Cornilleau table tennis cover

Cornilleau
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

Box Brownies negative
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.

Newtimber Place Gardens

Newtimber Place
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.

Cross the A283 and live! [update 3]

Bridleway crosses A283
The Shoreham Herald reports that work is about to begin on the new bridleway that will allow users of the Downs Link to avoid having to cross the A283.

David Barling, county councillor for Bramber Castle, said ..

The underpass scheme is intended to provide a much better and safer route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders by removing the need to cross the open A283 bypass, which is extremely dangerous, you usually take your life in your hands crossing at this point.

Edburton Contractors, working for West Sussex County Council, is programmed to begin initial clearance works [today]. Mr Barling explained:

This means having a look at the site and clearing scrub and trees or tree roots that may need removal along the highway verge. This initial phase will take a couple of weeks and then proper construction works will start on Monday, August 18, and it is hoped that these will last no more than four weeks to complete. The finished pathways will then be left to settle down for a couple of weeks more and then [be] fully open to pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

More open access land

B&HCC release more open access land
The Argus reports:

Brighton and Hove City Council has created free public access to another 670 acres of Sussex downland. .. Five miles of new footpaths and bridleways have been created, meaning walkers on the Sussex Border Path can divert on to a route keeping them further away from busy roads. Works have involved installing gates and cutting a new path up a steep bank at Braypool. .. The surrounding landscape includes ancient burial mounds on top of Tegdown Hill, lynchet terraces .. and the Chattri monument.

Mile Oak Farm Open Day

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.