Category: Home Page

‘Walk for All’

Walk for All map BramberReaders may have seen coverage in the local press about two recent developments relating to footpaths and bridleways in the area due south of Bramber and Upper Beeding. Unfortunately the reporting is rather opaque as to exactly what has happened and where. One development is a new (safe) bridleway crossing for the A283. This may be the topic of a further post when a map becomes available. The second development, the one considered here, is the surfacing of a previously unsurfaced footpath running along the west bank of the Adur. This has been compacted and it can now be navigated by people pushing buggies, prams, pushchairs and strollers, or those in invalid carriages or wheelchairs. The newly compacted path runs from St. Botolph’s (almost) to the centre of Bramber. You can click the thumbnail for a PDF map that shows the enhanced section as a continuous red line marked 3516 and 1933 (done by hand — other footpaths appear as segmented red or green lines).

[Many thanks to Martin Leigh-Pollitt of the Steyning & District Partnership for providing the map.]

More than the minimum wage*

Photo by David Jacobs
Sussex Wildlife Trust is generously offering to pay a total of £100 for a set of a dozen professional quality photos that they can use in their calendar, magazine and website:

We are looking for twelve stunning photographs capturing the best of the wildlife and landscapes of Sussex. Show us the wild places that are special to you. It could be high on the Downs, deep in the woods or your favourite urban nature spot. We’d also love to see your local wildlife shots. Amaze us with the ladybirds in your garden, migrating wildfowl, macro spiders, flowers carpeting a woodland floor, colourful fungi, clouds of downland butterflies or a sleeping hedgehog in the park.

*The relevant calculation assumes that each photo will take one hour to produce, on average. Only one photographer will actually receive any money. The remaining set of mugs will receive a set of mugs.

Small Dole Summer Show

Probably not grown in Small Dole
The show will be held on Saturday August 15th 2015 in the Mackley Sports Field. The show is open from 1.30pm, entry to the marquee commences at 2pm and the show will close at 5pm. There will be a dog show, stalls from local charities and societies, childrens’ amusements, music from the Patcham Silver Band and refreshments. The marquee will hold displays of oddly shaped vegetables, local produce, handicrafts, photography and cooking that will be judged as part of the show’s events.

On the market

The Hillside bunker in Fulking

Converted shipping container atop WWII bunker

Following representations from interested parties, and for the avoidance of doubt, we are pleased to append the following clarifications to this item:

  1. the land for sale does not presently include a WWII bunker, nor a bunker dating from from any other period of British military history, so far as is known;
  2. there is no shipping container, converted or unconverted, currently standing on the the land; and
  3. it is not anticipated that a converted shipping container will play a significant role in any construction that may take place on the site in the future.

The sun sets on Twineham

Mud hut with solar panel and coot Twineham solar farm Phillip Coote

Phillip Coote (Con, Crawley Down and Turners Hill) asked if they should “all live in mud huts and burn wood” instead.

Colin Trumble (Con, Hurstpierpoint and Downs) added: “In terms of planning there’s not a lot we can do about it, but I do feel sympathy with the people and the villagers who are going to be affected.”

Annie Hirst, chairman of Twineham Parish Council, spoke of their “disappointment” at the officers’ decision to recommend the application be approved, and felt the large-scale solar farm would have an “additional cumulative industrialising effect” on the area.

[With apologies to Princeton University for the wilful abuse of their photograph.]

Fulking Village Action Plan Meeting

Fulking Village Action Plan 2014
The annual meeting of the Fulking Village Action Plan Group is to be held on Wednesday 12th August at 6:00pm in the Village Hall. As the plan is now established and is ticking along, it has been suggested that the group should be disbanded and responsibility for the plan handed over to the Parish Council. This way, the plan will still be active and the opportunity to update it will still be available to the community.

If you have any suggestions, thoughts or comments, please do come along to the meeting to discuss them.

Kate Watson
Secretary, Fulking Village Action Plan Group

Bobservation No. 10

Fulking Fair BBQ in the rain

Not a Washout

I realize, because of omissions, it is a dangerous game thanking villagers for their contribution to a village event but here goes anyhow! This year’s fair was unlucky enough to have the worst weather we have seen for many years but in spite of this we had a really successful day, principally due to the following:

Harry and Charmayne for the use of their Downside Meadow which regrettably suffered due to vehicles damaging the turf.
David and Emily of the Shepherd & Dog for their very generous contribution of the splendid marquee which turned out to be the saviour of the day …and they ran the bar.

The marvellous team who handled stall booking, and pitches and directed them in atrocious conditions on the day.
The four guys and the “doll” for working miracles on the BBQ.
The ladies for managing so well with the Teas and Cakes.

Louise, Jay and George the Tombola stars for all their hard work and very successful takings.
Kev (honorary villager!) for organizing an afternoon of great music, without which we would have been lost, and for all those who performed so brilliantly for free.
To all the Social Committee for being such a great team, especially Darren, Lee and Nick.

To all the villagers who did something no matter how small to help!
The stallholders and demonstrators who turned up in spite of the weather.

Thank you all, you are the brilliant people who help make Fulking the fantastic village it is.  Even with weather like that, Fulking Fair is still the best in Sussex!