Sussex Wildlife Trust is offering a five month course at Woods Mill, from January to June 2014, taught by Mike Russell, and involving both indoor sessions and outside field trips that will visit many top bird sites in Sussex. The course covers identification techniques, habitats, bird conservation and populations, migration and birdsong. Suitable for beginners and those with a little knowledge.
At the moment the shop smells delicious; there are six Christmas trees in there (waiting to go outside when I open) and mince pies and gingerbread plus the smell of oranges and apples and fresh bread. In the window is a rocking horse waiting to be collected. It was made by an old man who makes hand carved walking sticks which I sell here. Another man brought in some nesting boxes and a little wooden wheelbarrow for me to sell. The wheelbarrow is for planting flowers in but somebody bought it last week for a child. I told her I was a bit doubtful and sure enough it’s back here again.
Gill Milner, Old Post Office
Create your own Christmas wreath with materials collected from the downs. Take a festive walk and collect your holly and ivy. Return to historic Saddlescombe farm to make your very own Christmas decorations in front of a roaring fire in the Tudor Scullery. Mulled apple juice, mince pies and roast chestnuts will be included.
Booking essential. Monday, 23rd December 2013, 10:00am — 1:00pm, adult £6, child £3. More info here.
As many readers will know from our recent Mayfield posts, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government appointed an Inspector to decide whether MSDC had met ‘the Duty to Cooperate’ in preparing the District Plan. He decided that they had not and has asked them to withdraw the Plan. This means, in effect, that MSDC no longer has a District Plan and thus lacks any acceptable framework on which to base current planning decisions. Here are some excerpts from the conclusions to the Inspector’s report (PDF):
The evidence does not enable me to conclude that .. MSDC gave satisfactory consideration to meeting the unmet development needs (in particular in terms of housing) of nearby local planning authorities. The requirements of paragraphs 178 to 181 of the National Planning Policy Framework have not been met .. I must conclude that the Duty to Cooperate has not been met .. there is also the risk that the Plan could be found to be not sound.
There may be consequences in terms of the Council being unable to meet its 5 year housing land supply requirement. Nevertheless this cannot outweigh the need for effective joint working. I must advise the Council to withdraw the Plan .. This also means that the Mid Sussex Community Infrastructure Levy: Draft Charging Schedule will have to be withdrawn because there will be no up-to-date relevant Plan for the area.
The implications of the Inspector’s finding are in no way restricted to the area to the immediate north of Blackstone.
Holy Trinity, Poynings; St Andrews, Edburton; St John the Evangelist, Newtimber;
The Transfiguration, Pyecombe [www.downlandchurches.co.uk]
December 2013
Sunday 8th December – Advent 2
10am Holy Communion Newtimber
6pm Carol Service Pyecombe
Traditional Carol Service with the Mid Sussex Brass Band
Sunday 15th December – Advent 3
10am Holy Communion Poynings
11am Holy Communion Edburton
2.30pm Carol Service Newtimber
6pm Carol Service Poynings
Sunday 22nd December – Advent 4
10am Holy Communion Pyecombe
6pm Carol Service Edburton
Tuesday 24th December – Christmas Eve
3.30pm Christingle Service Poynings
11.30pm First Communion of Christmas Pyecombe Edburton
Wednesday 25th December – Christmas Day
8am Holy Communion Poynings
10am Holy Communion Newtimber
Sunday 29th December – Christmas 1
10am Holy Communion Newtimber
Update, 4th December: (i) the BBC reports on the debate here; (ii) the inspector has ruled against MSDC, details here.
Update, 8th December: a lengthy and informative report from the West Sussex Gazette.
The People of Poynings Present – At Holy Trinity Church, Poynings
Friday 10th January at 8pm
Saturday 11th January at 3pm and 8pm
Sunday 12th January at 3pm
Refreshments at the evening performances
Prices:
3pm Performances Adult £7 Under 12s £3
8pm Performances All tickets £8
Tickets are available now from www.poynings.net or at The Royal Oak
In aid of Holy Trinity Church Chapel Restoration Fund
