Category Archives: Farming

Southview Cottages

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The garden of 1 Southview Cottages, Fulking
Southview Cottages (although officially part of The Street) are situated at the western end of Fulking bridleway 6c (the Backway) and as their names suggest they face south with uninterrupted views of the Downs. They were built in the 16th century and at one time owned by G.S.C. Cuttress who included them in the sale of his property in 1914. At that time they were described [in the auctioneer’s catalogue] as: “A double tenement cottage with garden and frontage to an accommodation road. Each tenement contains two bedrooms, a living room, washroom with copper and a lean-to wood shed. [There was] A privy in the garden common to the two tenements.” At the time of the sale. the two tenements were let as one to James Steel at 3 shillings and 4 pence per week, the landlord paying rates and taxes. It is of note that a condition of the 1914 sale was that the purchaser of Southview Cottages had no third party right of access to The Street, over the land associated with Septima Cottages and the purchaser of Septima 1 and 2 had the right to deny any such access.

At some time between 1920 and 1930, Amy Harris bought the cottages and they were let to labourers working at Perching Manor Farm. Following the Second World War they were no longer required for farm employees and were let out to non-farm workers. Number 1 remained in the ownership of the Harris family until 2006.

Southview Cottages Fulking

Tony Brooks

[Copyright © 2014, Anthony R. Brooks. Adapted from Anthony R. Brooks (2008) The Changing Times of Fulking & Edburton. Chichester: RPM Print & Design, page 178.]

Hay baler fire

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The Argus reports:

Three-quarters of a ton of hay went up in smoke on the A27, closing the eastbound carriageway for two-and-a-half hours. Fire crews had to use pitchforks and tools to stop the blaze inside an agricultural hay baler at 8:45pm on Tuesday. The quick-thinking driver of the tractor towing the baler managed to detach it before it spread to his vehicle. Two crews from Shoreham attended and called two more fire engines from Hove when it became clear that they would run out of water. The fire happened between the A283 Steyning Road junction and the A270 Upper Shoreham Road junction, where there are no fire hydrants.

Flood money

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Operation Watershed money left
The Operation Watershed scheme is not restricted to official entities like Parish Councils: it is also available to private enterprises like farms. There is still money available and Lionel Barnard, the WSCC member responsible for such things, is soliciting applications:

We want to remind people that funding is there. Now is the time to be doing the work in readiness for the coming winter, so if you know there is a flooding issue in your community or neighbourhood, tell us. Autumn is the best time of year to carry out ditch clearances, because it falls outside nesting season for birds. If you need help with clearing your ditch, especially if it is a water course that runs through your property, now is the time to make contact. Your local community officer can advise you how to get help from the Operation Watershed fund.

[Excerpted from the Horsham edition of the West Sussex County Times, August 7th, p66.]

Pippins pork

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Curing directions
Fulking-reared totally free range and cossetted rare breed pork (Oxford Sandy and Black, Tamworth): bacon, sausages, chops, joints available. Joints ready on Friday 22nd August. Bacon, etc. ready two to three weeks later. Prebooking and prompt collection required. First come, first served.

Jennie Wild, 201
pippinsproduce@outlook.com

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 fields into a new market town, 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, Saturday 4th October, 10:00am–12:30pm. Book here.

SDNPA issues first article 4 direction [update 2]

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Soberton view
The Hampshire Chronicle reports the views of the farmer in the case:

The national park misrepresented the situation. They have decided that because I repositioned a gateway that I was going to sub-divide the field. They have used their powers wrongly. They have stopped us putting stock there. They have misused the legislation. The trouble with the national park is that they have too much power. They should have come to me and consulted me. At no point was I going to sub-divide or put horses there. I have spent a lot of money restoring the field to meadowland from arable. The national park is wasting everybody’s money. Authority gone mad. They have taken away my right and I cannot even put cattle in. The park authority is jumping because a few people make a fuss.

Our earlier posts are here and here.

Mile Oak Farm Open Day

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Mile Oak Farm
Saturday 26th July, 10:00am onwards, free admission, proceeds to local charities.
Trailer rides, traction engines, vintage tractors, farm animals, donkey rides, ferret racing, dog scurry racing, airgun target shooting, archery, barbecue, ginger wine, and real ale.

The farm is due south of Perching Manor and you can walk there from Fulking without crossing a single public road. There are two quite different routes so you can make an interesting circular walk out of a visit. A copy of OS Explorer 122 will prove useful if you haven’t done it before.