Monthly Archives: May 2014

The garden is open

Posted on

Fulking Village Hall Garden Opening 11 May 2014
Colin Langridge of Rushfields, who donated the bench, cuts the ribbon for the formal opening of the restored Village Hall garden on Sunday 11th May. From left to right, Peter Jones, who carved the inscription, Michael Trist, Vice Chair of the Parish Council, Gill Milner, Colin, Jen Green and Chris Gildersleeve. Unable to attend, Helen Zeilinger designed and implemented the garden restoration. In addition to Rushfields in Poynings, local sponsorship was provided by AVS Fencing in Woodmancote, who assisted with the fencing, Swains Farm in Henfield, who offered turf, and Hamfelds of Henfield, who supplied many of the plants.

Fulking villagers assemble for the ribbon cutting

Villagers assemble in the garden to witness the ribbon cutting.

The bench is tested.

The bench is tested.

Updated 13th May 2014 to correct the reference to Swains Farm.

Ecobluff called

Posted on

Wineham Lane
Michael Brown of CPRE writes in the Mid Sussex Times:

Both Horsham and Mid Sussex District Councils are in advanced stages of developing long term plans for their Districts: neither of their plans calls for any new market town to meet their Districts’ housing needs. As to location, it is difficult to envisage somewhere less suited to a mega-development than the lovely open countryside around Wineham with no significant local unemployment, with no road, rail or other infrastructure, and on low lying fields prone to flooding from the Adur. Not to mention the barn owls, nightingales and other wonderful wildlife.

We challenge Mayfield to publish the ecological and flood reports that it claims to have commissioned so that we can all judge for ourselves.

West Orchard

Posted on

West Orchard, Holmbush Lane
In the early 1900s, the architect Charles Edward Clayton’s gardener, Bert Martin, married Lucy Grover from Holmbush Farm and built a small bungalow at the west end of the site. Later, Bert Martin’s widow sold the property to Alan Frood CBE and his wife, who built what forms the basis of the large house seen today. He also purchased land to the west from the Crown Properties, increasing the size of the plot to nearly six acres.

Extended further in 1999 and again in 2004 by the present owners, the house now has a modern, squarer look with views to the South Downs. It has a magnificently laid out garden with bluebell woodland and a stream running through the grounds.

West Orchard in 2007

Tony Brooks

[Copyright © 2014, Anthony R. Brooks. Adapted from Anthony R. Brooks (2008) The Changing Times of Fulking & Edburton. Chichester: RPM Print & Design, page 68.]

“My best day in the South Downs”

Posted on

Thanks to www.grandmasgraphics.com for the image.

SDNPA Schools Writing Competition 2014

Written in the style of a travel review, the 500 word entries can focus on one just one place or a whole area; a much-loved walk, the best place to spot butterflies or have a picnic or a favourite attraction. The judges .. will be looking for well written, journalistic articles that capture the readers’ imagination and inspire them to go out and visit the places described. Entries will be judged in two categories: ages 7–10 and ages 11–14. First prize in each is a family ticket to one of fourteen top attractions across the South Downs, second prize will be a £20 book token and third prize a £10 book token.

The deadline is noon on Friday 13th June 2014. You’ll need the entry form and three pages of terms & conditions (you’ll want to seek legal advice after reading the latter).