Sussex Local Magazine - Chichester/Midhurst NOVEMBER 2022

Novemberiswhenwe

reinforceouradmirationofthe unfailingsenseofdutydisplayed bytheArmedForces,and commemoratethosewhogave theirlivesinourservice. Wehaveplentyofgoodreading foryouthismonthincluding energysavingtipsandhowto addvaluetoyourhome.Garden designerAndrewStaibwrites aboutSussexBatsandKierHartley visitstheLeconfieldEstatetofind outaboutthehistoricherdof cattle.Wehaveaseasonalrecipe plushealthadvicefromnutritionist HeatherSmith.We’vealsogota roundupoflocalBonfireNight eventsinourWhat’sOnpages withmoreonlineat sussexlocal.net.Somanyofour prizewinnerssay,“I’veneverwon anythingbefore!”.Ifthissounds likeyou,thenwhynotenteroneof ourcompetitionsthismonth?

ofstrikesplannedoverthenext fewmonths.Wehopethiswon’t affectdeliveryofyourSussex Localmagazinebutifyoudo noticeanydelay,thisislikelythe reasonandweareverysorry aboutthis.

Kris&Jeff

Disclaimer-Whilstadvertisementsareprintedin goodfaith,SussexLocal(KayPublishingLtd)isan independentcompanyanddoesnotendorse productsorservicesthatappearinthismagazine.

oromissionsorclaimsmadebycontributors.Views andopinionsofcontributorsarenotnecessarily thoseofthepublisher.

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What’s On - November 2022

Event organisers please enter your event details on www.sussexlocal.net/events add/ We regret that we cannot accept submissions by email. We take the details from our website for the magazine listings which can appear in up to all seven editions distributed to over 46,000 addresses. Charity, community and non profit events are free of charge (subject to space). Commercial events can be listed from just £25 plus VAT which includes promotion through Facebook & Twitter. Deadline for December events to be put on website 4th November

BONFIRE NIGHT

04/11/2022 5:00 PM Fireworks With Night Putting Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate RH13

6PG Adult: £10 Kids: £6

04/11/2022 6:30 PM Slinfold Bonfire & Fireworks annual celebration with food and drinks served from outside bar at The Red Lyon Slinfold Horsham RH13 0RR £10 under 16s free

05/11/2022 4:00 PM Findon Village Firework Fantasia Low noise fireworks with Fire Performance, music, BBQ and bar St. John the Baptist School BN14 0TR st john the baptist pta.sumupstore.com/product/fireworks

05/11/2022 5:00 PM Annual Lewes Bonfire Night The annual Lewes Bonfire Night is one of the most well known bonfire nights. Lewes BN7 www.lewesbonfirecelebrations.com

05/11/2022 5:00 PM Barnham Fireworks Night A fun filled night for the family at Murrells Field next to Barnham Community Hall Bognor Regis PO22 0AY Adult £5.50, Family £16, Child £2.50

05/11/2022 5:00 PM Fireworks Night 2022 Horsham Rugby Club annual Fireworks night is back! Horsham Rugby Club RH13 6PJ £5 for singles and £18 for a family ticket. Horsham Rugby Club www.fireworks.horshamrufc.com

06/11/2022 5:30 PM Annual Walberton Bonfire and Fireworks Walberton Village Hall BN18 0PJ £6 £3 Fiona walbertonvillagehall01@gmail.com

06/11/2022 5:30 PM Wizards and Witches Fireworks Night at Fontwell Racecourse everyone can dress as Wizards and Witches. Fontwell Park Racecourse Arundel BN18 0SY 13yrs+ £8 / Family £20 / 4 12yrs £6 01243 543335 info@fontwellpark.co.uk

11/11/2022 4:00 PM Ardingly Fireworks Spectacular fairground and fireworks display by Illusion Fireworks Ltd £5, Under 5's free allevents.in/haywards%20heath/ardingly fireworks spectacular/200023399571810

11/11/2022 5:30 PM Fireworks Extravaganza Fireworks, stalls, BBQ, games and refreshments Ashington CofE School RH20 3PG Tickets available from the school office. Fundraisers of Ashington CE School (FACES) www.facebook.com/groups/faces.ashington

CHILDREN'S EVENTS

19/11/2022 10:00 AM Sew What Stitch Club A small and friendly independent group run for children aged 8 16. The Marriott Scout Hall Goring BN12 4NR £5 Liza Moon 07912 303367 yeworthing2000@gmail.com

Every Tue 4:45 PM New Youth Choir Rehearsal for choir for children aged 8 to 11 Trinity Methodist Church Storrington RH20 3NG £3 Robert Gamble robertgamblerc@gmail.com

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

01/11/2022 2:00 PM Arts Society West Sussex Talk on ‘Artists of the Montmartre’ by Hilary Guise Fittleworth Village Hall RH20 1JB Visitors £7 (cash) Jackie westsussex@theartssociety.org 1903 411086 theartssocietywestsussex.org 05/11/2022 10:30 AM Parkinsons support group A support group for people with Parkinsons and their families in Washington Memorial Village Hall RH20 4AP Maureen johnsonmaureen86@gmail.com

07/11/2022 8:00 PM Felpham Singles Social Club Social club for over 50's who are single, widowed or divorced. The George Inn Bognor Regis PO22 7PL Free. Anne Cook 01243 821530 anniecook555@yahoo.co.uk www.felphamsingles.yolasite.com

11/11/2022 3:00 PM Rosehill Book Club, Pulborough New members welcomed to this small friendly group Rosehill Book Club Pulborough RH20 4NL Carol Davison carol953@hotmail.co.uk

More events on www.sussexlocal.net please contact event organisers to check for changes

14/11/2022 7:30 PM Pulborough Meadows WI November Meeting Pulborough Village Hall RH20 2BF Mary mary.walker50@gmail.com

16/11/2022 2:30 PM Pulborough Society meeting Regular meeting of civic amenity group Pulborough Village Hall RH20 free to local residents. Ian 01798 874686 ian@ianellisassociates.com

16/11/2022 7:30 PM Sullington Windmills Women's Institute A friendly group of around 60 ladies The Parish Hall Storrington RH20 3PP Erika Brichta erikabrichta@hotmail.co.uk sullingtonwindmills.org/

Every Thurs 2:00 PM Circle Dancing/European Folk Dancing Dance in lines and circles, to diverse music. All dances are taught Storrington and Sullington Parish Hall RH20 3PP £6 Sue Kewley 01903 744929 suekewley@outlook.com

COMMUNITY

19/11/2022 8:00 AM Men's Breakfast in Chichester community event Men's breakfast with Dr Tim Fookes, High Sherriff of West Sussex Chichester Park Hotel PO19 7QL £9.50 Peter Sutton 07813 024585 peter@ppsutton.co.uk immanuelchichester.com/community/mens breakfast/

26/11/2022 10:00 AM Christmas Coffee Morning Walberton Gardeners Club Christmas Coffee Morning Walberton Pavilion Arundel BN18 0PJ bbailey93@btinternet.com walberton gardeners club.com

COURSES & TUITION

19/11/2022 9:30 AM Birding for beginners Winter Wetlands at Pulborough Brooks Learn about winter visitors at RSPB Pulborough Brooks RH20 2EL £20.50 members/£25.50 Non members Lydia lydia.fletcher@rspb.co.uk 01798 875851 events.rspb.org.uk/pulboroughbrooks

Every Wed 7:30 PM Is there more to life than this? Free Alpha course Join Life Community Church to explore the big questions of life, faith and meaning The Village Hub Storrington RH20 4DJ Free. Stuart Spinney 01903 743547 alpha@lccstor.org

EXHIBITIONS

1st 5th Nov 10:00 AM Dylan and Adrienne Shields Exhibiting together, Adrienne Shields and Dylan Shields are mother and son. Shaped. Colonnade House Worthing BN11 3DH Paula Tollett 01903 221142 paula.tollett@adur worthing.gov.uk colonnadehouse.co.uk/event/ dylan shields adrienne shields shaped/

1st 5th Nov 10:00 AM Liz English: Chinoiserie Chaos Local artist Liz English is “crazy about Chinoiserie”. Colonnade House Worthing BN11 3DH Paula 01903 221142 paula.tollett@adur worthing.gov.uk colonnadehouse.co.uk/event/ liz english chinoiserie chaos/ 19/11/2022 10:00 AM Art Exhibition Local artists/art groups will be exhibiting and selling their works Storrington & Sullington Parish Hall RH20 3PP Free. Storrington Museum 01903 740188 storringtonmuseum@hotmail.com 22/11/2022 10:00 AM Brian Tew and Deborah Michelson: Capturing Nature in Surface and Form This joint exhibition is a natural progression of the shared creative space. Colonnade House Worthing BN11 3DH Paula Tollett 01903 221142 paula.tollett@adur worthing.gov.uk colonnadehouse.co.uk/event/ brian tew deborah mitchelson/ 11th, 18th & 25th Nov 10:00 AM Blue Idol Open Days Visit local historic building and Quaker place of worship Blue Idol Quaker Meeting House Coolham RH13 8QP Free. admin@blueidol.org www.blueidol.org 22nd 27th Nov 10:00 AM Starlings Murmurations / Conversations Two artists come together to celebrate creativity. Colonnade House Worthing BN11 3DH Paula 01903 221142 paula.tollett@adur worthing.gov.uk colonnadehouse.co.uk/event/ ruthmulvie claireknill/ 29th & 30th Nov 10:00 AM Elizabeth Mienert Elizabeth's exhibition features watercolour sketches taken from her travel sketchbooks. Colonnade House Worthing BN11 3DH Paula Tollett 01903 221142 paula.tollett@adur worthing.gov.uk colonnadehouse.co.uk/event/ elizabeth mienert musing and meandering/

More events on www.sussexlocal.net please contact event organisers to check for changes

AMILY ENTERTAINMENT

1st 12th Nov 7:00 PM The Famous Five: A New Musical A musical family adventure based on Enid Blyton's books Chichester Festival Theatre PO19 6AP From £10 Half price for under 16s 01243 781312 box.office@cft.org.uk cft.org.uk

05/11/2022 3:30 PM Alice in Wonderland

Performed by the Rosemary Bell Academy of Dance. Alexandra Theatre, Regis Centre PO21 1BN Adult: £12.50 Child: £3.50 Hazel Latus 01243 867676 hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk www.alexandratheatre.co.uk

17/11/2022 7:30 PM My One & Only An explosion of dance & design. Alexandra Theatre, Regis Centre PO21 1BN Adult: £16 Child: £12 / nus £8. Hazel Latus 01243 867676 hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk www.alexandratheatre.co.uk

24/11/2022 7:30 PM Nice Work If You Can Get It An explosion of song & dance. Alexandra Theatre, Regis Centre Bognor Regis PO21 1BN Adult: £16 Child: £12 NUS £8 Hazel Latus 01243 867676 hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk www.alexandratheatre.co.uk

24th 30th Nov 4:30 PM Glow Wild | Wakehurst

The winter lantern trail is back at Wakehurst Haywards Heath RH17 6TN From £14 (Adult Kew/Wakehurst Member) From £11 (Child). glowwild@kew.org www.kew.org/wakehurst

26th 30th Nov 10:30 AM Tree Mendous

Christmas Explore Petworth House to see Christmas trees taking centre stage Petworth House and Park GU28 9LR 01798 342207 petworth@nationaltrust.org.uk nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth

FAYRES AND FETES

12/11/2022 10:00 AM Steyning Holistic Fair Autumn brings the return of this uplifting and cosy event. The Steyning Centre BN44 3X £3 Free. Silverdragon Wellbeing 07939 642917 silverdragonwellbeing@gmail.com silverdragonwellbeing.com/steyning holistic fair 12/11/2022 10:30 AM Arundel Museum

Christmas Fayre Handmade gifts by local artisans and more. Arundel Museum BN18 9PA 01903 885866 marketing@arundelmuseum.org www.arundelmuseum.org

More events on www.sussexlocal.net please contact event organisers to check for changes

26/11/2022 10:00 AM Tillington Christmas Fair Tillington Village Hall Petworth GU28 9AF £1 Free for children. Gerald Gresham Cooke 01798 342151 geraldgreshamcooke@gmail.com www.allhallowstillington.org/ 26/11/2022 12:00 PM Ashington Christmas Fayre Annual Christmas Fayre in Ashington Community Centre RH20 3PG £1, Children go free. Margaret Alford 01903 892633 margaretalford19@btinternet.com www.ashingtoncc.org.uk

FILM

09/11/2022 7:30 PM Rotary Film Night Operation Mincemeat Starring Colin Firth. Bar + Raffle Sullington Village Hall RH20 3PP £5 Ken 01903 740745 kandjcoll@btinternet.com

21/11/2022 7:30 PM Pulborough Film Night Fisherman’s Friend: One and All 2022 Drama/ Comedy 1hr 51m Pulborough Village Hall RH20 2BF £7 Terri Ashpool 07711 470635 terriashpool@uwclub.net

HEALTH & FITNESS

Every Mon 11:45 AM Wellness Yoga New Yoga Classes focus on mindful movement paired with awareness of the mind body & breath in Bury Village Hall RH20 1PA Wellness Yoga wellnessyoga332@gmail.com

Every Mon 6:30 PM Beginners Running Course Learn to Run over 10 weeks, supported by a qualified Coach in Running Fitness Lower Street Car Park Pulborough RH20 £60 Tanya Boardman. tanya@tanyaboardman.co.uk www.tanyaboardman.co.uk

Every Tue 6:30 PM All abilities running group Arun Valley Runners build confidence in your running Pulborough RH20 £5 Tanya Boardman tanya@tanyaboardman.co.uk www.tanyaboardman.co.uk/running groups pulborough

Every Tue & Thurs 9:30 AM Weekly Yoga Classes in Ashington with Manna Yoga Small, personal, friendly Yoga classes for all levels. Ashington Scout Hut RH20 3JX £9 Manna Pope 07798 616821 mariannebates_@hotmail.com

Every Wed 7:30 PM Weekly Yoga Classes in Ashington with Manna Yoga Small, friendly, weekly Yoga Classes Ashington Scout Hut RH20 3JX £9 per class Manna Pope 07798 616821 mariannebates_@hotmail.com

HORSERACING

14/11/2022 10:30 AM November Raceday seven races and food & drink. Plumpton Racecourse Lewes BN7 3AL From £14 01273 890383 racing@plumptonracecourse.co.uk www.plumptonracecourse.co.uk/events/sky sports racing november raceday/

MUSIC

02/11/2022 2:30 PM Christmas Memories An afternoon of Christmas songs & carols. Alexandra Theatre, Regis Centre PO21 1BN £14.50 Hazel hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk 01243 867676 www.alexandratheatre.co.uk

04/11/2022 7:00 PM Dreams of Fleetwood Mac A Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show. Alexandra Theatre, Regis Centre PO21 1BN £28.50 £26.50 Hazel hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk 01243 867676 www.alexandratheatre.co.uk

05/11/2022 7:30 AM Classical Guitar Concert by Xufei Yang acclaimed classical guitarist. Regis School of Music PO21 1ER Non member £15 / Under 18s free. Sasha Levtov 01243 866462 tezhen@gmail.com www.westsussexguitar.org

7th & 14th Nov 7:30 PM Sandgate Singers Sandgate Singers are looking for new members. Sullington Parish Hall RH20 3PP John Fisher 01903 741256 johnandsylvi@btinternet.com www.sandgatesingers.com 17/11/2022 7:30 PM Dixieland/Trad Jazz Evening of Dixie/Trad Jazz by the Featherstone Jazz Four. DRNK Cafe Lancing BN15 0PH Free. Derek 01903 249900 dglittle@ntlworld.com 19/11/2022 7:30 PM Choral Concert Fernhurst Choral Society Autumn Concert St Mary's Church Petworth GU28 0AE £17 Tina 01730 816542 enquiries@fernhurstchoralsociety.org.uk www.fernhurstchoralsociety.org.uk 26/11/2022 7:30 PM Rossini Petite Messe Solonnelle The Chantry Quire performs at St Mary's Church, Petworth GU28 0AE £15 Chantry Quire webmaster@chantryquire.org.uk www.chantryquire.org.uk

event organisers to check for changes

Every Mon 8:00 PM Fernhurst Choral Society

Weekly rehearsals leading to concerts Fernhurst Village Hall GU27 3EH See website for information Nigel 07485 145141 or Tina 01730 816542 fernhurstchoral@gmail.com www.fernhurstchoralsociety.org.uk/

SALES & MARKETS

1st & 2nd Nov 9:00 AM Ardingly Antiques Fair Shop 1,700 antiques stalls from dealers in the Ardingly Antiques Fair South of England Showground RH17 6TL £20 Eve Oliver eve.oliver@iacf.co.uk www.iacf.co.uk

19/11/2022 9:00 AM Arundel Farmers Market

discover local growers, bakers, meat, poultry, flowers, plants, food and drink makers Arundel BN18 9AA www.arundelfarmersmarket.co.uk

19/11/2022 10:00 AM Christmas Sale

Fundraising sale of exciting and unusual gift items Midhurst Methodist Church Hall GU29 9DU Contact Kate Cox: kmecox@gmail.com

24/11/2022 10:00 AM Cheeki Monkeys Big Baby & Children Market Buy/Sell Preloved Baby & Children Clothes, Toys and equipment; The Shoreham Centre BN43 5WU £1.50 Delphine delphine.cheekimonkeys@gmail.com www.cheekimonkeys.co.uk

26/11/2022 9:00 AM Pulborough Farmers Market fresh vegs, eggs, home made cakes and preserves & cafe. Pulborough Village Hall RH20 2BF 07711 470635 terriashpool@uwclub.net

27/11/2022 12:00 PM Christmas in Boxgrove Christmas market and family fun day Boxgrove Village Hall PO18 0EE 01243 788332 community@boxgrovevillagehall.co.uk

SPIRITUALIST

24/11/2022 7:00 PM Angel in Blue Psychic evening Social/support evening & Psychics Medium demonstration Storrington Village Hall RH20 4DZ £6 Val vharber@btinternet.com

More events on www.sussexlocal.net please contact event organisers to check for changes

TALKS & DEMOS

02/11/2022 10:45 AM The Arts Society South Downs "Greeks where we began" by Giles Ramsay Fittleworth Village Hall RH20 1JB £7 Free to Members. Jane Allison 01798 813314 jane@theallisonfamily.co.uk www.theartssocietysouthdowns.org.uk

04/11/2022 2:30 PM Gardens of South East England Find out about the greatest garden designers and what inspired them. Storrington Museum RH20 4LL £8 / £6 for members 01903 740188 storringtonmuseum@hotmail.com storringtonmuseum.com/

12/11/2022 11:00 AM Book signing Exploring The Bridleways of Sussex David Bathurst will sign his latest book at Shoreham Art Gallery BN43 5WA Free David Bathurst 07536 984943 davidbathurst@btinternet.com

12/11/2022 7:00 PM Dinner & Auction with speaker and live music. Hosted by Natasha Kaplinsky. Barcombe Village Hall BN8 5BH £50 The Bevern Trust 01273 400752 info@beverntrust.org www.beverntrust.org

14/11/2022 10:00 AM The Arts Society

Steyning Eastern Influence in European Jewellery by Patricia Law The Steyning Centre BN44 3XZ Free to members, £10 visitor donation steyning@theartssociety.org www.theartssocietysteyning.org.uk

15/11/2022 2:30 PM The Shetland Bus Talk by Gillian Halcrow about Norwegian sailors in their fishing boats in WWII. Methodist Church Hall Midhurst GU29 9DU £2 members, £3 visitors midhurstu3a@gmail.com midhurstu3a.org.uk

17/11/2022 7:30 PM Talk for the Midhurst Society Compassion in World Farming South Downs Memorial Hall Midhurst GU29 9DH Free for members £3 visitors Tina 01730 816542 tina@tinagavin.com midhurstsociety.org.uk

23/11/2022 2:30 PM Storrington Flower Club

Affiliated to NAFAS Sullington Parish Hall RH20 3PP £6 Chris 01903 742102 chrissyldesmond@gmail.com

23/11/2022 7:15 PM A toss of the coin my life as a railway professional An illustrated talk by a retired railway senior manager Bassil Shippam Centre Chichester PO19 7LG £3 07403 885061 chichester@rcts.org.uk rcts.org.uk/branches/ branch chr chichester/

26/11/2022 1:30 PM A floral treat for Christmas Christmas Flower Demonstration by Dee Watkins (Seed2Design) Pagham Village Hall PO214NJ £10 Jenni Bennett 07790 375229 jennibennett@talktalk.net

28/11/2022 7:45 PM Mig and the Beanstalk An evening of flowers, fun and theatrical tales. Chichester Festival Theatre PO19 6AP £18 01243 781312 box.office@cft.org.uk cft.org.uk

29/11/2022 7:00 PM Rails to Midhurst hear the tales of the rails to Midhurst at an illustrated talk by local historian Bill Gage West Sussex Record Office Chichester PO19 1DD £8 Matthew 01243 753602 www.westsussex.gov.uk/ro record.office@westsussex.gov.uk

THEATRE

1st, 8th & 9th Nov 7:00 PM Dance House 2022 An evening of dance from the House of Dance Alexandra Theatre Regis Centre PO21 1BN £12 Under 16's £6 Hazel alexandratheatre.co.uk hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk 01243 867676

9th 13th Nov 7:30 PM School For Scandal comedy adapted by Robert Tremayne The Curzon Brighton BN2 1NF £15/£12 07767 607483 curzontheatreproductions@gmail.com www.curzontheatreproductions.co.uk

25/11/2022 8:00 PM 'Is That a Bolt in Your Neck?' mixing spooky paranoia, surreal nightmare and frantic farce. Empire Hall Petworth GU28 0QB £15 / £10 empirehall@gmail.com empirehall@gmail.com

WALKS

26/11/2022 7:00 AM Dawn of the Ducks at Pulborough Brooks Watch waders, ducks and geese at RSPB Pulborough Brooks RH20 2EL £20.50 members / £25.50 Non members Lydia 01798 875851 lydia.fletcher@rspb.co.uk events.rspb.org.uk/pulboroughbrooks

Sussex Snippets

Charity & Community news from across the counties

Steven Rushmer, age 17 from West Sussex has been given The British Citizen Youth Award. Now in its eighth year, the award honours 25 young people from across the UK who have made a difference in their communities and society as a whole. For the past three years Steven has given up his weekends leading up to Remembrance Day to volunteer by selling Poppies for the Royal British Legion.

4Sight Vision Support, which offers support to blind and sight impaired residents of all ages throughout West Sussex, provides specialist advisors who guide its clients through the process of identifying and accessing benefits and concessions to which they may be entitled. If you or someone you know needs support accessing benefits and concessions call 01243 828555 or visit www.4sight.org.uk

West Sussex County County (WSCC) has renewable energy systems including two solar farms and many more solar panels on its buildings which generated more than 16,000 MWh of clean electricity last year. That’s enough to power more than 5,500 average UK homes. This prevented 3,700 tonnes of CO2 being released into the atmosphere compared to generating the same amount of electricity from fossil fuels.

The Warmer Homes programme is still available to residents in West Sussex and aims to help raise the energy efficiency of low income and low energy performance homes. Funding is available for things like roof, underfloor, wall and park home insulation, air source heat pumps, solar panels, storage heaters and heating controls Apply quickly so you don't miss out and please pass this information to anyone you think may benefit from this programme. More details at www.warmerhomes.org.uk/programme

Applications are now open for children who start in reception at primary and infant schools in

September 2023. The quickest and easiest way is to apply is online and the deadline for applications is 15 January 2023. Search for Starting School Places at www.westsussex.gov.uk. The next major fundraiser for Air Ambulance charity Kent Sussex Surrey (KSS) is Host a Roast in which people invite friends, family or colleagues in November to enjoy a roast and, through donations, raise vital funds. To find out more about Host a Roast or other opportunities to support KSS, please visit www.aakss.org.uk David Bathurst, author of several walking guides both local and national, has just written a guide called “Exploring the Bridleways of Sussex”. It is the definitive practical and armchair guide to Sussex bridleways which provide the perfect means of exploring the countryside. The book costs £15 and all profits will be donated to Friends of Sussex Hospices. David will be signing copies at Shoreham Art Gallery BN43 5WA (just by Shoreham railway station) between 11am and 3pm on Saturday November 12th.

The Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Centre (Portsmouth) is for anyone affected by cancer, patients and loved ones. It helps with emotional support, counselling, financial advice, self management workshops and signposting to other professional or voluntary services all free of charge. The charity is looking for Meet & Greet Volunteers to welcome visitors in by offering refreshments and a listening ear to all that come through the door. If you have a friendly disposition, and want to spend some spare time helping others feel supported, then this could be perfect for you. If you can help please email macmillancentre@porthosp.nhs.uk or give them a call on 02392 283 323 for more information. Community stories are printed free of charge. Please email info@sussexlocal.net

Charity & Community News

Boxgrove Christmas market Sun 27th Nov 12 4pm

Visit Boxgrove Village Hall for a Christmas market selling locally made gifts and decorations. Entertainment includes festive steel drums, Anna and Elsa from Frozen, Rock Choir alongside local community performance groups, children’s rides, festive photoshoots and Santa with his sleigh. Plus seasonal refreshments and a licensed bar. community@boxgrovevillagehall.co.uk

“Talk to us” say Bognor & Chi Samaritans

Around 22,000 Samaritans volunteers in around 200 branches support callers in significant distress. 7/10 callers said they felt the call had a positive impact on them. Levels of stress, anxiety and depression increased due to Covid 19, and concerns about cost of living are increasing levels of worry. Anyone can contact Samaritans for free any time from any phone on 116 123, even a mobile without credit, or see samaritans.org

Hidden Garden National Garden Scheme Award The Hidden Garden, a community garden in Selsey,

was presented with an award by West Sussex County Organisers for The National Garden Scheme. The garden encourages people to work with nature and learn about growing fruit and veg and plants in their own garden. Contact Paul 07815 790770 / paul@selseycommunityforum.uk

Not for profit Counselling in Chichester Chichester Counselling Service welcomes new clients for weekly 1:1 counselling. Counsellors can help with a range of issues and their counsellors are DBS checked and qualified or in the final stages of training. This local organisation have supported Chichester and surrounding villages for over 40 years. As a not for profit organisation, their fees just cover running costs. 01243 789200 or visit ccs counselling.org.uk Christmas Cards now available to support hospice St Wilfrid's has 18 Christmas Card designs available They have no foil/plastic on them to make them better for the environment. Last year they raised over £37k selling Christmas Cards, which could help pay the hospice running costs for almost two days. Please buy your cards in their charity shops or online stwh.co.uk/online shop

Anna and Elsa

Charity & Community News

The Cat & Rabbit Rescue Centre Pet of the Month

The Cat & Rabbit Rescue Centre’s pet of the month is a male guinea pig called Galaxy. Galaxy is just over a year old and has been at The Centre since April 2022 and has suffered with issues with his stools. They have now found him the right environment and diet. Their vet was unsure if his issue could spread to other animals so they decided he would be best suited to a home where he is the only pet. Galaxy enjoys human company and sitting on a lap. If you think you can offer Galaxy a home, call 01243 967111 or visit www.crrc.co.uk.

With the help of supporters, Cards For Good Causes festive shops aim to raise £500k this Christmas in aid of 70 local and national charities.

Galaxy the Guinea Pig

Open Studios 2023 registration 1 30th Nov Registration for 2023 Chichester Open Studios (formerly the Art Trail) opens on 1st Nov and closes with last entries by midnight on 30th Nov 2022. Chichester Open Studios 2023 will take place on 29th and 30th April 2023.

Cards For Good Causes Chichester pop up shop

This year, Cards for Good Causes at The Old Court Room, The Council House, High Street is opening its pop up shop with the help of volunteers. The doors will be open from 10th Oct to 17th Dec 2022 and will sell a range of Christmas cards and gifts, which raise money for charity. The full list of pop up shops can be found here: www.cardsforcharity.co.uk/look for a card shop

Gina braves the shave for Cancer Research UK An employee from Covers Timber & Builders Merchants in Chichester has raised over £7,500 for Cancer Research UK, following her own breast cancer diagnosis in March of this year.

Gina Trusler, Administration Manager at Covers head office in Chichester, underwent a mastectomy earlier this year and took the decision to shave off her hair before losing it due to chemotherapy treatment. Gina set up the Bald Babes for Breast Cancer fundraising initiative, which has so far raised £7,532.

The Historic Petworth Herd

The Leconfield Estate cattle. By Keir Hartley

They stand on a small rise in the pasture, observing our car which has just drawn up. Thirty or so cows, calves, heifers and a single massive bull. Deep red all over, against the green grass and the deeper green of Black Down behind them. These are Pedigree Sussex cattle, part of the Petworth herd. And I am on the Leconfield Estate just north of Petworth on a warm summer afternoon. I am about to learn not only about the cattle, part of our Sussex heritage. But also about one of the most remarkable Englishmen of the eighteenth century, and his role in transforming the world.

It’s good to be cautious when you approach herds with calves and John Giffin, Director of Leconfield Farms Ltd, asks us to wait in the car until the animals get used to us. John has worked here for 57 years and has spearheaded the development of the Sussex Breed since the 1970s. The herd, about twenty yards away look back at us as our second car rolls up the slope. Fred Lucas, Managing Agent, and Farm Manager Scott Bushby join us, along with Scott’s son Jacob. The animals in front of us are part of a working herd. The Leconfield Estate has about 150, including 50 females with calves, heifers and 3 stock bulls. “It’s a closed herd for females” Scott explains” the trick is to buy a bull when you don’t need one, as demand fluctuates.” They graze on 200 acres of pasture at Stag Park and 75 acres of water meadows, alongside a flock of sheep. Overall, there are about 2000 Sussex cattle in herds across southern England. One noteworthy group grazes at Windsor, as property of His Majesty the King, and they contain Petworth genes.

Unbroken line since 1780s

John explains why these animals are truly special “We have had an unbroken line here at Leconfield since the 1780s.We’re not quite sure when the herd was established, but it was here in 1782 when the 3rd Earl of Egremont cleared and drained the land to create the farmhouse

and model farmstead. The herd is said to come from imported Indian cattle. They were first used as oxen to help clear the forest. We still sometimes find their old clay shoes.” The Petworth and Leconfield Estates were once synonymous. Petworth House was gifted to the nation in 1947, but the Leconfield Estate, property of the current Lord Egremont, still owns most of the land in the area.

George O’Brien Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont (1751 1837) was a remarkable figure and deserves to be better remembered. He was a patron of the arts, counting such notable figures as JMW Turner among his friends. He was pioneer of transport, organising programmes of canal cutting. He was involved in politics, as a Whig, and even raised regiments for home defence during the revolutionary wars with France. But his true importance was as a pioneer of the most advanced agricultural techniques of the time. His Estate was at the forefront of the Agricultural Revolution.

A beacon of progress

Before 1700 agricultural progress had been slow for centuries. By 1800 the work of pioneers like Tull, Townshend and others had transformed everything. There were changes in crop rotation, machinery, and extensive breeding programmes for all kinds of animals, such as pigs, sheep and cattle. As an enlightened aristocrat, the 3rd Earl decided that he would put the new ideas into practice. He would create a farm that would be a

Photo credit: Andrew Thompson

beacon of progressive techniques for the whole world to copy. It would showcase the very latest ideas in land management, food production and buildings. A kind of eighteenth century Silicon Valley in Sussex.

So, in that single year of 1782 the land was cleared and drained. The centre of the farm was moved to take advantage of a spring. A whole cluster of buildings was put up including farmhouse and barns. They exist to this day, as we’ll see. Once the work of the oxen was complete, the 3rd Earl turned the herd over to beef, as it still is.

His achievements were carefully noted by Arthur Young, a famous chronicler of the agricultural revolution, who praised them in his 1793 work The Agriculture of West Sussex. And the special qualities of the Sussex pedigree would last. The breed is referenced again and again in herd books throughout the nineteenth century, its meat being especially noted.

Still relevant Sussex cattle are an historic breed, hardier than many modern breeds and can thrive on rougher pasture, making them more economic in an extensive system or as a conservation grazing herd. Because they mature quickly, they produce less methane another contribution to reducing global warming. As issues like food security move up the agenda, so too do those of locally and sustainably produced food. This piece of heritage is part of the future.

We leave the herd to board the cars and, after a bumpy ride (this is a working farm, not a

Sussex Herd book

The farmhouse and barns today

theme park) we arrive at a cluster of buildings largely unchanged since the eighteenth century. Most, including the farmstead are in the typical red brick of that era. But the real “hidden gem” is the barn, which stands as the 3rd Earl had it built. We step inside and peer up at an intricately constructed framework of timber beams and uprights. A tribute to the skills of the craftsmen who made it, lofty and intricate like a medieval cathedral.

Finding the Balance in the spirit of its founder, Leconfield Farms still looks to the future and the role it will play in food production and conservation. It’s a work in progress, as Fred notes “finding the balance between both environmental and productive sustainability who knows where that balance will be?” John welcomes the growing emphasis on sourcing: “People are more aware of food miles and where their food comes from there is a strong demand for local beef” he explains. Meanwhile, the Estate cooperates closely with conservation bodies in a range of projects for all sorts of local environmental enhancement It's time to leave, and we take our last photographs. “There’s so much history” muses Fred

“The estate has been in the same family’s ownership for about 900 years. We’re stewards really, in custody of the Estate for a generation before passing it on in, hopefully, an improved condition” And they love it. “Getting up each day with a general enthusiasm to care for the livestock you’re entrusted with. It’s not a job, it’s a way of life” says Scott. “It’s a privilege” says John.

Sometimes there’s a clash between defenders of “heritage” and modernists, who allege it’s stopping us from looking to the future. Our visit has made me think about these things in a different way. Yes, this place is as much part of Sussex Heritage as the Seven Sisters or Arundel Castle. But the things preserved here are ideas of the future and there is plenty of potential still.

Our grateful thanks to the management of the Leconfield estate and The Sussex Cattle Society.

In Your Garden

Monthly gardening ideas & tasks by Andrew Staib of Glorious Gardens

Sussex Bats

What species do we have?

There are a total of 18 species of bat that breed in the UK and all of them can be found in Sussex. The Barbastelle, Bechstein’s, Greater Horseshoe, Greater Mouse eared and the Alcathoe whiskered bat are all very rare yet still live within Sussex. The Serotine and Noctule are both uncommon. The Brandt’s, Nathusius’s Pipistrelle, Natterer’s and Whiskered are scarce. The Daubenton's bat, Common Pipistrelle and the Brown long eared bat are abundant as is the Soprano Pipistrelle.The Leisler’s and Grey long eared bat has been rarely recorded in Sussex. They have only recorded spotting one Lesser Horseshoe. The Greater Horseshoe bat is one of the rarest bats in the UK, their numbers are thought to have plummeted from about 300,000 at the turn of the last century to just 9,000 today.

The greater mouse eared bat

earlier bats kept some of the additional finger claws inherited from their ancestors.

There are over 1400 species of bat in the world, the smallest having a wing span of 15cm the largest having 1.7metre wide wings! Some bats are solitary, some live in colonies. The largest in the world is Braken Cave in Mexico with a population of 20 million bats!

What do they eat?

A single bat can consume up to 500 insects within an hour, a common bat can eat over 3000 insects in a single evening.

The origins of bats

Bats fossil records are around 50 million years ago during a time known as the Eocene. Palaeontologists have recovered remains ranging from teeth and bits of jaw to stunning full skeletons. There are some differences between the oldest bats and their modern relatives. Based upon the ear anatomy of the better preserved specimens, for example, scientists know that the first bats couldn’t echolocate. They relied on sight, smell and touch to find their meals. While modern bats have a claw only on the equivalent of our thumb,

Where can I see bats near me?

Bodiam Castle is the place to visit to see one of the most important bat roosts in the Uk. In 2013, they recorded the earliest ever births of wild baby bats in the UK.

On average there are over 200 Daubenton’s bats, with 321 recorded in 2012. The volunteers who count the colony believe it is the largest known Daubenton’s bat maternity roost in the UK. The roost is also used by another bat species in the Myotis family, the Natterer’s bat, with up to 100 of these counted in the past.

The best months to spot bats are between April to November. You should locate yourself by a river or pond because they tend to be hunting for insects there and start looking outside 20 minutes after sunset. Planting insect loving plants will help attract insects to your garden which bats feed on.

Leading Sussex Wildlife Trust business partner Infinity Foods has recently given funding towards a bat box project in the city of Brighton and

Hove, led by Sussex Wildlife Trust’s Huw Morgan and Ryan Greaves in collaboration with Brighton and Hove City Council, Sussex Bat Group and local parks’ Friends groups.

Why should I get a bat box for my garden?

Building a bat box will provide the creatures with somewhere safe to roost, raise their pups and sleep during the day. Because the numbers of insects have plummeted since the 70s, bats are having a tough time finding enough food and many of their natural roosting places are being damaged and destroyed.

Seeing by sound

Bats are one of the few mammals that can use sound to navigate, this is called echolocation. Echolocation along with special morphological (physical features) and physiological adaptations allows bats to see with sound. Most bats produce echolocation sounds by contracting their voice box. A few species, though, click their tongues. These sounds are generally emitted

serve bats and their habitat whilst raising awareness of bats. Go along to one of their educational events which are held throughout the year.

Bat box

Help with providing a care and rescue service for sick and injured bats, with the backup of permanent bat hospitals. What does the SBS do?

They record and monitor bat populations in Sussex. The group assists Natural England with roost visits where threats to bats may exist. They also help by carrying out conservation projects such as bat box schemes, improving roost sites or opening and protecting potential sites. www.sussexbatgroup.org.uk

Where to visit in November

Knepp Estate, where you can experience rewilding at first hand, has signed walks that vary from an hour to four hours. A £5 donation is suggested at the car park. New Barn Farm, Swallows Lane, Dial Post, Horsham RH13 8NN

Fancy choosing your own Christmas tree? Wilderness Woods in East Sussex offers you the chance to select your tree from their plantation in November, put a ribbon around it, then come back in December and chop it down.

November tasks

• Harvest the last of your tomatoes as the frosts can get them even if they are green they will ripen in a bowl.

• Lift your Dahlias and store them in a dry, dark place (some people leave them in the soil over Winter but this is a risk)

• Prune tall Roses to reduce the rock to their roots a strong Winter wind can wreak on them.

• Bubble wrap any precious tropical trees like Bananas or Tree Ferns if frosts are imminent.

• Think about planting Perennial and trees. Trees can be bought as bare root specimens which means they will be cheaper plus the plants will have five months to establish without any real need of watering before Spring arrives.

Spike's Sights Words

Themed board games to help children's reading

an octopus as the logo due to their high intelligence. They have over 30 board game designs and 10 themes to choose from. These include Vehicles, Vehicles 2, Animals, Culture, Sport, Sport 2, Space, Nature, So So Cute and Action. Sophie knew the whole concept of the idea was to find a theme that the child liked and had a passion for. Whether your child enjoys firefighters, tractors, pink castles, dinosaurs or sports we wanted to try and cover as many themes as we could.

Word Fairy has come Mummy” were the squeals of excitement founder of Spike’s Sight Words, Sophie Bradley, would hear most mornings from her 3 year old daughter as she immediately began to learn a list of English words this so called ‘fairy’ had left her under her pillow!

Sadly, the same ‘fairy’ had zero effect on her son at the same age. He simply didn’t care nor get excited at this group of words that would miraculously appear under his pillow. After trying this for nearly a year, Sophie thought to herself, what else could she do to try and engage her son more and help him on his reading journey?

Well, like most young boys, her son has an enormous interest in cars it was in fact his first word as a baby! Sophie knew if she could incorporate cars into some sort of learning game, then he would be happy and engaged. And so Sophie did at first she designed boards by herself and printed them out. They would use real toy cars to go up and down the track. Each time he would stop at a word and she would teach it to him. After playing only a few times, her son had actually memorised some of these sight/high-frequency words! Sophie was shocked she had finally found something that he was happy to play and actually learn from!

And so it was Sophie’s children who inspired her to set up the company ‘Spike’s Sight Words, with

These board games are specifically designed for children to learn and memorise sight and high frequency words [they will still need to learn how to phonetically decode a word in order to be able to read]. All packs come with words from the beginner, intermediate and advanced word groups meaning you can start at the very beginning with the most simple of words or you can jump straight to the advanced pack, perhaps if your child is slightly older or advanced. So with Christmas only a few weeks away, we have decided to give away the chance to win one of the themed packs! What better than an educational, fun board game to give your special

Win a board game from Spike’s Sight Words

Send

Box 2237, Pulborough, RH20 9AH or you can enter online at: www.sussexlocal.net/features/competitions Winner drawn after 30th November 2022. Please indicate if you wish to remain on our mailing list.

Midhurst C of E Primary School

To begin the academic year at Midhurst Primary School, we have embraced the principles of FAB; which are to Flourish, Achieve and Believe. Classes have taken each of these three words and explored them in different ways. We began with “Flourish”. Children made links to plant life and the natural world and were able to reflect on how they are flourishing within their

learning. In Year 1, children have each planted a bean and are looking forward to watching them flourish in the weeks ahead.

For “Achieve” we explored our strengths and achievements that make us proud. Year 5 children have designed and created natural medals which they intend on using in a class awards ceremony.

Within “Believe” we focussed on believing in ourselves, believing in our school and believing in our Christian Values. This was encapsulated by our Harvest Service at St. Mary Magdalene and St Denys Parish Church in Midhurst. Our families were incredibly generous in giving donations to the local food bank. We also had some children participating in the local Harvest Communion Service, where we read prayers, poems and sang in order to give thanks. Launching this new initiative has allowed us to have a reflective, purposeful and FAB start to the new year!

www.midhurst primary school.co.uk

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The eagle has landed

By Rob Yarham, RSPB Pagham & Medmerry

It was one of those bright, clear mornings, with a blue sky above, marked only by small wisps of white cloud. I was doing my rounds as a Volunteer Site Ranger at Church Norton, when a man approached me, clutching a bunch of fishing rods in his hand. “You look as if you’re someone who might know,” he began, indicating my RSPB polo shirt. “I was sitting on the beach early this morning,” he gestured over the shingle bank. “And I looked up and a large bird of prey was flying down the shore towards me but it was huge!” He widened his eyes and stretched his arms out to convey the bird’s immense wingspan. Sensing I didn’t believe him, he went on, “Now I know buzzards and red kites, but this was much bigger!” He could barely believe it himself. “We don’t have such things as eagles around here, do we?” I nodded, “Well, yes. Yes, we do,” and I went on to explain the Isle of Wight White tailed Eagle Project.

Each summer since 2019, a group of young eagles has been collected under licence from nests in Scotland and translocated to the Isle of Wight, where they’re fed and, after between four to eight weeks, released when they’re ready to fledge. This method of release ensures they stay fairly faithful to the area throughout their life. The risk of bird flu meant that no eagles were released this year, but the aim of the reintroduction programme which is being run in partnership between Forestry England, the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and other conservation and stakeholder bodies is to release a total of 60 young white tailed eagles over five years and establish an initial population of six to eight breeding pairs on the Isle of Wight and surrounding areas on the South coast of England.

But why here, you might ask? Don’t these eagles belong instead to the rugged northern coasts of Scotland and Scandinavia? Well, from historical accounts, archaeology and palaeontology, we know they were here in southern England until the last birds bred, on Culver Cliff

on the Isle of Wight, in 1780. According to AE Knox’s Ornithological Rambles in Sussex, published in 1849, young white tailed eagles were still visiting Sussex in the early 19th century. Even local place names provide evidence they were here the village of Earnley which sits next to the RSPB Medmerry reserve is named after them. ‘Erne’ is the Old English for ‘eagle’ (and ‘ley’ means ‘clearing’). And the evidence of the successful and growing populations in France, Denmark and the Netherlands is that there is plenty for them to eat mainly fish and water birds on similar lowland landscapes and coastlines to the Solent. Young eagles roam far and wide, but several of the released birds seem to be favouring staying in the region, including settling on the Isle of Wight, in Sussex and in Dorset as well.

The eagles will take about five years to reach sexual maturity, when they will also acquire their full adult plumage which includes the white tail of their names, together with a white head and a bright yellow beak but then, you never know, perhaps before the end of this decade, we may even see breeding white tailed eagles here in Sussex! It would certainly be wonderful to see these magnificent birds regularly in our skies again, back where they belong, after at least 200 years. Certainly, the surprised fisherman I met that morning at Church Norton would agree. Grinning from ear to ear, he described how the eagle had casually snatched a fish off the surface of the sea in front of him, before flapping on, down the beach towards Selsey. He walked away laughing with joy at what he’d just seen. “I’ll never forget that experience as long as I live amazing!” he beamed.

If you’re lucky enough to see a white tailed eagle on our reserves or anywhere in Sussex, then please report your sighting to the Isle of Wight Reintroduction Project here: www.roydennis.org/report white tailed eagle sighting/ And join our campaign to protect our safe havens for nature, including RSPB’s Medmerry reserve. Visit our website to see how you can help: www.rspb.org.uk/get involved/ www.rspb.org.uk/paghamharbour

Credit: Ben Andrew

Increase the value of your home

By Nick Roberts RMR Group

Not much escapes the reality that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, none less so than a prospective home buyer!

But whilst pricing brackets are largely controlled by supply and demand (and the political circus in Westminster!) the good news is that homeowners have the power to impact where in that bracket they sit.

Increasing the value of our home is normally associated with wanting to sell. However, another reason could be quite the opposite increasing equity to get the best mortgage rate. And with banks becoming extra conservative on their offers and higher interest rates looming, now more than ever do we needto maximise our equity.

Here are some common ways to increase the value of your home, you might be surprised by how much some of the smaller changes can impact the overall value.

Single storey rear extensions - they create a modern and open style that opens the rear of

the home with full width bi fold or sliding doors into the garden. One of the most popular changes you can do.

Loft conversions are always on the ‘wish’ list. With so much unused space, converting can pro- vide bedrooms, bathrooms, ensuites and more. But remember, whilst these projects can add value, the property needs to have a suitable loft to allow this conversion.

Garage conversions Simply put, these are one of the most economic ways to create space, and a great return on your investment.

Kitchens are the heart of the home and may have a larger impact on value than you might think. With a bit of modernising you could realistically increase the value of your home by 6-8%.

All properties are different so your potential might not be obvious, so get in touch with your local architect today to discuss what options you have available. www.robertsmillerredshaw.com

kitchen

Energy bills are set to continue to rise, and with nearly 30% of household energy consumption being used in the kitchen (according to Energy Saving Trust 13.8% of electricity for cooking, 16.8% for freezing/cooling food), being energy efficient in the kitchen should help cut down energy bills. Tips on being efficient in the Kitchen

Use the microwave: Cooking by heating water molecules inside food, from inside outwards, the heat generated by microwave is not wasted in heating the air surrounding the food. Microwaves can be used to reheat, defrost and cook meals. Microwave recipes such as mac and cheese, leek and salmon in a parcel, risotto primavera and banana muffins can be found with Google. You can also try part cooking potatoes or butternut squash for 6 10 minutes before roasting. Microwaves can also steam cook. It takes 4 5 minutes to cook softer/ moist vegetables and 6 8 minutes for firmer ones.

Use the kettle: A kettle heats water faster than the stove. When boiling water in a sauce pan, heat from the hob is absorbed by the surrounding air. Use a slow cooker: Slow cookers are insulated, and the lid stays on during cooking. An average slow cooker uses 1.3 kWh per meal. They cook everything in one pot so there are less items to wash. The slow and longer process also makes it perfect to create meals from cheaper cuts of meat.

Use less water: Only use as much water as you need (just enough to cover the food). Boiling extra water takes more time as well as energy. Cover pots and pans: The water will boil faster and use less energy to heat food. Turn off the heat a few minutes before it is fully cooked particularly if you have an electric hob, as they take time to cool down and will continue to cook.

Defrost your fridge and freezer: The energy efficiency of both is reduced if there is a build up of ice or frost. Leave a 10cm gap behind your fridge so the heat can flow away easier.

For more info: www.sustainableamersham.org

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Reduce your chances of break down

Winter motoring tips by Nadia Goldsmith

There is a sharp increase in breakdowns when the weather turns cold as underlying mechanical issues escalate. To reduce your chances of breaking down, make sure to use the acronym ‘FORCES’ to carry out regular ‘DIY Checks’ on your car this winter:

Fuel: Check your tank has plenty of fuel. Running out of fuel and being stranded is never wanted.

Oil: Keep an eye that your oil level is between the minimum and maximum mark your car’s dipstick and top up as necessary. For specific information on checking your car’s oil and the type of oil you need, refer to your owner’s handbook or trusted mechanic.

Rubber: Make sure your tyres have enough tread depth. The minimum requirement is 1.6mm, though it is advisable you have 3mm of tread on your tyres for increased traction and grip. Remember to also check your wiper blades effectively clear your screen. Wiper blades may freeze so use de icer to free them, if necessary, before switching them on.

Coolant: Although it is a sealed system and shouldn’t need attention, double check your car’s coolant level before a long journey. The coolant and mix to use should be available in your owner’s handbook.

Electrics: Check all lights are working and free from dirt, grime and snow. If your car struggles to start and your battery is over four years old it may be getting towards the end of its life and could let you down. When having your battery tested ask for a check on the charging system and drain this will give a good picture of your cars electrical health.

Screen wash: Top up your screen wash regularly. To prevent your screen wash freezing, use a quality additive that protects to very low temperatures.

Credit: RAC

Soft peanut fudge

The perfect winter melt in the mouth fudge

Makes about 350g Cook time: 1 1 1/2 hours

Ingredients

• 450g preserving or granulated sugar

• 150ml full cream milk, single cream or canned milk

• Few drops vanilla essence

• 150g chopped shelled peanuts

Method

1. Put the sugar in a medium sized heavy based pan, with 5 tbsp water. Heat very gently whilst the sugar dissolves, stirring only occasionally to prevent catching on the base. This can take 10 15 minutes.

2. Once the sugar is quite dissolved bring it gradually to the boil and allow to boil, without boiling up or stirring, until it is syrupy and about to turn golden.

3. Immediately add the milk and vanilla, stirring well as it froths up. Keep at a rolling boil for 20 30 minutes or until a few drops on a chilled saucer feel thick and sticky.

4. Add the nuts and stir well. Leave in the pan to cool for 5 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, then transfer to a greaseproof paper lined tin about 18cm square. Stir a little to distribute the nuts, then leave until set. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container. Tip: Don't worry if your mixture appears to crystallise slightly during the first stage of boiling, it won't affect the final result.

Cookery Courses for all Why not give a Voucher for the perfect gift? Contact Alex 01243 532240 www.cookwithalex.co.uk

All about Energy

By Heather Smith

If you’re to lose weight, you must use more energy (calories) than you eat. This sounds simple, but when you look deeper, it becomes more complex as there are many factors which influence what we eat and the energy our bodies use. Your age, muscle mass, how hungry you were before you ate, what you ate and even the microbes in your gut affect how your body uses energy

Your appetite

While it is true that you can lose weight by only eating Mars bars, as long as you’re eating less calories than you’re burning off, you’re going to be starving most of the time.

What you’re eating

You can feel at least as satisfied by a real, whole food meal the same size as a processed food meal, for less than half the calories.

Base metabolic rate

This is how many calories your body needs to stand still. Your age, muscle mass, hormones, dieting history, genes and sleep quality will affect how much energy your body needs to just stand still.

Non Exercise activity

Keeping active and generally ‘moving about’ consumes more energy than sitting still.

Exercise

How much you move, the intensity and type of exercise all affect what calories your body needs to complete the activity. How used your body is to the exercise is also a factor because our bodies become more efficient with practice.

Sleep quality

Plays a big part in how hungry we feel and how much we eat.

This is not an exhaustive list, but illustrates how different people respond to different diets/calorie intakes. You can make many of these factors work in your favour. More on this in the New Year. www.fitbiztraining.co.uk

Thinking of

Tony

07868 123 635 tony@vinylmovement.co.uk www.vinylmovement.co.uk

Sussex Walks - Nov 2022

These walks are led by volunteers. If the weather is poor the walk may be cancelled. There is no need to pre book for the Horsham Guided Wellbeing Walks. To view their full programme visit www.horsham.gov.uk/sport and leisure/walking/wellbeing walks

To book onto Sussex Ramblers Walks visit: www.ramblers.org.uk You must book for the Chichester HeartSmart walks: www.chichester.gov.uk/heartsmart

Horsham County Council Weekly Walks

Check website for the full monthly schedule (not available at time of print)

Every Mon 10:45am North Heath Horsham 2 miles 30 or 75 mins A gentle walk around the North Heath area riverside. Refreshment and toilets in pub

Meet: Sussex Barn pub car park, off North Heath Lane, RH12 5PJ Ann & John 01403 268885

Every Wed 10:30am Horsham Park Stroll 1+ mile 30 or 50 mins Suitable for all. Dogs on leads welcome. Friendly group and stop for a coffee at The Pavilion Centre Meet: Bandstand in Carfax (RH12 1FD) Emmy 01403 255517 or Doreen 01403 230293

Every Thu 11:00am Billingshurst 2.3 miles 60 mins

Walk around Billingshurst‘s footpaths or Jubilee Fields. Stay for coffee afterwards. Dogs on leads. Meet: Billingshurst Library, Mill Lane, RH14 9JZ Chris 01403 782745

Every Fri 10:30am St Mary’s Church, Horsham 2.5 miles 90 mins

Gentle walk around Chesworth Farm or Denne Hill; no styles or steep hills. Suitable for all. Meet: St Marys Church, Horsham Peter Tobutt 01403 260783

Sussex Ramblers

Wed 2nd 10:00

Compton 8.5miles Moderate Up, down and around Compton Horsley Farm, Forestside, Broadreed Farm, West Marden Meet: Compton, Village Rec Car Park, PO18 9EX

Sat 5th 09:30

Halfway Bridge 11miles Moderate Mill Farm, Bexley Hill Common, Lodsworth. Hilly. Booking required, max no 30

Meet: Halfway Bridge, layby of A272 eastbound GU28 0PQ Upperton Common

Wed 16th 10:00

Surrounds of Stoughton 8.5 miles Moderate

A series of ups & downs via Watergate, Stoughton & Bow Hill

Meet: Walderton Corner, immediately east of the B2146, PO18 9EA

Sat 19th 09:30

Duncton Delight 12mi Moderate Duncton, Barlavington, Sutton, Decoy Copse, Sutton End, Burton Park, Graffham, Seaford. Could be muddy. Registered assistance dogs only Meet: Duncton, Willett Close, GU28 0LD

Sun 20th 09:30 Out from Eartham

12 miles Moderate A circular, hilly walk. Upwaltham Hill, South Downs Way, Houghton Forest, Great Down. Booking required, max 15

Meet: Eartham Woods Forestry Commission Car Park, PO18 0LU Chichester HeartSmart walks more on: www.chichester.gov.uk/heartsmart

Mon 7th 11:00

Bosham Harbour & Village 1.5 miles Easy (for all) Flat & no stiles. A circular walk through historic Old Bosham and along its scenic harbour front. Meet: Bosham Car Park, PO18 8HZ, at the pedestrian area near Bosham Public Toilets.

Fri 25th 10:30 Goodwood & Singleton 8 miles Advanced A more advanced walk with steep uphill sections and stiles. Lovely open countryside also taking in the villages of West Dean and Coleworth. We will have a stop so please bring a snack.

Meet: Goodwood Seven Points Car park (not the Triangle car park)

Prinsted

By local historian Andrew Berriman

Prinsted, whose place name is derived from ‘peren stede’, a place of pears, presents me with a challenge. The bible for all local historians is the authoritative, if somewhat dry, ‘Buildings of England’ series, edited by Nikolaus Pevsner, although the chapters on West Sussex villages were written in 1965 by Ian Nairn. He was far more acerbic, idiosyncratic and interesting in his opinions about buildings than Pevsner. When I am researching these village articles I always start by consulting ‘Pevsner’. But herein lies the challenge because, quite simply, there is no entry in it about Prinsted. Perhaps it was too small and insignificant for inclusion, which is understandable as there is no church, mill, school, shop, nor pub (as the Harvest Home closed long ago). Apart from Prinsted Care Home the village consists solely of residential dwellings, many of which are Listed Buildings.

I know Prinsted well, thanks to my HeartSmart walks. Whether we start at Emsworth and walk eastwards across the fields, or start from Chidham and walk westwards along the Harbour Wall, we usually pass through Prinsted. I enjoy peering over its distinctive, low, knapped flint, walls into the immaculate gardens, with their displays of colourful flowers. The houses exhibit a range of vernacular building materials timber, flint, stone, brick and roofs of thatch or handmade clay peg tiles. The focal point of the village is The Square, which in truth is more of a triangle. Prinsted Lane passes through it, from the A259 down to the head of the Thorney Channel in the harbour. To the east are the Nutbourne Marshes, 380 acres of tidal mudflats, designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1975, accessed along a footpath over a low stone wall on The Square.

The village’s connection with fruit and nut orchards is clear from such house names as Apple Tree Farmhouse, Walnut Tree Cottage, Walnut Tree Farmhouse and the thatched Little Orchard. Apple Tree Farmhouse is dated 1678, and over the door are the initials IS, probably standing for John Smith, who is shown on a 1630 map as owning a nearby field. Its roof is hipped and steeply pitched, its flint walls are knapped (squared) and dressed at the edges in brick. Little Orchard’s timber framed exterior is still visible on its front elevation, now in filled with brick and flint. It carries the date 1475, but the basis for this claim is uncertain. In front of its attractive topiary is a garden wall with brickwork laid in rat trap bond. This saved on bricks, but meant that rats could get caught in the interior void.

The oldest house is indeed The Old House, just south of the above mentioned footpath. It was a low timber framed aisled house dating right back to the 14th century, and is the only one in the village to be listed grade II*. The Manor House has a 1663 date on its wall, and has Georgian sash windows, added later. Standing flush on the north side of The Square are Mons House and The Thatch (which is indeed thatched, originally in long straw). Opposite them are Dolphin Cottage, and Prinsted Farm House slightly to the west. Further along the lane are two dwellings, Littlegate Cottage and Baytree Cottage that were once one building dating to the 17th century, timber framed, with a central lobby entrance and chimney behind, but later rebuilt in brick and divided into two residences.

Every one of these houses is an absolute delight. But don’t rely on my word for it; have a stroll around the village on a sunny day, taking care though, as there aren’t many pavements.

Apple Tree Farmhouse

The Old House

Petworth ancient trades & names

y local historian & artist David Johnston

Some months ago, I had the rare opportunity to look through and record on film a collection of old blacksmith forged farming tools all neatly displayed within a barn close to Petworth. The enthusiastic compiler of this superb collection told me that he had gone to numerous local farm sales, and junk shops over the past forty years in order to build up such an impressive store of iron artefacts the rarest amongst them being a shepherds crook made in Petworth by one Reuben Baxter. The old time blacksmiths were highly skilled craftsmen, forging not only horse shoes, but also the ploughshares, candlesticks and iron pots and pans for the neighbourhood. Other small industries also gave employment to the town and outlying villages. In the eighteenth century, for instance, Petworth was famous for its clockmakers many old grandfather clocks bear their names. Tribe (1730 60) was the best known among them, others were John and William Taylor, Easton, Boxall and Holt. There was also a prosperous clog and patten industry in Petworth in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The workpeople were roused at 5 a.m., every morning by a Shoemakers Bell that sounded from the church steeple. Copse cutting gave winter employment to many. For there was a flourishing trade in wooden barrel hoops which were split on the spot in the woodlands. With the invention of iron hoops the trade died completely. Fittleworth also made its own baskets from the osier beds.

Up to 1600, Petworth can have possessed no shops, only craftsmen who made their own wares. But from that date onwards we gain an insight into the beginnings of the retail trade through tradesmens tokens. “Tokens” were issued by local tradesmen during the seventeenth century, for use as change. Their value ranged from a penny to a farthing. Bronze coinage did not exist, and the silver penny was small and easily lost, so the tradesmen issued these leaden coins for use locally and redeemed them on presentation for coin of the realm. The custom led to great abuse and was suppressed in 1672. Here are a few of the Petworth tokens. They

bear, besides the name of the trader, the sign of his trade: “John Eede, his halfpenny, Petworth 1670. Sign, an ape smoking.”

“John Scott of Petworth. Three cloves,” (Both these signs indicate sellers of tobacco.)

“Richard Legatt. In Petworth 1656. Two swords in saltire.” (A butcher's sign.)

“John Barnard, a stick of five candles.”

“William Manser, a stick of candles.”

“John Washington, a pack horse walking to his left. In Petworth, carrier, His Halfpenny”.

Many of these old trades, going back hundreds of years can often point to the origin of the names of places in which these old tradesmen once lived. For instance, Palfrey's Farm, on Ebernoe Common was inhabited by John the Palfreyman in 1327; an old road ran near the place and John probably hired out palfreys to travellers. Marshall's Farm, was the home of William le Marscal in 1271; the name describes his trade: a “marshall” was a smith in Norman times. Soanes Farm was held by Richard Sones, “the King's Bondman” in 1541.“Scratchings,” is “Cratchings” in 1620 and is probably a dialect word meaning “the refuse from melted pig fat.” Mockbeggars, is a Sussex expression denoting a house which is outwardly pretentious but dirty and poverty-stricken within.

There is also a likely explanation of “Stedman's Journey,” the name of a coppice near Moor Farm. “Journey” in old days meant a days work; from the French Journee this meaning still survives in “journeyman.” Probably one Stedman did a record days work there; perhaps he cut the underwood there in one day, and his prowess still lingers in its name. The derivation of “The Bartons.” A barton, is old English, meaning a farmyard of buildings. Possibly the farm buildings of the Glebe stood there long before the cemetery. Plumpudding Corner was the site of a plumpudding stall for the sustenance of the Petworth people on their way to Egdean horse fair, from the 14th to the 19th centuries.

Ref: The late Hon. Lady Maxse: published articles for the Petworth Parish Magazine 1925 1930.

David R.G. Johnston: Sussex author: photographer and Artist. www.davidjohnston.org.uk or email: johnston.david.rg@gmail.com

Iron tool collection

Local council updates

From the Editor help please!

We endeavour to provide a selection of news from your local Parish and Town Councils every month. An open invitation is extended to all councils to let us have their news every month, and we keep a half page open for each, free of charge. Very few take this up, and so we are left with extracting information from those meeting minutes which are published on council websites. Lately, presumably due to shortage of resources, there have been less of these, or they’re posted on the websites months after the meetings and are therefore out of date. We feel a useful and we repeat, free way of getting information on council activities out to residents is being wasted. What do you think? We would be interested to hear your views on whether you find these updates useful, or otherwise. Maybe you don’t feel connected to local councils or don’t know what they do? All views are welcome so please email us at info@sussexlocal.net or write to the address on page 3 of this issue. If you do not wish your letter to be published, please do mark it as such. Many thanks in advance for your time, and in the meantime here is some news from West Sussex County Council (WSCC).

Winter preparations

Winter is coming salt bins are being filled. The Local Highway Operations teams are in the process of refilling the salt bins and delivering hippo salt bags to communities across the county. To find out more about salt bins, please visit Salt bins at westsussex.gov.uk. There are 19 gritting routes across the county and these can be found by searching for Gritting routes on the West Sussex County Council.

Reporting road problems

From late November 2022 WSCC will be changing the process for reporting road and pavement issues, replacing it with mobile device friendly eforms. The benefit of the new process is that your reports will be automatically uploaded into the Highways Case Management System and assigned to the right team.

Customers who would normally make reports using Love West Sussex will receive a pop up

message signposting them to the correct eform for the issue being reported.

Other benefits include a more detailed and accurate interactive map to improve location reporting. The map will feature all current reported issues and status for the type of issue you are reporting for example potholes, flooding or overgrown vegetation. Customers can receive status updates by providing their email address.

Road improvements

Across West Sussex, signs and lines will be easier to read and be more visible on numerous roads in 2022 and 2023. On routes chosen by local area highway teams, all signs and highway furnishings will be cleaned, and vegetation will be removed.

WSCC is also in the third year of a three year public realm makeover. With a focus on all parts of the highway, including resurfacing worn lines, restoring damaged signposts, and trimming back vegetation, the council is trying to enhance and improve the highway corridor. 27 areas have already begun work on road markings, and signage will follow soon. The places are distributed equally throughout the county.

Bus pass survey

The Council would like to find out how West Sussex residents aged 65 and over, use their free bus pass and if they use it more or less since the pandemic. They would also like to know why some people don’t claim their free bus pass and if there are any barriers to bus travel in the county and beyond. WSCC is working with local bus companies to help improve services and await confirmation of funds to deliver the ambitions set out in the Bus Services Improvement Plan. All eligible survey completers (that’s residents aged 65 or over) can sign up to a free prize draw to win £100 worth of supermarket vouchers. For more information about free bus passes for older people visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/BusPass