Category Archives: Fulking Fair

Bobservation No. 58: Wildlife Gardening

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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.

Bobservation No. 57 – Events

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Evergreens
You may have noticed that the Evergreens have been appearing on St Andrew’s church circulars. This very praiseworthy partnership of caring helpers and householders has been hosting teas for the elderly villagers of the Downland parishes for many years. I am reliably informed that this activity is not a church organisation but purely brought together by its supporters. It is a classic example of villages performing a truly social event and long may it continue. Many thanks to all those who make it possible.

Fulking Fair & Allsorts Fun Dog Show 2019
This year’s Fulking Fair will be more extensive than ever. It will be held in the North Town Field, Fulking on Sunday 28 July and will incorporate the Allsorts Dog Rescue Fun Dog Show with Jackie Eke pet photography . Free parking will be in Downside Meadow and there will be many stalls along the Street. The fair will be opened at 12 noon with dancing through the village by the Marta Scott Dancers and it will finish at 5pm. Dog show from 12.30 till 3pm. Entry donation £1 per adult is requested to help cover the cost of set up, Children 16 and under free. Click here to find out more…

Call My Bluff Wine Quiz
There are still some places left for the Call my Bluff wine quiz in the fair marquee on Friday 26 July at £15 a head. This will include good nibbles and fantastic wines supplied by Toby Peirce of Quaff the Hove wine merchants. Tables are of teams of eight, a good chance to meet and enjoy the company of other villagers! email bob.pamrowland@btinternet.com for bookings but hurry! places are going fast.

Bobservation No. 56: Elections

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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.

Bobservation No. 48 – Changing Times

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We live in an age where changes are occurring more rapidly than ever before.

Driving into Henfield from Fulking the other day I found myself being disappointed with the number of new fences that have been put up on the roadside of properties as well as a cultivated look to the grass verges. It seems such a short time ago that all along that particular road was wild but tidy vegetation which seemed the natural way and in my opinion the correct one, preserving the country look of the area.

Maybe I am wrong and in general residents prefer a tidier look both to the hedging and the land in front of it. Having been in Fulking for 26 years and having reached an advanced age I am probably guilty of living in the past. I am appalled by Trump, Brexit, Global Warming, Plastic waste and the lack of social cohesion in the world.

Having said that the very good folk who give up their valuable spare time to get involved with the Parish Council, the Parochial Church Council, the Social Committee, the Village Fair, the Village Hall Action Group to mention a few of the ongoing groups are to be greatly appreciated and bring about a very stable base for the village to exist with as many old fashioned values as possible.

Please put these dates in your diaries:

  • Saturday 8th December – Village Christmas party in the village hall 6 till 8pm.
  • Saturday 9th February 2019 – Wine Quiz in the village hall 7 for 7.30pm
  • Sunday 28th July 2019 – Annual Village Fair 12 till 5pm

Bobservation 46: Village Happenings

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Call My Bluff Fulking 2018
Call My Bluff
We have been doing a Call My Bluff evening for quite a few years now and the original formula seems to continue to be popular. On Friday 27th July the evening was as riotous as ever with some really obscure wines. Eight tables of eight contestants and the winning  table succeeded in spite of protests about skulduggery, which were ignored by the judges, one of whom was persuaded by the flattering limerick that won the tiebreak!. Once again many thanks to Dave and Emily from the Shepherd & Dog for all their generosity and hard work, Jackie for her knowledgeable performance, Michael for his complicated scoring, Jay and Louise for such a good raffle, Nick for everything and the few of you who helped clear up afterwards.

Fulking Fair
The Fair was cancelled due to incredibly unlucky stormy weather in the middle of a heat wave. This was most disappointing after all the hard work that had gone into all of the preparation. The Social Committee and helpers give up a lot of their spare time to create an annual event which has become a feature of the Sussex summer. Many thanks to all of them.

Allsorts Fun Dog Show
To try to salvage something from the cancellation of the Fair an Allsorts Fun Dog Show will now take place in the North Town Field on Sunday 5 August from midday till 4pm. Parking in Downside Meadow. Light refreshments and ice creams will be available and of course the Shepherd & Dog will be open as usual. If you have a dog PLEASE join us, if you don’t then borrow one!