Charity&CommunityNews

Community news from across the counties

More than £400,000 has been raised in one year so far to help find new spaces for nature in the South Downs National Park. The ReNature campaign is looking to create an extra 13,000 hectares of habitat where plants and animals can thrive. More at www.southdowns.enthuse.com/ HelpNatureReNature. The South Downs Way, the 100mile chalk path between Winchester and Eastbourne, celebrated its 50th birthday as a National Trail in July. For more information and to plan your visit go to www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/ trails/south-downs-way. Adur District Council has amended its procedures so that councillors can impose tighter restrictions on the felling of trees in major developments. The new approach will mean that planning committees can specify that trees are to remain in place by attaching specific conditions to new planning permissions. The Summer Reading Challenge is back at all 36 West Sussex Libraries. This year’s theme is Gadgeteers and aims to inspire children to see the science and innovation behind everyday objects, showing that reading and science is for everyone. Sign up by visiting your local library or you can register online at www.westsussex.gov.uk/src and look out for the secret code word! The service is entirely free. West Sussex charity 4Sight Vision Support has announced it will be running a Make a Will Fundraising Scheme in September. The charity, in conjunction with accountants Kreston Reeves, is inviting people to have their Wills or Lasting Powers of Attorney written (or Wills only, amended) for free, in return for a donation. Call 01243 828555, email fundraising@4sight.org.uk or alternatively visit www.4sight.org.uk.

Some West Sussex fire stations are holding open days where firefighters will be running a series of practical displays as well as being on hand to provide fire and road safety advice and answer any questions that people may have. The dates are : Crawley Fire Station 6th August; Haywards Heath Fire Station 27th August; Midhurst Fire Station 3rd September. The Weald & Downland Living Museum in Chichester has been named Sussex (c)Mischa Haller Family Attraction of the Year in the 2 0 2 2 M u d d y Stiletto awards. Home to over 50 historic buildings from across the Weald and Downland area the Museum’s collection represents almost a 1,000 years of rural life in South East England. The Museum has a packed programme of family fun planned throughout August. including outdoor theatre, nature trails, singing, puzzles, and crafts www.wealddown.co.uk The largest-ever local authority roll-out of electric vehicle (EV) charging points in the UK was launched in June in West Sussex. Thousands of chargepoints will be installed on streets, in public sector car parks and on community facilities across the county within the next ten years. The infrastructure will be installed and maintained by the company Connected Kerb. RISE, Brighton & Hove’s domestic abuse charity, has announced its signature annual fundraising event, the 8k Undercliff Run for Women, is now open for registrations. The race is on Sunday 16th October, for more information and registration visit www.RISEuk.org.uk. Baptism, confirmation, marriage, death and burial records spanning 457 years of Sussex history are now available to search online at Ancestry. Access to Ancestry is free at The Keep and all libraries across East and West Sussex. The Keep is an archive centre and home to historic documents from East Sussex Record Office, Brighton and Hove City Council, and the University of Sussex. The public are welcome to visit to carry out research on family history or academic study, free of charge. www.thekeep.info.

Marathon Man runs 100 miles to support local NHS mental health services An NHS manager has raised over £1,000 by completing the South Downs Centurion challenge in less than 30 hours. Ian Puttock is a Mental Health Programme Manager at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental health and learning disability services in Sussex. Ian completed the challenge, running from Winchester to Eastbourne, to support Heads On, the official charity at the Trust. The money raised from completing the challenge will support the One Step at a Time running group, a local running club that aims to encourage and support people to improve their physical and mental health by participating in group running sessions. Ian, from Angmering, was named Marathon Man after he completed an amazing marathon challenge back in 2018 and helped to fund the start of One Step at a Time. Describing the feeling at the end of the race, Ian said: "I am so chuffed with my achievement, still pinching myself. Big thank you to everyone who supported me through their generous donations, this really helped in motivating me to the finish." Running has been a huge part of Ian's life since suddenly losing his first wife 14 years ago, and he is a great advocate of the positive impact running can have, using it as a tool to escape the stresses of life and the impact they often have on us. Ian commented: "I want to provide an opportunity for others who may not have yet found running as a way of helping improve their mental health and wellbeing. All money raised will go to helping me further build up the run club that I started before the pandemic and reach out to those who could benefit from joining." To support Ian, visit his JustGiving page: Ian Puttock is fundraising for Heads On (justgiving.com)

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Few of us are fortunate enough to live in a home created exclusively for us by an interior designer. There are, however affordable ways to put a personal stamp on our living space and Sussex Local talked to Lesley Benwell of Green Interiors in Storrington about how this might be achieved.

Lesley’s background is new home sales and she has fitted out several show homes. She took over this established shop (adjacent to the post office) in January of this year. She told us that she is very customer focused and will make every effort to provide the right product and advice on colour schemes, soft furnishings, furniture layout etc, which will result in a living space which reflects the client's individuality. To this end, her shop houses a plethora of home accessories, lighting, cushions, “real feel” fauxflowers, candles and more as well as interesting pots, benches and plants for outdoors. Lesley says her focus is on providing for every budget level and she says “if we don't have it, we will endeavour to source it”. As well as the interior design service, the shop has an inhouse florist who can create unique faux-flower arrangements and a furniture specialist who can craft bespoke pieces. Home visits can be arranged, together with a fit-out service and they offer free local delivery for larger items. Lesley has set up a new website and explained that she regularly posts on Facebook and Instagram to bring attention to new items. With new deliveries every week her intention is to keep the stock fresh and interesting. Finally, she told us that a loyalty scheme is in place for customers to earn points which can be converted into extra money for that little something special to complement their living space. Green Interiors Storrington, 4a West Street, RH20 4EE www.greeninteriorsstorrington.co.uk Telephone: 01903 366789

Charity & Community News

Six-a-side football group needs players If you fancy a friendly kickabout, a group which organises adult six-a-side football indoors at Storrington Leisure Centre is looking for new players. 8pm every Tuesday. £4 pwk. Email Chris Modder at chris.modder@icloud.com Probus Club visits Kew Gardens The Storrington and District Probus Club recently visited Kew Gardens, thanks to the organisational skill of one of our members Alan French. The weather was fine and the Palm House, which is the largest glass house in the world was full, of exotic plants and the outside was a splendid show of mauve and white Alliums. The Tree Top Walk was well worth the climb, to enjoy the view of miles of countryside an also to see the iconic buildings of the City of London and the Telecom Tower. The Kew Palace Guides were dresses in period costume which helped to set the scene for the history of George III and his family. A Probus club (the name is an amalgam

of “Professional” and “Business”) is a local association of retired and semi-retired professional and business people. More information email Cliff Palmer at cliffpalmer@outlook.com. Storrington Conservation Society news Our work party on 2nd July was at Dyke Farm, (C)Alexander Fox/Pixabay where we maintained the recently planted trees. This was followed by a summer picnic besides the beautiful lake. We next meet on 6th August again at Dyke Farm at 10am, where we will be cutting and raking hay in the meadows. This is a fun summer activity which takes us back to the techniques used in bygone times. Anyone wishing to join us will be warmly welcomed, gardening clothes recommended, other equipment provided. For information about this and our other activities, or on becoming a member, (no subscription is required, donations welcome) please get in touch with Chairman Mick Denness on 01903 745971, or see our website. www.storringtonconservation.org.uk. Community stories are free of charge. info@sussexlocal.net