The gardens at Newtimber Place will be open as part of the NGS (National Gardens Scheme) on Sunday 23rd April between 2pm and 5.30pm. The gardens are lovely at this time of year with stunning daffodils and beautiful fritillaries. Beautiful Grade I listed C16/C17 moated house (not open). Gardens and woods full of bulbs and wild flowers in spring. Herbaceous border and lawns. Moat flanked by water plants. Mature trees. Wild garden, ducks, chickens and fish. Tea and home made cakes in aid of the church. There are ducks, chickens and guinea fowl wandering around so dogs need to be kept on a lead. Admission £4.00, children free.
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Saddlescombe Farm Open Day
The National Trust writes:
Tours of the 17th century buildings, the surrounding downs and the walled garden. Displays and demonstrations of traditional work including hurdle making, shepherding, carpenters’ workshop and more. Watch out for newly born lambs and the sheep dog Belle. Tea and home-made cakes available.
Sunday 23rd April, 10:30am–4:00pm, adult £5, child £2, family £13.
Poynings News
Eight pages of news from our neighbours.
Devilled Eggs
Easter egg hunt every day, 15th–17th April, 11:00am–3:00pm, Stone Seat, Devil’s Dyke. Plus egg rolling competition, 10:45–12:00 on 17th April, same location.
Fulking Village Scrapbook
The whereabouts of the scrapbook is currently unknown to those whose task it is to keep it. If you have it, please contact Linda or Terry Harris at 486 as soon as possible.
The Subsidy Scheme
Residents who have the misfortune to live in the primitive northwest border areas of this parish, at the end of long winding concrete tracks, or in the Cold War deep bunkers beneath Scarboro Stroods, and who struggle to connect their acoustic couplers, 103A modems, teletypes, and visual display units to AOL and Compuserve, may wish to visit culture.gov.uk to see if they qualify for a bung from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Bobservation No. 30
Hats off to Central Government for proposing that District Councils should extend the ‘bedroom tax’ to private properties and raise additional Council Tax by imposing an extra band to cover unoccupied bedrooms in properties rated at bands F and above.
I understand that the amendment will not take place until 1st October 2017 and Council Tax bills will be amended as necessary on that date. The sums raised will be earmarked for the improvement of social care for patients leaving hospital and this should in turn relieve the pressure on hospitals by freeing-up bed space.
It is proposed that the necessary information regarding what bedrooms are or are not occupied will be by written submission from the immediate neighbours, who will be invited to disclose the necessary details to the District Council in the strictest confidence. I suppose there will be some who may consider this a ‘snoopers’ involvement but fair minded villagers will realise what an important step this will be to relieve pressure on the NHS.
Brighton hocks Downs (update)
The Argus reports:
The controversial sale of two key downland sites has been dropped in the face of fierce public opposition. A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: “After reviewing the situation, a cross party Policy Review Panel has taken the view that the sites at Poynings* and Plumpton should not be sold at this time.”
*The foot-slope field of the Devil’s Dyke estate.