Category Archives: Home Page
Cornilleau table tennis cover

If this is yours, feel free to retrieve it from the gate at Spring Valley (next door to Kent Cottage). It flew in earlier today. No need to ring the doorbell — just help yourself. If it isn’t yours, but you have neighbours that play table tennis, then you may wish to alert them.
Update: this has now been reclaimed.
SDNPA Photo Competition 2014

Deadline midday Monday 13 October 2014. Modest prizes on offer. Your ‘hidden gem’ image must be taken within the official boundaries of the South Downs National Park. You must specify where the image was taken. Bonus points if you use public transport to locate your ‘hidden gem’. You must not submit any photographs that are obscene, vulgar, pornographic, hateful, threatening, racist, sexist, discriminatory, disrespectful to the SDNPA, or which otherwise violate any local or international laws. No nudity is allowed. Animal subjects must complete model release forms. Entrants under the age of eighteen must have the signed permission of the local Park Ranger and their parent or guardian. Children and babies must be wearing at least a nappy, as must the photographer. By entering the competition, you grant the SDNPA an irrevocable license to reproduce, enlarge, publish or exhibit your photograph(s) on any media they choose. SDNPA reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition, the rules and the terms and conditions of entry at any time and without prior notice. More here.
Lady Brook Spring schedule
- Today from 10:00am
- Tuesday 12th August from 10:00am
- Sunday 17th August from 10:00am
If it is raining at 10:00am, come along when it stops. If it is showery during the day, work will stop during the showers and start again when they stop. If it is raining all day, work will be called off.
Kate Watson, Chair Parish Council
Renewed traveller risk

There’s an illegal occupation by travellers near the Village Hall in Albourne, and the people may be moved on. MSDC and Sussex Police are aware of it. If you have any issues relating to this occupation, phone Sussex Police on 101 (the non-emergency number). If you see a crime being committed (or just about to be), phone 999 instead. As ever, please continue to keep your garden sheds, outbuildings, etc., secured.
Richard Corner, 219
Update: direct action by Sompting residents earlier this week.
Newtimber Place Gardens

The gardens at Newtimber Place will be open on Sunday 10th August between 2:00pm and 5:00pm. Beautiful Grade I listed C16/C17 moated house (not open). Herbaceous border and lawns. Moat flanked by water plants. Mature trees. Wild garden, ducks, chickens and fish. Tea and home made cakes. Dogs need to be kept on a lead. Admission £3.00, children free, in aid of St Peter & St James Hospice.
Botanical Illustration

A three day course at Woods Mill taught by Jill Coombs. Suitable for beginners and the more advanced. Some drawing experience is necessary. Initial drawing and observation exercise, followed by analysis, measuring and colour studies. Detailed study of plants, drawing and painting, plus colour mixing. Individual tuition with demonstrations. October 17th, 18th and 19th, 10:00am–4:00pm. Course information sheet here.
Jill Coombs b. Horsham, England 1935. Jill studied illustration and ceramics at art college and worked as an industrial designer before having children. She became a botanical artist 30 years ago after studying with Mary Grierson, artist in residence at Kew. She has worked as a freelance illustrator for Kew publications on the flora of Iraq, Qatar and Egypt. She also illustrated Beth Chatto’s Plant Portraits and the Collins Gem Herbs for Cooking and Health. Jill’s work is in private collections in the USA, Australia, Japan and the UK and represented in the Shirley Sherwood Collection, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Lindley Library, the Chelsea Physic Garden and the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation. Four of her paintings hang in the blue drawing room at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Jill holds three Royal Horticultural Society Gold Medals. [The Highgrove Florilegium]
Although this course isn’t happening until October, there are only five places left. So you may be wise to book sooner rather than later.
No rest for the hikers

You saw Sold as Seen at Fulking Fair and, at 7:00pm on the 15th August, you can see them again at The Hiker’s Rest in Saddlescombe. Tickets are on sale at the cafe, £7.50 without food, £15.00 to include buffet.
Rural burglary arrests

The Argus reports:
The 26-year-old man and 24-year-old woman, both from Worthing, were questioned after homes .. were broken into in May, June and July. The homes broken into were in Balcombe Road, Crawley, Bramlands Lane and Wheatsheaf Road in Henfield, Woodpecker Lane and Link Hill in Storrington and West Chiltington Lane in Billingshurst. Among the items stolen were electrical equipment, jewellery and cash.
The draining of Lake Pippin
The work started on Monday, as scheduled, and has now been completed.











