The bridge is to be closed for repairs for five weeks, January 20th to February 23rd. The footbridge will remain open and there will be a diversion via the A283 for vehicles and a shuttle service for bus users. More information here and here.
Latest News of Local Interest
A Residential Lorry
DesRes. One bed. Adjacent Lady Brook Spring. Constant fresh running water. Superb view of Downs. Convenient children’s play area and historic public house. RX51 DFJ.
The MasterChef & Dog
Frozen Ferret & Polecat Purity
Jess Price writes:
If you come across a polecat carcass and are prepared to collect it, please freeze it and contact the Vincent Wildlife Trust by calling 01531 636441 or email. They will arrange for a postage box to be sent to you for the body to be returned in free of charge.
There is a high occurrence of polecat-ferrets in Sussex, which means that this time the Vincent Wildlife Trust is looking for a good sample of polecat/polecat-ferret carcasses for the survey so that they can analyse polecat purity within the county.
More information here.
Can you help us to support older people in your local community?
The Royal Voluntary Service is a volunteer organisation that enriches the lives of older people and their families across Britain.
Volunteers are vital to Royal Voluntary Service. Without them we simply wouldn’t exist. Currently, more than 40,000 dedicated community volunteers deliver services that help older people live the life they want to. Whether it’s taking an older person to the shops, delivering a meal to them or even walking their dog – our volunteers make a big difference that is appreciated and valued. Through them, we want to help create a society where everyone feels valued and involved whatever their age. We believe old age should be celebrated, and so we should: we’re 75 years old and still going strong.
We are always looking for new, enthusiastic volunteers who can help us to make sure older people get the support they need and we’d really appreciate your help. I have attached a volunteer recruitment poster and would be extremely grateful if you could find a spot for it and encourage people from your local community to join us.
Anyone over the age of 14 can join and the great thing about volunteering is that it’s so flexible. You can fit it around all of the other things that you have to do. Whether you can spare a few hours once a week or fortnight or can give a couple of days each month we will have an opportunity for you.
We all know that the number of older people in our communities is set to grow in the future and we have to be ready. So over the next few years we will be expanding our services and developing new ones so our need for community volunteers will be even greater.
If you, or someone you know, think you can help then please contact our volunteering department on 0845 601 4670, email volunteer@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk or search for opportunities online at www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year,
Many thanks,
Jen Williams
Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator
Royal Voluntary Service
Poynings Panto
Tickets are still available for these performances: Friday 10th January at 8pm; Saturday 11th January at 3pm; and Sunday 12th January at 3pm. Refreshments at the evening performance. Prices: 3pm Performances, Adult £7 Under-12s £3; 8pm Performances, All tickets £8. Tickets can be bought from www.poynings.net or at The Royal Oak. Sold in aid of Holy Trinity Church Chapel Restoration Fund.
Have you lost a bird?
Sussex Wildlife Trust is offering a package of five field trips, from February to November 2014, led by Mike Russell, and including the Henfield Levels (February); The Burgh, Burpham (April); Stedham and Iping Commons (June); Chidham and Cobnor (September); and Amberley Wildbrooks (November). The subjects covered will include bird identification techniques; migration and seasonal factors in bird distribution; and habitats. This is a multi-session package: individual trips cannot be booked.
Call for contributors
This website managed to deliver an average of just over a post a day during 2013. However, there are three areas of interest to many locals where our coverage has been very weak:
- Children — there are many more in the village now than has normally been the case in recent years. We could usefully include a lot more news about their activities, their schools, their successes, their failures (okay, perhaps not), and their parenting.
- Farming — we all live surrounded by farms. We walk the public footpaths through the fields. We can see the crops and animals. Occasionally we see a tractor doing what tractors do. But, for those residents who are not involved in the farming, that’s about it. Many would be interested in learning more. For example, the implications of changes in policy or regulation for farming in Fulking.
- Local businesses — relative to the the size of the population, there are many hidden away in Fulking and the immediately adjacent villages. They expand and contract, introduce new products or services, employ new people, enlarge their premises, and so on. All of which is of potential interest to readers of this website.
Unassisted, we are unlikely to be able to improve our coverage of these three areas in 2014. If you think you could help with one of them, please get in touch with John.