Sussex Local Magazine - Pulborough FEBRUARY 2023

HELLO!

AftertheNewYear celebrationsandsettlingback intoaroutine,Februarycan feellikeanopportunityto pauseanddrawbreath.It’sno coincidencethatthismonthis namedfromtheLatinword februumwhichmeans purification.There’sasenseof optimism,thatSpringisjust aroundthecornerandthat everythingwillgetbrighterand warmersoon.

ThismonthourCharityspotlight ison“TheWellderness”a CommunityInterestCompany helpingpeopleandthe environmentthrough engagementwithnature.Also inthismagazine;ourregular selectionoflocalguidedwalks, Februaryeventlistings,a satisfyingbreakfastrecipe, gardeningtasksforFebruary, motoring,health&wellbeing pluscompetitionsandpuzzles.

Thismonthalsomeans Valentine’sDay,HalfTerm(see ourWhat’sOnsection),Black HistoryMonth,PancakeDay, andRandomActsofKindness Day(onthe17th).

Untilnexttime, Kris&Jeff

What’s On - February/March 2023

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 eight editions distributed to over 54,000 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 March events to be put on website - 4th February

CHARITY

18/03/2023 2:00 PM 4Sight Vision Support Fundraising Wellbeing Walk A fundraising Walk around Horsham Town Centre £10 £5 Fundraising Team 01243 828555 fundraising@4sight.org.uk www.4sight.org.uk

25th & 26th Mar 9:00 AM Arundel Castle Abseil Abseil down the side of the 180-foot tower for St Barnabas Hospice to be knighted with your bespoke castle medal. Arundel Castle BN18 9AB events@stbh.org.uk stbarnabas-hospice.org.uk/ events/arundel-castle-abseil

CHILDREN'S EVENTS

13th - 17th Feb 9:30 AM Paint a Bird Flowerpot in half term at Squire’s Garden Centres Keep the little ones entertained this half term with Create & Grow activities Squire's Garden Centre Washington RH20 2BP £6.50 to paint a birdshaped flowerpot - free to go on a bird treasure hunt A24 Washington Tel: 01903 893902 www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk

15th - 17th Feb 10:00 AM 'Family Fun Week' in Bognor Regis Alexandra Theatre, Regis Centre PO21 1BN Hazel hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk www.alexandratheatre.co.uk 01243 867676

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

2nd & 9th Feb 1:30 PM Chalkpath Community Theatre Group A local adult community theatre group for beginners and upwards, learning skills and making friends St Michaels Church Hall Amberley BN18 9ND £12.50 Vicky Paine 7799260621 chalkpaththeatre@gmail.com 03/02/2023 6:45 PM Graphic novel book club Comic book club looking at graphic novels aimed at adults Private house Barnham PO22 0EF Paul Wilson paulw21erin@gmail.com 04/02/2023 10:30 AM Parkinson's Support Group in Washington for people with Parkinson's Washington Village Memorial Hall RH20 4AP £2 01903 746871 gillian.chard@btinternet.com

06/02/2023 8:00 PM Felpham Singles Social Club Social club for mature singles. The George Inn Bognor Regis PO22 7PL Anne 01243 821530 anniecook555@yahoo.co.uk www.felphamsingles.yolasite.com

07/02/2023 2:00 PM Pulborough Computer Club AGM, social event & panel for Q&A's at Pulborough Village Hall RH20 1LP £2 / £3 £3 chrissie@wisborough.com pcclub.org.uk

07/02/2023 2:00 PM The Arts Society West Sussex in Fittleworth ‘Travels with a Trowel’ Fittleworth Village Hall RH20 1EJ Visitors £7 theartssocietywestsussex.org 01903 411086 westsussex@theartssociety.org 13/02/2023 7:30 PM Pulborough Meadows WI February Meeting Pulborough Village Hall RH20 2BF 07920 326000 mary.walker50@gmail.com 16/02/2023 7:30 PM Storrington Camera Club Speaker Evening Chris Philipson talk on USA Road Trip Chesswood Room Thakeham Village Hall RH20 3GW Janet www.storringtoncc.org.uk chair@storringtoncc.org.uk 21/02/2023 2:00 PM West Chiltington Floral Club - February Demonstration Monthly floral demonstration by an Area Demonstrator West Chiltington Village Hall RH20 2PZ Visitors £5 01798 813608 wchiltfloralclub@gmail.com 22/02/2023 2:30 PM Storrington Flower Club Monthly demo Sullington Parish Hall RH20 3PP £6 1903742102 chrissyldesmond@gmail.com

23/02/2023 7:00 PM Sugar and Spice, Sugarcraft Club in Washington Sugarcraft club with workshops and demonstrations Washington Village Memorial Hall RH20 4AP £25 annually Sue Rudge i.rudge@sky.com 01903 695700 04/03/2023 10:30 AM Parkinson's Support Group in Washington Washington Village Memorial Hall RH20 4AP £2 Gillian Chard 01903 746871 gillian.chard@btinternet.com

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06/03/2023 8:00 PM Felpham Singles Social

Club Social club for mature singles The George Inn Bognor Regis PO22 7PL Anne 01243 821530 anniecook555@yahoo.co.uk www.felphamsingles.yolasite.com

Every Mon, Wed & Fri Various times West

Chiltington Table Tennis Club West Chiltington Village Hall RH20 2PZ hosts Table Tennis Club Iain and Coral McLaren 01403 731341 iainandcoralmclaren@gmail.com

Every Wed 11:30 AM Wednesday Lunch Club

Weekly lunch club for the over-55’s with social activities before lunch Pulborough Village Hall RH20 2BF £5 Louise Kaiser louisekaiser4807@gmail.com

Every Wed 7:00 PM Worthing Short Mat Bowls

Club West Park School Worthing BN12 4HD Betty Potts 01903 260218 bobetty_highsalvington@yahoo.co.uk worthingshortmatbowls.weebly.com/#

Every Sun 11:00 AM West Chiltington Sunday Badminton Club West Chiltington Village Hall Pulborough RH20 2PZ Vivian Jones vmjones18@hotmail.co.uk

COMMUNITY

17/02/2023 6:30 PM Worthing Climate

Engagement & Action Meetings for those concerned about the environment XR Worthingtwice monthly meetings CREW Worthing BN11 3AL xrworthing@protonmail.com

25/02/2023 8:00 AM Men's Breakfast

Community Event in Chichester Keith Varney talks about Mission Aviation Fellowship Chichester Park Hotel PO19 7QL £9.50 Peter peter@ppsutton.co.uk immanuelchichester.com/ community/mens-breakfast/ 07813 024585 17/03/2023 6:30 PM Worthing Climate Engagement & Action Meetings for those concerned about the environment XR Worthingtwice monthly meetings CREW Worthing BN11 3AL xrworthing@protonmail.com

25/03/2023 8:00 AM Men's Breakfast

Community Event in Chichester Colonel Edward Armitstead CBE ex Coldstream Guards talk Chichester Park Hotel PO19 7Q £9.50 Peter peter@ppsutton.co.uk immanuelchichester.com/ community/mens-breakfast/ 07813 024585

COURSES & TUITION

03/02/2023 9:30 AM Birding for beginnersWinter Wetlands at Pulborough Brooks Lean more about the winter visitors 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

6th & 13th Feb 10:00 AM WEA class in Chichester - Hearth and Home: Sussex Vernacular Buildings 5 sessions with WEA tutor Geoffrey Mead on the history of housing locally. New Park Community and Arts Centre Chichester PO19 7XY £50 WEA (Workers Educational Association) 0300 303 3464 www.wea.org.uk chichester.branch@wea.ac.uk

11th & 21st Mar 8:30 AM Birdsong Masterclass at Pulborough Brooks Learn how to identify birdsong 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 26/03/2023 9:30 AM Birding for absolute beginners at Pulborough Brooks If you’re new to birdwatching, this is the session for you. RSPB Pulborough Brooks RH20 2EL £20.50 members /£25.50 for Non-members Lydia Fletcher 01798 875851 lydia.fletcher@rspb.org.uk events.rspb.org.uk/pulboroughbrooks

Every Wed 1st Feb - 22nd Mar 2:00 PM "Judge and Jury" WEA Course in Billingshurst The course will study the people, issues and outcomes of 10 trials from British History Billingshurst Community & Conference Centre RH14 9QW £100 for 10 sessions David 0300 303 3464 david@daviddaley.plus.com

EXHIBITIONS

7th - 18th Feb 10:00 AM Ukrainian Renaissance. Unbowed. The Ukrainian refugees’ dozen will present their culture with handmade works. Colonnade House Worthing BN11 3DH paula.tollett@adurworthing.gov.uk colonnadehouse.co.uk/event/ ukrainian-renaissance-unbowed/

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18/02/2023 2:30 PM 'Snowdrops - where you least expect them' Photography Exhibition Denmans Gardens Fontwell Contact Lucy: 01243 572433 office@snowdroptrust.com

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

05/02/2023 3:00 PM Family friendly theatre 'My Family and Other Animals' in Lewes Join the Durrell's on a Mediterranean adventure this Winter in All Saints Centre Lewes BN7 2LE £9.50 / £7.50 Lewes Drama Collective enquiry@dramacollective.com www.ticketsource.eu/lewes-drama-collective

16/02/2023 2:00 PM 'Journey to the Stars' in Bognor Regis

A blend of puppetry, storytelling, live music & comedy. Alexandra Theatre, Regis Centre PO21 1BN £8.50 Hazel Latus 01243 867676 hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk www.alexandratheatre.co.uk

25/03/2023 12:00 PM Point to Point Racing at Parham 6 jump races, stalls, fair and food. Enjoy a day out Parham Point to Point. Pulborough RH20 2ER Carolyn Gorman caroylngorman@gmail.com www.facebook.com/ p2patparham

FAYRES & FETES

19/02/2023 11:00 AM Spring Wedding Fayre at Avisford Park Hotel Ideas and options for your big day. Avisford Park Hotel Walberton BN18 0LS marketing@avisfordparkhotel.com avisfordparkhotel.com/ FILM

08/02/2023 7:30 PM Rotary Film Night in Storrington

Fisherman's Friends One and All Starring James Purfoy with Bar + Raffle Sullington Village Hall RH20 3PP £5 Ken 1903740745 kandjcoll@btinternet.com

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09/02/2023

7:00 PM Worthing Twinning

Association Foreign film evening The Worthing Twinning Association present a classic French film evening. West Worthing Baptist Church BN14 7LU £5 Pam Bennett 01903 232196 pambennett8@btinternet.com

GARDENS & HORTICULTURE

Open by arrangement from 16th Jan - 7th Oct for groups of 12 to 30 Tuppenny Barn. visit ngs.org.uk for information and booking details Southbourne, Chichester Tuppenny Barn PO10 8EZ £5 Maggie: 01243 377780 contact@tuppennybarn.co.uk ngs.org.uk

Open by arrangement from Feb - Nov Mitchmere Farm Stoughton. visit ngs.org.uk for information and booking details Chichester Mitchmere Farm Stoughton PO18 9JW £5 Neil & Sue Edden 02392 631456 sue@mitchmere.co.uk

Open by arrangement from 6th Mar - 12th Sept for groups of 6 to 20 6 Plantation Rise, Worthing. visit ngs.org.uk for information and booking details 6 Plantation Rise BN13 2AH Nigel & Trixie 01903 262206 trixiehall008@gmail.com

19th Feb, 5th & 21st Mar 2:00 PM Manor of Dean, Petworth - garden open for the National Garden Scheme Traditional English garden of approximately 3 acres Manor of Dean Petworth GU28 9AP £5 01483 211535 ngs.org.uk

23rd & 25th Feb 2:00 PM Beautiful snowdrops and daffodils on display Buddington Farm Easebourne GU29 0QP open for the NGS £5 hello@ngs.org.uk ngs.org.uk

Every Thurs from 9th Feb 10:30 AM The Old Vicarage The Street, Washington open for The National Garden Scheme The Old Vicarage Washington RH20 4AS £7 hello@ngs.org.uk ngs.org.uk

MUSIC

03/02/2023 7:30 PM 60 Minutes of Classical Music in Bognor Regis Studio 1, Regis Centre PO21 1BN £6.50 Hazel: alexandratheatre.co.uk 01243 867676 hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk

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

07/02/2023 2:00 PM 2 O'Clock Club in Bognor Regis Karen Etherington. Studio 1, Regis Centre PO21 1BN £6 Hazel alexandratheatre.co.uk 01243 867676 hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk 11/02/2023 8:00 PM Le Freak CHIC & Nile Rodgers Tribute UK's premier CHIC & Nile Rodgers Tribute band. Empire Hall, Graffham Petworth GU280QB £20 Jim Kirke empirehall@gmail.com empirehall.org.uk

Every Mon 8:00 PM Fernhurst Choral Society

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

SALES & MARKETS

04/02/2023 9:30 AM Cheeki Monkeys Big Baby & Children market Buy or sell used babies' and children’s toys, clothes and equipment. The Shoreham centre BN43 5WU £1.50 Delphine www.facebook.com/Cheeki-Monkeys-BrightonBN2-and-Shoreham-by-Sea-107135655022217 delphine.cheekimonkeys@gmail.com

events on www.sussexlocal.net -

18/02/2023 9:00 AM Arundel Farmers Market

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

18/03/2023 9:00 AM Arundel Farmers Market

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

18/03/2023 9:30 AM Cheeki Monkeys Big Baby & Children market Buy or sell used babies' and children’s toys, clothes and equipment. The Shoreham centre BN435WU £1.50 Delphine www.facebook.com/Cheeki-Monkeys-BrightonBN2-and-Shoreham-by-Sea-107135655022217 delphine.cheekimonkeys@gmail.com

SOCIAL & ENTERTAINMENT

14/02/2023 6:00 PM Petworth Late: An Artful Valentines An exclusive evening for adults Petworth House and Park GU28 9LR £15 petworth@nationaltrust.org.uk 01798 342207 nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth

18/02/2023 7:30 PM Eastergate Motown and Northern Soul Evening Motown and Northern Soul played on pure vinyl. Dancefloor and free parking Eastergate Village Hall PO20 3RP £5 Tony Cassini di_cassini@hotmail.com fb.me/ e/5RsMT1F5O 07718 415620

25/02/2023 7:30 PM Comedy Night in Walberton an evening of laughter Avisford Park Hotel

Walberton BN18 0LS £15 Jeunais Farrell 01243 558300 avisfordparkhotel.com/ marketing@avisfordparkhotel.com

TALKS

01/02/2023 10:00 AM Researching the history of your house a workshop to get you started with your family and local history research. West Sussex Record Office PO19 1DD £7.50 Matthew record.office@westsussex.gov.uk 01243 753602 www.westsussex.gov.uk/ro

03/02/2023 2:30 PM A walk around the Cathedral City of Chichester An illustrated tour and talk of Chichester & its history, buildings, architecture and Cathedral. Storrington Museum RH20 4LL £8 01903 740188 storringtonmuseum.com 07/02/2023 7:30 PM Worthing Antique, Arts & Collectors' Club Talk on the History of Crown Jewels. Field Place Worthing BN13 1NP £7.50 Andrew Pescott 07984 403890 worthingantiqueclub@yahoo.co.uk www.worthingantiqueclub.com 13/02/2023 10:00 AM The Arts Society, Steyning “All Done On Ginger Beer” by Sarah Benton. The Steyning Centre BN44 £10 donation for visitors steyning@theartssociety.org www.theartssocietysteyning.org.uk 20/02/2023 11:00 AM 'Promise of Snowdrop' at Denmans Gardens Visit and Talk Denmans Gardens Fontwell Lucy Ashworth 01243 572433 office@snowdroptrust.com

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28/02/2023 7:00 PM The Pallants: Chichester's Town within the City Alan Green talk, hosted by West Sussex Record Office PO19 1DD £8 Matthew Jones 01243 753602 record.office@westsussex.gov.uk

01/03/2023 10:00 AM Getting started with Ancestry.co.uk a workshop to get you started with your family and local history research. West Sussex Record Office PO19 1DD £7.50 Matthew 01243 753602 www.westsussex.gov.uk/ro record.office@westsussex.gov.uk

07/03/2023 7:30 PM Talk by Nick Hall from BBC's Bargain Hunt small club that meets on the first Tuesday of the month. Field Place Worthing BN13 1NP Non members £7.50 Andrew Pescott 07984 403890 worthingantiqueclub@yahoo.co.uk www.worthingantiqueclub.com

THEATRE

6th & 7th Feb 7:00 PM Dance House 2023 Alexandra Theatre, Regis Centre PO21 1BN £12 Contact Hazel: hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk 01243 867676 www.alexandratheatre.co.uk

24/02/2023 7:00 PM The Alex Comedy Club in Bognor Regis age guidance - 16+. Alexandra Theatre, Regis Centre PO21 1BN £10.50 Hazel Latus hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk 01243 867676 www.alexandratheatre.co.uk

28/02/2023 7:30 PM Henry V in Worthing Witness Henry’s bombastic pursuit of power, in this highly acclaimed co-production of Henry V by Shakespeare’s Globe and Headlong with Leeds Playhouse and Royal & Derngate at Connaught Theatre BN11 1LG wtm.uk/events/henry-v

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pulborough@cubittandwest.co.uk cubittandwest.co.uk

01798 875 151

We know there has been much speculation in the property market over the last couple of months, with prices coming down and interest rates going up splashed across the media.

Let us assure you, things are not as bad as they are made out.

We have seen mortgage rates reduced at least three times during November and December and we have still negotiated sales.

We are here to help you in any way we can. We have all the tools needed to assist with

your move, with free market valuations , registered applicants actively looking for their next home, along with some of the best mortgage advice available This too is a free service we offer, so why not book a noobligation appointment with Liam, our mortgage advisor, to see how much you could borrow and the rate you could pay – you may be pleasantly surprised.

Please call us on 01798 875 151 to see how we can help you.

Office Manager,

Using a winning marketing strategy, we arranged 18 viewings. This resulted in us finding the perfect buyer, and achieving the best price

With our dynamic marketing strategy, we arranged 17 viewings and received 3 offers, achieving 100% of the asking price

With another winning marketing strategy, we arranged 8 viewings, generating 3 offers, and achieved the best price

‘First of all, may we wish all the readers a belated Happy New Year.’

Your update to the Pulborough area housing market

PULBOROUGH

COLDWALTHAM

BILLINGSHURST

Our fresh approach led to these successes...

Kevin Tafft

Pulborough

Fun & fitness in Storrington

Win unlimited access to Chanctonbury Leisure Centre for 3 months

• Junior Gym for ages 11+

• GP Exercise on Referral Initiative

• 25+ Group Exercise Classes per week including Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, Circuits and Les Mills

• Sauna, Steam and Salt Rooms

This month we are offering you the opportunity to win one of four 3-month memberships to the Chanctonbury Leisure Centre, Storrington.

Each membership will provide you with unlimited access to the gym, sauna and steam rooms and all group exercise classes. As part of your membership you will also receive an induction, body composition analysis and a personal training session every month and, if that was not enough, access to all of their Community Recreation sessions including badminton, short tennis, pickleball, table tennis and walking football.

• 60+ Station Gym with support provided by a fantastic team of instructors

• 5 Badminton Courts

• Weekly sessions in all sports including racquet

Chanctonbury Leisure Centre is located in the Storrington Recreation Ground. The Centre is a registered charity and is run for the benefit of the local community. Since opening under new management the Centre has gained the reputation of being the friendliest and most accommodating facility for health and wellbeing in the area. The Centre aims to cater for everyone and offers facilities and services including:-

• Free Creche

• Opportunities for those returning to exercise including Gentle Fit Classes delivered by a Physiotherapist

No one is perfect all the time!

By health coach & trainer Heather Smith

Do you find life pulls you off course on your healthy eating plan and exercise routine?

Having to repeatedly pick yourself up from the same start point over and over again is a really disheartening cycle to find yourself in, and it is no surprise that at some point so many people think 'what's the point in trying'.

What I'd love you to know is that you don't have to have everything figured out in order to move forward and achieve what you want to achieve.

I love the phrase "eat your elephant one bite at a time". It means don't get overwhelmed by the length of the journey ahead of you; just go one day at a time and make the best decisions you can on that day.

With the best will in the world, things will go wrong sometimes and when they do, you have a turning point. How will you react? Will you figure

out how to get through in the best way you can, or will you throw the towel in and give up?

There is no magical secret which you don't know. Everyone has problems, everyone is rushed off their feet sometimes, everyone lacks knowledge or practice at achieving their goals, everyone gets derailed with an injury - etc.

You can choose to not let any of these things pull you off course any more than is necessary. Things don't have to be either all or nothing.

You can choose a middle ground - and that can still lead to success!

Remember consistency is more important than perfection.

Do your best, be good enough and also realise that is it totally fine just to coast for a while until you are ready to move forward again. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good!

You can always make progress, even if things are not as perfect as you would like them to be. www.fitbiztraining.co.uk

Senior Fitness can be done standing or seated, Senior Flexibility requires participants to be able to get down to the floor

In Your Garden

Monthly gardening ideas & tasks

by Andrew Staib of Glorious Gardens

February is an important month for your garden. It is the last month where there are not absolutely urgent tasks, yet if these February jobs are not completed you will be chasing your tail for the rest of the year. It is the great set up month, and if you put the hours in, you will ride the wave for the rest of the year.

We have had a very mild winter so already plants are beginning to shoot and bulbs are up even earlier this year.

Clearance

In order to allow space for new or dormant plants to thrive, a full scale clearing and cutting back is needed. Once this is achieved you will be able to see where to plan new beds, create a planting scheme and perhaps put in some stronger evergreen structural interest that will create a powerful contract to the froth and colour of Spring and Summer.

If you are going to design a new bed, or get help with a garden designer, now is the last time you’ll be guaranteed availability!

Firstly, this is the month to clear away all the old leaves you were leaving in the beds for wildlife, gathering up piles and relocating them to corners of your garden and under shrubs where they can’t be seen. Old seed heads and perennials, now pretty much eaten and cleaned out by birds and the weather, can be cut to ground level. Deciduous ornamental grasses can also be shorn to ground level and composted. Evergreen grasses like Anamanthela lessoniana and the Carexes can be thinned out and trimmed if necessary. The old foliage of perennials like old Aquilegia and any brown or yellowing leaves of Hellebore leaves take be stripped out to allow

more light for new growth. Sedums can be pruned to ground level.

Pruning

Shrubs like Dogwood, Willow and Cotinus can be strongly pruned back, even to 40cm from ground level depending on the new height you need it to attain this year. Dogwood can even be pruned all the way to the ground.

The famous Buddlea pruning is also done now and you can be as rigorous as you like with these.

Most winter flowering plants, like Viburnum bodnantense, Mahonia and Jasmine nudiflorum can be strongly pruned back once they have finished flowering, and climbers such as Wisteria, Grape and Climbing Roses can be cut back to two buds from the main leader or structural stems. The Clematis in your garden that flower after June can be pruned hard back now, the ones that flower before June just need a light trim now- if at all. In general, Group 1 Clematis only need a light touch tidy up eg Alpina, Macopetala and Montana, Group 2 more of an intelligent prune and Group 3 a vigorous prune as these latter will flower later on in the year. Any deciduous hedges can be pruned hard back now before birds start setting up their nests and autumn fruiting raspberries can be taken right

February - Invest now for summer returns

back to the ground. Fuchsias can be taken back- normally I just prune them with big shears into the shape I want them to begin new growth from. You will need to assess how robust a plant they are in order not to clobber so much they won’t Spring back.

Evergreen shrubs and hedges can be pruned now.

Last chance to prune apple and pears, as well as give them a good feed of potash around their roots. Hygranges can be reduced up to a half with some old craggy stems removed from the base.

Moving and planting

This is the last time shrubs and trees can be moved around the garden now if they have become too big or you need the space for other plants. It is surprising how good the success rate can be if you manage to dig out a good proportion

of the root ball. We moved many huge shrubs and trees last year and so far haven’t lost one.

Perennials of course can be moved or split in half to get an extra one to give away or replant. There is still time to plant bare root trees, shrubs and hedges. These are cheaper than pot grown plants and sometimes take to the new conditions more quickly.

Seeds

Once you have cleared your garden, you can start preparing designated areas for vegetables, annuals or new perennial and shrub planting. Creating a fine tilth in your vegetable beds will set you up for the first seed rows to plant at the end of this month. You can get ahead of the game by bringing on seeds in your greenhouse or lean-to: Ammi major, Marigolds and Cerinthe major as well as runner beans, french beans, carrots, beetroot and spinach. If you have a frost free warm pocket in your garden you can start to chit potatoes ready for planting out early. If you experienced a lot of blight recently, try the Sarpo varieties.

Hardy plants like kale can even be sown directly into the soil now.

As well as seeds, clumps of snowdrop bulbs can be divided after flowering to help multiply your collection and summer/autumn flowering bulbs like Gladioli, Nerines and Dahlias can be ordered online now, or bought from a nursery. You can also force Rhubarb now.

Protection

Fruit trees can be protected with cloche to keep the frost away from tender blossoms. Your soil

can be kept moist and considerably weed free this year by applying a thick bark mulch (not too thick that your bulbs can’t emerge) and tender seeds can be covered with horticultural fleece to keep them warmer.

Wakehurst garden launched it’s Winter Garden two years ago with 33,000 plants in unusual bold combinations, so if you need some late winter inspiration that’s the place to visit. You will need to book a time slot ticket and it is open from 10-4pm. Arundel Castle will have its usual large Tulip display in March/April.

Where to go in February - Garden inspiration

Don’t forget your home this Valentine’s!

By Nick Roberts RMR Group

Our homes are like the perfect partner - come rain or shine, they show us love every day of the year. But it’s important to remember that they too can get a little tired and run down. Thankfully though, all they require is often just a little love in return to spruce up the relationship, and what better month is there than February!

New habits such as working from home mean that we need them more than ever before, and with that extra dynamic, existing layouts can become unsuitable or too small. However, between bathroom and kitchen renovations to knocking through walls or even extending, the right changes can transform the way your home helps day-to-day life.

But with the huge variety of options available comes the equivalent number of mistakes that can be made. The key here is to find the right architect who can help you find the right solution.

Simple changes to your home may end up being far more cost effective than moving to a large property, and it’s that experience that is invaluable.

Architects will also be able to determine if planning permission is required, help obtain permission, and guide you through ideas, designs, structural calculations and building regulations. That’s why we always recommend forming a relationship (don’t tell your partner!) with the right architect, one that loves what they do. They hold your hand through the entire process, and your home will be left blushing.

With so much to take onboard, having the right team on your side is essential. The right team will be able to both save you money and provide the quality service you expect. So, for this Valentines, don’t forget to give your home some love and attention, your home deserves it.

www.robertsmillerredshaw.com

The UK Housing Market in 2023

Has the bubble burst?

Since the financial crisis of 2008, the housing market’s been on an upwards trend – pausing at the start of the pandemic. Has the bubble burst?

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors says high interest rates, falling house prices and a drop in demand have all had an impact. Estate agents report fewer enquiries each month since Sept 2022 and stock levels are at historic lows.

If interest rates and living costs increase, the Bank of England predicts the number of houses struggling to pay mortgages could rise to levels unseen since 2008. At the end of 2022, Lloyds forecast a 9% fall in the market, Capital Economics a 12% fall and Credit Suisse a 15% fall. Is it all gloom and doom?

Knight Frank forecast a fall of 5% in house prices in 2023 and 24 before returning to growth. They believe shortage of homes, sensible loan-to -value lending and low unemployment rate will keep prices stable and repossessions low.

Zoopla believe people’s motivation to move won’t change. Buyers look for more space, a

home office and what’s cheaper to heat and run.

“The housing market in 2023 mainly looks set to be one of readjustment as we return to normal levels of mortgage rates.”

What about first time buyers?

First-time buyers could benefit from the turmoil. In the Sept 2022 Mini Budget, the Government increased the threshold for Stamp Duty to £425k for first time buyers. No-one truly knows how much prices will fall by. You could be waiting ages for them to hit rock-bottom. You could ride out the predicted downturn by staying home for 3 years. Putting down a large deposit reduces chances of being in negative equity. First

Not sure of your next move? The advice we offer is always impartial and based only on what’s best for you. Our friendly teams of specialists have all the local knowledge you need to help you make your next step the right one. We’ve been here before and you can count on us to get results – we’ve proven it for over thirty years. Call Henry Adams Pulborough on 01798 300670 or email pulborough@henryadams.co.uk Visit henryadams.co.uk

It might not be the best time to sell your home, but it’s a great time to find out.

Traditional values & local knowledge

Batcheller Monkhouse Estate Agents, Pulborough

A combination of traditional values, local knowledge and outstanding customer service has given the Batcheller Monkhouse Pulborough office an enviable reputation in Estate Agency across this stunning countryside. The thriving land and farms department is headed by the well respected and renowned Russell Parkes, who has lived and worked in West Sussex all his life. He is ably assisted by Edward Sergeant who recently joined the company and lives in the centre of Pulborough.

The residential side of the business is in the competent hands of Ross Attwood, who has over thirty years’ experience in selling a broad range of homes throughout Surrey and West Sussex.

“Along with the rest of the team, I take a pride in my local knowledge,” Ross explained. “West Sussex has amazing countryside, good transport links, great schools

and a huge range of recreational and sporting amenities, and it helps that we can share personal knowledge of those things.”

“We take the same level of care with every property we sell and work closely with the vendors to maximise the chance of selling their home quickly and for the best possible price.”

That unbeatable customer service has earned Batcheller Monkhouse an excellent reputation which continues to grow and has resulted in a considerate amount of repeat business. “We often find ourselves selling homes on behalf of vendors who bought from us a number of years ago,” Ross said. “They trust us to sell what is often their most valuable asset because they remember how well we handled their purchase.”

If you are thinking of selling please get in touch with Ross Attwood on 01798 872081 or email r.attwood@batchellermonkhouse.com

RossAttwood

Flavoursome overnight oats

A healthy breakfast to keep you fuelled for the day

Ingredients - Serves 1

• 1 medium banana, mashed

• 4 ‘Cocoa Loco’ dark chocolate buttons, roughly chopped

• 125ml ‘Susana & Daughters’ kefir milk

• 1 tsp Sussex honey

• 40g jumbo oats

• ½ tsp ‘Carla’s seasoning’ groundcinnamon

• 1 tbsp chia seeds

• 3 walnuts, roughly chopped

Method

1. Combine the mashed banana with the chopped chocolate, honey, cinnamon, mix well.

2. To the banana mixture, add the kefir, oats, and chia seeds, mix well.

3. Pour into a jam jar, top with walnuts and refrigerated for a minimum of 6 hours or overnight before enjoying.

Hollies Top Tips-

• Double the recipe to make enough for a couple days ahead to save time.

• Why not swap the banana with grated apple and switch the dark chocolate for mixed vine fruits, swop honey for peanut butter or sub kefir with oat milk? Overnight oats are so di- verse and a perfect way to start the day.

Find all ingredients at the Village Larder and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more weekly meal inspiration - @village_larder www.villagelarder.co.uk

Sussex Snippets

Charity & Community news from across the counties

Glyndebourne has announced that it will no longer be able to tour as planned in 2023, following a reduction to its Arts Council England (ACE) funding for touring and its learning and engagement work. The Glyndebourne Tour launched in 1968 with support from ACE to take the company’s operas to broad audiences around the country and provide a launch pad to emerging talent. In the more than fifty years since, it has been responsible for launching the careers of numerous UK and international artists. A new scheme is giving people the opportunity this winter to pay less to travel by bus in West Sussex – and the whole of England. From now until 31st March, a single bus journey will cost no more than £2 on most routes under the Department for Transport's Help for Households funded Bus Fare Cap. Local participating companies include Brighton & Hove, Compass, Stagecoach, Metrobus and Southdown Buses.

West Sussex charity 4Sight Vision Support has a long-established recycling scheme which helps to raise funds to support blind and sight impaired residents across the county. Items include stamps and foreign currency collections; jewellery, watches, games consoles, cameras, tablets and mobile phones (any condition or age) and ink cartridges (not laser). They would even love to have your old car, as they have the resources to turn old cars into cash via auction or scrap. They will also welcome unwanted Christmas gifts. Call 01243 828555 or send an email to: fundraising@4sight.org.uk.

West Sussex Libraries are inviting everyone to read for pleasure in 2023 and share a love of books by taking part in a Reading Challenge. The February challenge is to read a book that has been adapted for the screen. So whether you have always wanted to get around to reading Lord of the Rings or want to read the books connected with recent film adaptions such as Where the Crawdads Sing, Death on the Nile or Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, now’s your chance. You can join as an individual reader, as a reading group or why not take on the challenge as a family? For more information pop into your local library or visit www.arena.westsussex.gov.uk/westsussex-libraries-reading-challenge-2023.

Family history buffs can now access the Sussex electoral registers free of charge on the Ancestry website either at the West Sussex Record Office in Chichester or at your local West Sussex Library. You will need to register for an Archives Card at www.archivescard.com. The West Sussex Record Office also holds a range of talks and events around the subject. Search online or call 01243 753602.

The new West Sussex Lane Rental Scheme (WSLRS), which came into force on 1 December 2022, allows the council to require payment of charges by promoters of street and road works for the time their works are in place. The scheme applies to selected roads, not the whole of the county. The focus will be on areas where roadworks will cause the highest levels of disruption, which currently equates to around 10% of the county’s roads. Different charges apply depending on the type of work being undertaken and how disruptive the works will be.

A new secondary school for children living in the Burgess Hill area has been given the green light with planning permission. West Sussex County Council and co-applicant Homes England’s plans to create a zero-carbon school were approval by Mid Sussex District Council’s planning committee on 15 December 2022. The ambitious design will allow the school to generate its own renewable energy on site without using any fossil fuels. It aims to be the first school in West Sussex to achieve “Passivhaus certification”, the highest standard of energy efficiency a building can reach, and offer excellent educational facilities to 900 local children. Meanwhile the much older facilities at Steyning Grammar School’s (SGS) Shooting Fields and Rock Road sites - home to around 2,000 students - continue to creak at the seams with the latest issue of parent Bohunt’s BET News magazine reporting that details of new funding to renew the facilities have yet to be agreed by the Department for Education.

Charity & Community News

Mystery “Sow & Grow” trails launched

A series of new free Mystery Trails has launched in seven towns and villages across Horsham District, running to 31st March. Starting at the Library in Billingshurst, Henfield, Horsham, Pulborough, Southwater, Steyning or Storrington, intrepid puzzlers can pick up a quest card and solve the mystery. With a botanic theme, the fantastic characters need your help to discover which seeds are the favourite of each town Curator. Find the clue, solve the puzzle, return to the library, and you’ll receive your own pack of wildflower seeds to plant! The trails are designed for families, young people and adults and make a fun group activity.

Lodge Hill reviews a return to action

It has been a wonderful, fun and action-packed summer at the Lodge Hill Centre in Watersfield, After the Covid restrictions of the past 2 years, children, young people and families have again been able to enjoy all that Lodge Hill offers.

The pandemic created a truly turbulent time for everyone, especially for children and young people; many of whom, as a result, have experienced mental health challenges. Lodge Hill say their grounds have truly burst back into life with the bustle and excitement of pre-covid days with young people back in the outdoors and enjoying activities with their friends, peers and family members. The charity could not have survived those dark days, when it was forced to severely restrict its services, without the generous donations and support received during the pandemic.

Lisa May, the Trust’s CEO said: “We are delighted to be back to full operation, doing what we do best, helping young people learn about themselves and realise their full potential through participating in outdoor activities.”

Charity & Community News

Citizens Advice drop in sessions locally

Citizens Advice (CA) now offers advice sessions throughout Horsham District villages and towns. CA can help if you’re worried about a problem including the cost of living, benefits, debt, housing, employment, family relationships and much more. They can also help you work out whether you are entitled to any extra financial support, and offer emergency support for essential costs such as food and heating. They offer free, independent, confidential and impartial advice, and local sessions are:

Chanctonbury Leisure Centre, Storrington, alternate Fridays 10 till 12 (February 10th / 24th)

Pulborough Medical Centre, alternate Tuesdays 10 till 12 (February 14th /28th)

The Steyning Centre, alternate Wednesdays 10 till 12 (February dates 1st /15th)

Billingshurst Library, alternate Fridays 10 till 12 (February dates 3rd and 17th) 01403 944460 www.advicewestsussex.org.uk

Free one day business workshops

What are your business goals for 2023? Horsham District Council is running free Business Training Programmes on single days which include topics such as videography, staff wellbeing, budget setting, recruitment and more. For more details and to register, search for Business Training at www.horsham.gov.uk.

OBE for Coldwaltham resident Coldwaltham resident Simon Berry received an OBE for services to global Child Health in the New Year Honours 2023. Simon started the charity ColaLife which he runs with his wife, Jane, with the goal to answer the question of how children in developing countries had access to CocaCola but not a life-saving treatment - Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and Zinc - for one global killer: childhood diarrhoea. www.colalife.org.

Stories to info@sussexlocal.net

The Wellderness C.I.C

Improving people’s lives through nature by Lynn Smith

Founded in January 2021 by Matt Dumbleton and Mark Cropley, The Wellderness is a non-profit community interest company, bringing people together in nature for workshops, courses and events, to improve physical and mental wellbeing through wilderness rehabilitation.

The idea for The Wellderness came, Matt and Mark say, on the back of 2020 and lockdown. Both men, by separate routes, realised just how important the influence of nature and the outside world had been to their mental health and wellbeing during that unprecedented time.

Offering space for those essential parts of what helps our species thrive

Mark believes that COVID helped other people rediscover the joy of being outside too. “We were almost prisoners in our own homes and … one hour a day everyone went outside, and they discovered new places around them.”

Matt goes onto say, “Lockdown itself brought a pandemic of loneliness … a need to connect with each other. I mean, we’d been allowed to be outside but (not) outside with other people. We're social pack animals. The Wellderness … offers a space for those essential parts of what make our species thrive.”

These benefits have been validated by science; recent discoveries show that infra-red from a blazing fire and phytoncides, organic compounds produced by trees, have beneficial effects on our bodies too.

Having met when they worked together at another CIC, (Dad La Soul), Matt and Mark began to share ideas for something they could do together that would make a difference to people’s lives. “Literally, we poured our brains out on to a notepad,” Matt says, “We knew we wanted to be a community interest company. We knew that it was about being not for profit … to be selfsupporting as much as possible.”

Having realised just how important the outdoors and nature was to them both, “The stars,” Matt says, “aligned … and wellbeing, wellness and the wilderness became The Wellderness.”

Working to create a 1,000-year legacy

The Wellderness is, Matt says, “Working to create a 1000-year legacy through three core principles

that hold up The Wellderness.” Which Mark lists as, “Reconnection to nature, new skills and experiences. It’s really important that we do stuff out in nature, but it's also important that we’re learning something new that we can take away and teach someone else.” Social connection is, he says, a vital component of the process. “We can go out and we can feel the benefits on our own, but the benefits are accelerated when we’re there as a community.”

To improve and positively affect the lives of 10 million people worldwide through wilderness rehabilitation and connection to nature

Currently The Wellderness operates in Wild Heart Hill in Findon, Furzefield Campsite in Dappers Lane, Angmering and Streamside Campsite over in Lancing. There are also, volunteering days in and around the South Downs National Park and beach cleans on Worthing beach.

Next year, The Wellderness is hoping to expand further, with permission granted by Friends of Hurtwood, in Surrey, for them to use the woodland with a small donation, which has been put forward by a business local to the area.

This brings us to what’s next for the Wellderness and how the company’s expansion will be accommodated. Currently, Matt and Mark host all of the organisation’s events and, Mark says, there will come a point when this is no longer possible. “So, I think the next stage is to bring in people to run the already established groups

and then us to move on to set up the new groups.” Mark envisages developing a package for people to use, possibly through a licensing programme, enabling other The Welldernesses to be set up across the country - to become a “local national organisation.

The Wellderness would also like, “Land to call home,” Matt says. Possibly on a long term lease, with The Wellderness community working with a landowner to help manage the land, or even through their own land purchase, eventually.

Providing access for adults and children – avoiding a disconnect from nature

So, is there a target audience for The Wellderness’ services?

Matt says. “At a structural level now, schools have outdoor learning as part of their curriculum. The world is waking up to the fact that that nature's really beneficial and important for people and it's quite rightly working to build a deep connection between children and young people in the outdoors.”

Mark points out that there is a caveat - that no matter how deeply connected, the kids aren't going to access it (the outdoors) if the grownups

aren't inspired to support them accessing it. So the target audience has to be grownups.” He goes onto say that their classification of an adult is maybe over sixteen, i.e. school leaving age, as it’s at this age that children tend to lose their tie to nature.

Most people become more involved once they’ve attended something– a desire “to give something back to the organisation and share something with the community.”

The Wellderness also collaborates and partners with other groups and organisations, giving access to service users from different demographics whom they might not otherwise be able to reach. They are particularly keen to work with men’s groups – approximately seventy

percent of The Wellderness’ service users are female, and to make it easier for those of a lower socio-economic status to attend events, by providing a number of free tickets to each event, where possible. This model is made possible, Mark says, as premium events, like the recent Wim Hof Icebox event, command higher ticket process and generate sufficient income to cover the cost of a small number of free tickets. However, Matt says, they’re reluctant to put all of the costs onto ticket purchasers as they don’t want to put off those who might struggle to afford events. Having had previous experiences of CICs, both Matt and Mark are conscious of competition for funding and have been reluctant to make the organisation’s viability dependent upon community funding –although, Matt isn’t ruling out the possibility of funding applications in 2023. Currently, the organisation is supported by a team of Volunteers and by, Funders and Supporters, who make it possible for The Wellderness to continue its work.

Queen’s Green Canopy Tree of Trees

Between October 2021 and March 2022, The Wellderness community planted 1,100 trees in the South Downs National Park and in October last year, The Wellderness announced that it had

been chosen as custodians of one of the trees from the Queen’s Green Canopy Inititative. This honour was celebrated at Wild Heart Hill Campsite on 26th November, in a special tree planting event attended by Lady Emma Barnard, the Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex, and local dignitaries. The Wellderness is also keen to fund -raise with other organisations whose ideas align with its own core principles. In September they joined the “Waterproofs and Wellies” campaign via the Outdoor Guide Foundation, raising money to put waterproof clothing kits into primary schools.

Contact: The Wellderness C.I.C, A2 Yeoman Gate, Yeoman Way, Worthing BN13 3QX

Tel: 07818 414 758 www.thewellderness.org.uk

Tips to prevent invalidating your insurance

By Geoff Cudd, Find The Best Car Price

and some other dangerous conditions, but they need to be aware of a few loopholes in their insurance that could cause pain financially should they have an accident on the roads”

Not de-icing your car properly

If you fail to de-ice your car properly, it could invalidate your insurance especially if the police believe that the visibility potentially contributed to the accident in question.

Snow on the roof

Insurance loopholes for low temperatures

With temperatures plummeting, and commuters frantically sorting their vehicles out for a busy rush to work, Geoff Cudd from Find The Best Car Price has delved into a few insurance loopholes that drivers should bear in mind before setting off on their commute in the cold weather. “Drivers up and down the country will naturally be nervous of the thought of driving on black ice

If there’s snow on your roof, this could also invalidate your insurance. This is purely because the snow on your car can be hazardous if it goes flying off the roof during a drive.

Leaving your car whilst de-icing

Going indoors to warm up whilst de-icing. If someone was to steal your car with the ignition running, whilst you’re inside having a brew, you won’t be covered.

Geoff Cudd Founder of FindTheBestCarPrice www.findthebestcarprice.com/?s=warranty

Bury Primary School

raffle which provides great excitement on a Friday afternoon as one lucky winner wins a cake just in time for the weekend. However, the funds raised from the sales are then going into providing an additional specialist session of sport throughout the spring term.

Like every school (and the majority of people at present), finances are being squeezed from every direction. Whilst core funding in small schools will always involve very close monitoring, this last year has been particularly challenging. One shining light throughout all of this is the work or PTAs or in our own case FOBS (Friends Of Bury School). Our team of ‘friends’ have been fantastic at not only raising extra funds, but also in providing some quite significant extras for our children.

In the last year, the team has raised funds to support a number of projects; from improving our toilets to providing books for our advent Christmas book opening throughout December. They have helped re-establish our weekly cake

We are also very lucky to have ex-parents and members of the village who come in and listen to children. This is another invaluable help to the school team every week.

Beyond the fundraising arm of FOBS, they also provide opportunities for parents and families to get together and help build the school community spirit. Before Christmas we had wreath making, in January we had a Wassail and we have a quiz and meal night coming up shortly. All of these things and many more take a huge amount of organising, but are invaluable to making our school the welcoming, caring environment it is.

Mr Moore, Headteacher www.bury.w-sussex.sch.uk

St. James’ CE Primary School

Children's spiritual development

As I write this article, it is actually the end of December even though you will be reading it in February! Christmas has just ended and we are in the slightly strange ‘tween’ time following Christmas but before New Year.

Relationship with the local church

With the last half-term being filled with seasonal festivities, I have reflected on how many celebrations took place in collaboration with our local church, St. Giles, and were supported by Father Peter Mallinson who supports the school spiritually. Father Peter is a popular figure with children and we see him every week when we visit St. Giles for Collective Worship on Thursdays.

As a Church of England school that cherishes its relationship with the local church, many parents/carers ask me about whether our school is purely Christianity-focused. I thought it would be good to share my answer with the wider community to give people an understanding of our vision for the spiritual development of children in the diverse and multicultural society we live in.

Understanding and exploring various religions

Like all schools, we have a statutory duty to reflect ‘that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian..." (Education Act 1996). Christianity is integral to our school life is and we aim to develop children’s knowledge and understanding of its core beliefs. However, we also focus on beliefs of other major world religions so children can explore faith and belief systems to develop their own point of view. Our vision is for our children to leave our school equipped to live in our diverse, multicultural world as open-minded individuals with respectful attitudes to everyone, regardless of their belief. We are proud to be able to give children opportunities to explore their own spirituality or beliefs and develop a relationship with the local church to be part of Christian traditions, like Christmas and Easter. Long may we celebrate the many faiths and beliefs that we are free to have!

Mrs Lizzie Martin, Executive Headteacher,

www.st-james-coldwaltham.w-sussex.sch.uk

St Mary’s C of E Primary School, Pulborough

Activities this term at St Mary’s

How the term is whizzing by at St Mary’s! Who would think that half-term is only a blink away? We have made the most of good weather for Forest Schools and the children have been able to use the Trim Trail on less damp days – this is a great favourite.

Monthly activities and curriculum topics

Last month we welcomed back Hawking About with their raptors – the children are fascinated by these birds and love getting the chance to see them up close. The children are very much enjoying the new curriculum topics this year and examples of their work can be seen around the school. These include ‘Bright Lights, Big City’, a Geography topic for Yrs 1/2, ‘Predators and Prey’ for Yr 3, ‘Vikings’ in Yr 4, ‘Off With Her Head’, a History topic for Yr 5 and ‘Explorers and Adventurers’, a Geography topic for Yr 6. Yr 5 celebrated all things Greek with Greek Day. This month we are delighted to welcome Dominique Salm, an internationally acclaimed wildlife artist, who will be talking to the children

about her work and giving them some tips for their own artwork.

Next month, we look forward to World Book Day, World of Work Day and Science Week. The children are always interested in finding out about possible careers for the future and we are very lucky to be able to welcome a varied selection of guests to the school for the World of Work Day. More information on the day will follow. It is so important to be able to offer a broad curriculum of both academic and non-academic subjects to the children and we were delighted that the Ofsted inspectors agreed.

Please do come and visit us if you would like to see our happy, busy school in action!

Mrs S Copus Head Teacher

www.st-marys-pulborough.w-sussex.sch.uk

Dominique Salm

Sussex Walks - February 2023

These walks are supported by Horsham District Council & Chichester District Council and are led by volunteers. If the weather is poor the walk may be cancelled.

IMPORTANT: You must pre-book the Chichester DC “Heart Smart” walks (90 mins+) up to 7 days in advance on www.chichester.gov.uk/heartsmart or call 01243 521041 There is no need to book the Horsham Council walks but for more details see: www.horsham.gov.uk/sport-and-leisure/walking/wellbeing-walks

Horsham District Council - Weekly Walks

Please 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 at bandstand in Carfax (RH12 1FD) Emmy 01403 255517 or Doreen 01403 230293

Every Wed & Sun 2.30pm Horsham Heritage 1.5 miles 1 hr 45 Find out about the hidden history of this old and interesting town with an experienced guide Meet: Horsham Museum, Causeway Nigel Friswell 01403 261905

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 at 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

Chichester District Council

Wed 1st 10.30am

Houghton Forest

L: Alison 2.5 hrs 3 6 miles

Walking up through Houghton Forest and back along the South Downs Way with panoramic views Meet: Whiteways Car Park, BN18 9FD. New car parking charges Tue 7th 10.30am

Chanctonbury Ring

L: Peter Brook 4 miles 2 hrs A circular walk to Chanctonbury Ring hill fort and return via Washington village with some steep gradients.

Meet: Opposite site of Frankland Arms pub, RH20 4AL

Wed 8th 10.30am

Climping

L: Dominic 3 miles 1 hr 15 Along dunes and beach to Climping Mill, then across fields to Ferry Road and Rope Walk to the Yacht Club. Refreshments are available at the Yacht Club on the return

Meet: Arun Yacht Club Car Park, Littlehampton, BN17 5DL

Thurs 16th 10.00am

Wisborough Green

L: Louise 6.5 miles 3 hours

A walk up Harsfold Lane over the Wey & Arun Canal to Lee Place then via bridleways and footpaths to Lordings Lock. A walk with uphill and downhill parts, 6 stiles, 1 fence. No dogs sorry

Meet: Park at the green in the laybys

Sun 19th 10.30am

Slindon Woods

L: Dominic 2 hrs 3.5 miles

Lovely views. Generally flat, gravel path. Some muddy areas and short inclines. Last ¼ mile uphill. Meet: National Trust car park, Dukes Road, Slindon

Tue 21st 10.30am

Angmering Park

A mainly flat walk through woods and meadows

Meet: Car park in the woods at the Dover BN18 9PX

L: Peter 4 miles 2 hrs

Point to Point races at Parham

A great country day out on Saturday 25th March

4x4 described as, “a tough, no-nonsense, dependable vehicle capable of towing across the roughest terrain”. The prize is one car pass allowing up to 7 racegoers. Usual entry £15 pp. www.parham-races.co.uk

Parham Race Day is a fun and enjoyable country day out for all the family. There’s loads to keep the whole family entertained; six exciting horse races over fences, a fun dog show, fun fair rides and a wide variety of stands for you to browse. Plus the all important beer tent and local food and drink stalls to keep you fed and watered. Bring your dog, the children, a picnic and enjoy a springtime day at the races. INEOS Automotive are sponsoring the Mixed Open feature race at this March meeting. Race visitors will have a chance to see the new INEOS Grenadier

Andrew Griffith MP

Member of Parliament for Arundel and South Downs

Extra funds for those hosting Ukrainian refugees

We continue to observe the tragic devastation caused by Putin’s unprovoked war in Ukraine. I commend the efforts made by the thousands of Sussex households who have welcomed Ukrainian refugees into the warmth of their homes. Indeed, the County is one of the most generous in the UK in the number of Ukrainian refugees safely housed here. In recognition of this, all hosts will receive an increased ‘thank you’ payment of £500 a month for guests who have been in the country for over a year. The ‘thank you’ payments to hosts will also be extended from 12 months to 2 years, so that our Ukrainian guests can remain where they are until the war ends – and we hope this outcome will come sooner rather than later.

Cap on bus fares for single journeys

In January the Department for Transport announced a cap on bus fares at £2 for single jour-

bus network, and most Sussex operators have signed up. This subsidy is part of the wider cost of living support provided by the Government.

Building regulations and ‘Project Gigabit’

Whilst we saw good progress on faster and more reliable broadband in 2022, some of the most rural households - those furthest from exchanges - continue to struggle with browsing speeds. Representing a rural constituency, I welcome the news that all new homes in England will be built with gigabit broadband connections. The Government has amended building regulations to ensure all new homes constructed in England must enjoy ‘lightning-fast’ gigabit broadband. This is in addition to upcoming funding for West Sussex from the £5 billion Project Gigabit to connect 68,000 households and businesses with superfast broadband. I am hopeful this will help to improve the battle-for-bandwidth in our homes.

Andrew Griffith MP for Arundel & South Downs

Fittleworth Parish Council

Planning Committee and Working Groups

Edited extracts from draft minutes of the Parish Council Meeting 21st November 2022.

Planning Committee Recommendations – Rew Cottage application received and discussed on 3rd Nov – an online meeting took place on 17th Nov with Architects to help Planning Committee understand how the design was agreed. Proposed comment for submission - Council looked at determination of enforcement action on access track, it is for agricultural use only and there is no implied right for any kind of residential access, so applicants would need permission for this. Applicant is aware and access is planned to remain through the historic barn adjacent to Hesworth Cottage. Applicant, who was at the meeting, was given the proposed submission to read. Applicant asked whether they’re restricted to the position of the property – the applicant has not had discussions with SDNP yet. There might be an opportunity to move the property slightly back. Application does involve dropping the height of the building down about a metre. Meeting agreed to submit proposed comment.

Working Groups - Save The Swan Working Group –Pop up restaurant still going. They hope to extend the kitchen and make internal modifications, informal discussion to be held with FPC before plan submissions. Unable to open until planning process completed due to improvements wanted. Have done a lot of work indoors, stripping back to wood etc. New owner looking at parking solutions.

Highways & Traffic Working Group – Speed Indicator Devices (SID) Progress. WSCC Highways agreed to 6 sites and displayed public notices for these, once notice period is over, Highways will issue licences. Once issued, Wilbar to install new posts and sockets to be funded by Traffic safety budget and grant funding from SDNP. Council able to get data from Speedwatch app to measure success of SID. Repeater post outside The Gardens is down –Council will take a photo and report to WSCC. WSP instructed to start on proposals for enhancing area in front of The Swan as soon as online banking is working. To be funded from donations to traffic safety in the village. www.fittleworth-pc.org.uk

West Chiltington Parish Council

Updates for residents for February 2023

Tractor Shed

So called because it has been the home of the grass cutting tractor for many years, the shed also needs to provide safe storage of large equipment belonging to various village organisations. The current shed is no longer fit for purpose and needs to be demolished. After a great deal of research we are pleased that foundations are due to be laid in January followed by construction of a brand new shed, to be located near the Tennis Club pavilion. As soon as it is safe and practical to do so the old shed will be removed.

Dangerous junction at Broadford Bridge Road/ Harbolets

Road

There have been accidents and near misses at this junction, involving horses as well as vehicles and pedestrians. This is the latest update from West Sussex County Council Highways:

Power Cuts – For Information Dial 105

It's free of charge and will put you through to your local network operator who can give you help and advice. If you or someone you know is eligible, you can also be added to the Priority Services Register which ensures you will receive extra support if you experience a power cut. You can register if you or someone in your household: relies on medical equipment, has refrigerated medicines, has a serious or chronic illness, has a disability, is living with dementia, is of pensionable age, has children under five in the household, has mental health difficulties.

“A design has been produced for altering the junction which also includes lowering the speed limits on all approaches to the junction. Speed surveys have been carried out and we are expecting the data to be available in the next couple of weeks. The speed data will inform whether the proposed changes comply with WSCC speed policy. We expect to be in a position to consult on the design with stakeholders early in the new year. If approved we can then appoint contractor. Construction date will depend on availability of roadspace booking.”

Museum

Thanks to work by councillors and other volunteers, work is underway to organise and sort the many historical items that have accumulated over the years. There is still a need to find a suitable venue to display the final selection and this is a big project, so watch this space for further updates.

To find out more about this service call 0800 169 9970 or visit: www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk

Meetings

To find out more about the Parish Council’s activities our website has up to date minutes, and agendas for upcoming meetings. To see your council in action, anyone is welcome to attend and you may speak at the public session part of the agenda. Meetings are usually scheduled to start at 6.30pm.

Contact the Parish Council: Email: clerk@wcpc.org.uk or @wcpc.org.uk for planning.

Tel: 01798 817434 or 07483 114836

Write to: The Parish Clerk, The Reading Room, Church Street RH20 2JW Visit our website for details of meetings: Agendas, Minutes and how to book attendance. www.wcpc.org.uk

Pulborough Parish Council

Church Hill - ongoing issues

A29 Church Hill – landslip and road closure: At the time of going to press, the incident in December is ongoing with road closure until 31st January, however it is felt likely that the road closure will be extended into February. We are doing everything possible to liaise with West Sussex County Council and others for urgent resolutions to the issues and problems caused by the A29 road closure and the impact this has had for Pulborough residents and nearby villages. The physical causes behind the landslip and possible remedies are complex and the report by County Council commissioned engineers following survey of the site is awaited at the time of writing.

Measures put in place included:

• WSCC improved diversion signage and inspections of road damage/pot holes resulting from increased traffic using alternative back roads.

• Pulborough Neighbourhood Wardens attending the St Mary’s School area to monitor and address issues arising from the A29 outage and traffic congestion at school run times.

• Parents and carers are asked to walk to/from school if possible and if driving have been asked to avoid using school area roads to help alleviate gridlock in these areas. If coming from the south, people are asked to use Lower St car park by the library (parking conditions apply) and walk up Potts Lane, or if coming from the north to find alternative suitable parking and walk along New Place Road.

• From 9th-31st January (at time of publication) a minibus will transport secondary school students from The Weald to Pulborough, in place of the coach to address an element of the congestion around school end time.

We appreciate that there are traffic congestion issues with rush hour traffic, and in other village roads such as Broomers Hill.

At the time of writing, we continue to liaise with WSCC urgently as to any other measures that can be implemented to manage the situation. www.pulboroughparishcouncil.gov.uk