Latest News of Local Interest
Residents’ car parking at Preston Nomads
Readers are reminded that there are half a dozen car parking spaces at Preston Nomads which are reserved for Fulking residents. The grounds are normally locked but those with parking spaces get their own keys and there is a lift-and-lock pole on each space. For legal reasons, there is a small fee to pay. Full details can be obtained from the Head Groundsman, Brian Sandalls, at the grounds.
To judge from the state of the grass (see above), only one of the six spaces is in current regular use.
Strimming at St. Andrew’s
Churchyard attendants are now urgently required: two people with petrol strimmers to join us this month by helping to trim the grass round the graves. This work usually takes place once a month on a Saturday morning from 9:00am to 12:00pm during the summer months, weather permitting. If you are able to help, please contact Tony Brooks ASAP on 200 for more details.
Villager chased by cow
One of our villagers was walking on the Escarpment with a friend on Friday and they were chased by a cow with a very young calf. They ended up having to divert from the main footpath as they were then confronted with the herd including many small calves.
Please remember that cows with young calves are very protective and can attack if they feel threatened. The Countryside Code states that if cattle or horses chase you and your dog, it is safer to let your dog off the lead – don’t risk getting hurt by trying to protect it. Your dog will be much safer if you let it run away from a farm animal in these circumstances and so will you. Please therefore be vigilant when out walking.
Kate Watson
Local Youth Club
We are in the early stages of starting a monthly youth club in the Poynings playing field pavilion for 11–16 year olds. We will be calling a meeting so if anyone is interested they can contact me on 01273-857482 or by email.
Open House Ditchling
Chris and Jen are exhibiting in Ditchling as part of Brighton Open Houses festival, which is on every weekend in May including the bank holiday Mondays. Come and check out Chris’s sculptures and Jen‘s paintings, mirrors and carvings at Ditchling Venue No. 9 at Kennel Cottage, East End Lane in Ditchling. They’re not there all the time though, so if you want to see them you should ring them at 552 to check first.
Sunday Roast Review
We sat down in the sunshine (warmer this time – no sleeves!) and ordered some lovely wine off the lovely waitress. In fact all the staff are brilliant, friendly, chatty and wall to wall genuine smiles. It’s no wonder though when they get to eat food during their shift like we were about to eat.
Much more in the same vein if you click the picture.
Drones, Bridleways & Nesting Birds
As the weather improves and more of us get out and about, the Parish Council would like to highlight a couple of issues raised in recent meetings:
Drones/Quadcopters – Please would owners of model aircraft/drones etc be as considerate as possible whilst enjoying their new toys, especially those equipped with cameras. There are numerous concerns regarding these gadgets – privacy, noise and damage to property/cars/people. Drones should be kept under control (i.e. line of sight) at all times and generally should not be flown within 150 metres of property and people as a kilo or two dropped from height can hurt! Basically you should not be filming other peoples private gardens. Please also be aware that you should obtain permission if you plan to publish images of anybody, especially Fulking-ites, on social media. See the links below to CAA guidelines. You will find more links on the CAA website providing further information.
First Person View’s – an animated guide to the basic rules of flying a drone.
CAA Detailed Guidelines
Bridleways – please don’t forget the rules about bridleways and footpaths. Bridleways are meant for walkers, horse riders and cyclists only, which means no motor vehicles unless specific permission has been given by the landowner. There may be some confusion about the bridleway from Four Acres corner to The Shepherd and Dog. This is a bridleway and the normal rules apply, but a few people at either end have been granted vehicle access to their properties by the owners of the bridleway. Footpaths are for pedestrians only – absolutely no vehicles or horses. There are some local ‘byways open to all traffic’ (BOATs), information on which can be found from the link below. The link also details information on all public rights of way. Please respect these rules – if you see anybody breaching them, please remind and/or report them to the National Trust and/or Police.
Rights of way map
Rights of way guidelines
Birds Nesting – Finally, we all want our gardens to look good, but please remember that this is bird nesting season and hedge trimming should be avoided from now until the end of August. It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 to damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird so do try to respect this. If trimming has to be done, please keep to an absolute minimum and please keep it brief.
Bobservation No. 7
Fulking Fair and dog show has, since 2009, been held in Harry & Charmayne Diamond’s Downside Meadow, organised by the Social Committee, and has according to the Argus grown into ‘the best village fair in Sussex’. Indeed in 2014 we were awarded the Argus’ Best Community Event of the Year’. This year’s fair is being held on Sunday 26th July from Noon till 5pm.
The success we have earned has taken a great deal of hard work from many villagers and I think it fair to say that all those involved have a great sense of pride at what has been achieved. All profits from the fair go towards village needs such as tree work in the North Town Field, toys for the toddlers, carol books for the choir and roof work on the village hall.
To keep up the momentum we still need helpers for all sorts of jobs ranging from being involved with childrens’ games to rubbish collection during and after the fair, to serving cream teas or the barbeque etc. etc.
It is a great village fun day and I think it fair to say, although it is hard work, the helpers enjoy it as much as anyone.
In particular we need Tombola prizes such as bottles of wine, kids games & toys, biscuits, chocolates and any unused article that you would not mind winning if you had a ticket!
Please give me a shout on 271 or email me at bob.pamrowland@btinternet.com if you would like to discuss joining in or/and donating a tombola prize. We can arrange collection.
Our next meeting to discuss the fair is in the Village Hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday 3rd June. You will be very welcome if you come along.
