new 2010 3-bed Willerby Winchester at £42,995. Pre-owned homes  include a 2006 Atlas Sahara 3-bed, £15,995, a 2007 Atlas Delta Nordstar 4-bed at £21,995, a 2009 ABI Elan at £37,995, or a 2008 Omar Beaumont Lodge 2 or 3-bed at £64,995


LOCAL INFO

• Local amenities: Well stocked licensed general store and cash point on site; other shops in Pagham, within half a mile, post office within 1 mile. Banks in Bognor Regis, 3.5 miles.
• Health: GP’s surgery, dentists, optician and pharmacy in Pagham. Nearest hospital with A&E is St Richard’s at Chichester (5 miles).
• Transport: The nearest stations are Bognor, for Worthing, Brighton and London Waterloo, or Chichester for Portsmouth, Southampton and Waterloo. Regular buses daily from Pagham to Bognor and Chichester.
• Eating & drinking: Restaurant and café/bars on site, plus fish and chip takeaway; other takeaways in Pagham, restau-rants in Bognor or Chichester. Three pubs within a mile, all offering good food.? Entertainment: Daily shows in the entertainment complex for adults and children; daily sports and other activities, swimming pool and cycle hire on site, plus 9-hole golf course. Plenty of opportunities for golf, boating and fishing in the area.

WHAT CAN I DO AROUND HERE

Art in the park – Goodwood has a racecourse and a stately home, but better than these is the beautiful outdoor sculpture park, run by the Sir John Cass Found-ation, full of surprises and with a superb café.

Out of the ashes – With fantastic views of the South Downs, the National Trust’s Uppark was almost destroyed by fire in 1989. Nelson’s Lady Hamilton danced naked on a table here, it’s said!

CONTACT

Church Farm Village, Pagham, Chichester, West Sussex PO21 4NR. Tel: 0880 269 089. Email: [email protected]. Web: www.churchfarmholidayvillage.co.uk

• Open March 1 to November 1 2010
• Site fees from £4,174
• No age restriction on caravans
• Dogs permitted, but must be kept on lead in park and nature reserve
• Mains or bottled gas, available on site
• Electricity billed by park annually
• Wi fi available throughout the site



This review was published in the January 2010 issue of Park & Holiday Homes magazine. To order our latest issue please click here.


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