Category Archives: Farming

Saddlescombe Farm Open Day

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Dew pond at Saddlescombe Farm
The National Trust writes:

Discover this ancient downland farm that was once owned by the Knights Templars. Tours of the 17th century buildings, the surrounding downs and the walled garden. Displays and demonstrations of traditional work including; hurdle making, shepherding, carpenters’s workshop and more. This year we are [again] delighted to introduce our new farmers Roly and Camilla — so watch out for newly born lambs and their sheep dog Belle. Tea and home-made cakes available.

Sunday 26th April, 10:30am–4:00pm, adult £5, child £2, family £13.

Badgerwood House

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Badgerwood House, Clappers Lane, Fulking

Aerial view of the house and grounds in 2007

Badgerwood House was originally a bungalow, built by Captain Lawrence Clayton, [the architect] Charles Clayton’s son. Captain Clayton was also an architect and took over his father’s business when he died. In a 1934 auction, Dr. Beresford, a surgeon at Brighton Hospital, then purchased the house and grounds, which at the time included Furzefield to the north, along with fields on the west side of Clappers Lane, up to what is today Badger Brook. This combined holding was then called Badgerwood Farm. The bungalow was enlarged to become a house and subsequent owners added extensions to this. During the Second World War, Henry Harris farmed all the land (except what is now the bluebell wood at Furzefield) under the Government War Cultivation programme, to produce food. After the war a large pig farm was established on the site and this was later converted to stabling. The pig farm was later divided up and sold off as smaller parcels of land. Graham and Rosemary French purchased Badgerwood House, but sold off the parcel of land known as Furzefield in the early 1990s. The house has since been altered and extended and a recent owner has also added several features. At one time, a droveway through the grounds of the property provided access from Clappers Lane to Holmbush Lane.

Badgerwood House, Clappers Lane, Fulking

Tony Brooks

[Copyright © 2015, Anthony R. Brooks. Adapted from Anthony R. Brooks (2008) The Changing Times of Fulking & Edburton. Chichester: RPM Print & Design, page 74-75.]

3000 years in 3 hours

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Saddlescombe in the Bronze Age
Saddlescombe Farm, Sunday 8th February 2015, 10:00am — 1:00pm, all tickets £3.00, children and dogs on leads welcome, slightly challenging walk, advance booking not needed.

This walk starts at Devil’s Dyke and gives you an opportunity to discover an ancient downland farm and its surroundings. Saddlescombe Farm has seen over 1000 years of history and still retains many of its old buildings, including the donkey well and 17th century barn. The surrounding downland holds even greater allure with over 3000 years of stories to tell. There will a break at the Hiker’s Rest tearoom at Saddlescombe before the return walk to Devil’s Dyke.

More information: Graham Wellfare, 01273 857712, graham.wellfare@nationaltrust.org.uk

How to Engage in the Planning Process for the Benefit of Wildlife

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How to Engage in the Planning Process for the Benefit of Wildlife
[If you are planning to convert your field into a campsite, or trying to stop someone else from doing so, then this brief tutorial may be just what you need.]

Laura Brook and Jess Price look at how to engage with planning processes and its impact on wildlife with reference to biodiversity legislation and how to respond to planning applications on biodiversity grounds: (i) an introduction to the planning system in England and key biodiversity legislation & guidance; (ii) the process involved in responding to a planning application on biodiversity grounds; and (iii) some examples of planning applications. A basic run through of the planning system in England and key biodiversity legislation and guidance. An outline of the process involved in responding to a planning application on biodiversity grounds. The course will be run from an ecological stand point and will not cover other planning issues.

Woods Mill, Thursday 12th February, 6:30pm–9:00pm. Book here.

What is this land worth?

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What is this land worth?
Mayfield Market Towns have stated that they control 464 acres of land in Horsham District, and 135 acres in Mid-Sussex District, some within the site proposed for their new town and some outside, but they have not yet provided evidence to support this claim. LAMBS, by contrast, currently has over 4,300 acres signed up as ‘not available’. They have released an interesting two-page document [PDF] that deals with valuation and compulsory purchase issues.

Habitat Management for Invertebrates

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Habitat management for invertebrates at Woods Mill
A Sussex Wildlife Trust course at Woods Mill taught by Graeme Lyons. This course looks at management issues for invertebrates and how these are applied to different habitats. Mainly a classroom based course with an excursion around Woods Mill to look at management of habitats and micro-habitats for invertebrates that are often over-looked. It is suitable for ecologists, professionals, biology and ecology students and for people who may have some responsibility for land management. Woods Mill, Friday 5th December, 10:00–16:00. Click here to book.