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Bobservation No. 67: Conservation & Covid-19

Conservation Area Conclusion Decision
Recent meetings by the inhabitants of the Downland parishes have reached a decision that, in order to protect the integrity of the Downland area, the Mayfield planning proposal should be moved from just north of Henfield to a situation to the north of Fulking bordered by Clappers Lane in the East, Holmbush Lane in the North, Small Dole in the West and the Edburton Road in the South . Surprisingly, this proposal engendered no objections whatsoever. It is anticipated the work will commence as soon as the Coronavirus runs its course. 1/4/20

Coronavirus Sundries
Great effort by the village led by the Parish Council to help any villagers who may be in need of supplies, prescriptions etc. As a vulnerable oldy my most grateful thanks to them.

Fulking Fair on hold for the minute. I must admit that at this point in time cancellation looks likely. If so it will be announced. Postponement is difficult but not impossible and could tie in with a celebration when (if?) we return to normal.

Bluebells will be good this year and at worst worth a look over the gate. If you phone 271 maybe we can organise individual walks around but this must be strictly accordance to the Government’s rules. Whatever, we will be restricted to a wave as a greeting!

Truffles Delivery Service Starts

Truffles have converted their lunch trucks and are starting a mobile shop service tomorrow, 31st March. They will be at Poynings sports field at 9am. The service is open to all but aimed to assist the vulnerable. More details on their FaceBook page here.

Bobservation No. 66: Warming to the Clerk in the End…

Parish Clerk
I have known several Parish Clerks in the time I have been in Fulking and they have varied in efficiency and goodwill considerably, in particular one I can think of was diabolical!. However I think it is generally agreed that the present Clerk, Trevor Parsons, has outshone all his predecessors . A parish council relies very heavily on the professionalism of its clerk and over the last twenty or so years the demands on the clerk have steadily increased; in particular with knowledge of the law as it needs to be enacted. I hope you will all join me in saying thanks to Trevor for the service he provides.

Global warming
The next meeting of the Resolutions group is at 7pm on Sunday March 8^th in the village hall and I do encourage you to come and join us. Ably lead by Samantha we are in the throes of putting together Climate Change and ecological ideas for implementation in the villages of Fulking, Poynings and Newtimber.

Funereal matters
If you wish to save your next of kin a bob or two it is quite simple to donate your body to the London Anatomy Office (LAO) (0207 848 8042). Subject to certain circumstances the body will be donated to and used by the medical services involved (probably in Sussex) for research or teaching. This will obviate the need for a funeral which, these days, is quite expensive. The LAO are most helpful on the phone and will help you through the necessary forms. Just in case you are worried about missing the wake when I eventually go; well behaved villagers will be invited to a party instead (Any takers for Call my bluff?). Incidentally the oldest donated body yet was a gent of 107!

Bobservation No. 59: Fair Play

At about 2pm on Sunday 28th July I stood in the middle of the North Town Field and realised that the Fulking Social Committee together with Allsorts Dog Rescue and quite a few helpers had created as near to a perfect village fair as you will find.

Perfect weather, exotic dancing, lovely dog show, a great selection of stalls, tombola and model steam engine, really enjoyable teas and food, exciting tug of war, fun kids games, wonderful music and a highly professional bar were all enjoyed by the many visitors. It was truly memorable.

Too early to announce the financial details but sufficient evidence to tell you that it was profitable and improves our reserves for village hall and North Town Field requirements. And I nearly forgot! Call my Bluff on the Friday was just as successful.

What a wonderful Fulking weekend! It will be quite a challenge to follow this up with a repeat performance next year.

Bobservation No. 58: Wildlife Gardening

Gardening for Wildlife

The global decline in wildlife should encourage us to try to redress this trend in our gardens. Accordingly we should break away from ‘tidy’ gardening and now do whatever we can to encourage wildlife . Our garden flower beds should be almost entirely stocked with shrubs and flowers that are bird, bee and butterfly friendly, and the number of bees of various types will improve a great deal and butterfly numbers will increase. Vegetable areas should incorporate wild flowers extensively to encourage bees. Wildlife can be helped by leaving unkempt areas wherever possible, for instance small piles of fallen wood, and we can introduce an insect ‘hotel’ perhaps based on unwanted pallets. All garden waste should be composted and bonfires should be unnecessary. Our efforts should include lawn mowing as little as possible and by trying to let clover, daisies, buttercups etc. increase on either side of paths. Carbon footprints can be reduced by allowing saplings to flourish into mature trees.

The point I am making is that it is not terribly difficult to join the ecological revolution in an attempt, however small, to protect the world we are passing on to our children and grandchildren.

Fulking Fair

Just another reminder that Fulking Fair and Allsorts Fun Dog Show will be on Sunday 28 July. Please make every effort to encourage friends and family to come along. We have some great stalls, many in the Street, music, food, drink and games for everyone. The Social Committee have put a lot of hard work into making this a really enjoyable event and need your support. It would help if villagers could avoid driving in the Street from 12 till 5pm if at all possible.

Planning Meeting — Tuesday 25th June 2019

You are cordially invited to attend an extraordinary meeting of Fulking Parish Council on Tuesday 25th June 2019 at 7:30pm, at The Village Hall, Fulking for the transaction of the business on the Agenda below.
Miles Firth — Chairman

AGENDA
Public Participation: There will be a period of 15 minutes set aside at the beginning of the meeting for the public to ask questions or make comments on items on the Agenda. Comments on items not appearing on the agenda can be made at the chairman’s discretion.

Apologies for absence.
Declaration of members’ interests.
Approve the minutes of the extraordinary meeting of 23rd April, 2019.
Planning Matters: To comment on planning application received from South Downs National Park being SDNP/19/02644/HOUS, Single storey kitchen extension to rear of the house, with roof lantern, additional window and raised patio extending from the kitchen at 35 Clappers Lane Fulking BN5 9ND.

Date of the next Ordinary Meeting: Thursday 11th july 2019 to be held at Fulking Village Hall at 7:30pm.

Kind regards

Trevor Parsons
Clerk – Fulking Parish Council
parishclerk@fulking.net
07767 422733

Bobservation No. 56: Elections

Elections
Local elections are upon us and on the Parish level the stepping down of Michael Trist created a vacancy which has been filled by the only villager to put their name forward, Samantha Leader. Many thanks to him for his ‘stint’ and best wishes to her. At the District Council election, being held on Next Thursday the 2nd of May, politics, fortunately absent from Parish elections, come into play but I would ask you in considering your choice of three district councillors to support the nomination of Councillor Colin Trumble who has been a very good friend to Fulking and attends our parish council meetings whenever he possibly can. Rest assured I am not recommending this because I agree with his politics, I don’t, but because I believe it is in the best interests of Fulking.

Fulking Fair Update
This year’s fair will be held without the sponsoring of the marquee by the Shepherd & Dog, because the business is up for sale and sadly we shall be losing David and Emily who have put so much work into creating such a splendid village pub. However, these things happen, and the fair will continue to be the best village fair in Sussex! Preliminary details are already on the village website. Big news is that Toby Peirce and his excellent Quaff Wine outfit will be rejoining us for the Call my Bluff on Friday 26 July.