-----LOCAL BUSINESS-----

VILLAGE DIARY & WHAT'S ON

click on the calendar icon to the left to view the village calendar.

then click on 'add event' to make and save an entry

7th ANNUAL EGG THROWING CONTEST

Staplefield Common, entry free

provisional date

11 am Sat April 3rd

Handcross Community Bus Trips

9 Mar East Grinstead and Forest Row

13 Apr Portsmouth, and Mary Rose museum

11 May Bateman's, Rudyard Kipling's House, Burwash

15 Jun Mystery Tour

Enquiries and bookings 400212

VILLAGE LUNCHES

Thursday, 1 Apr, 20 May, 22 Jul

Village Hall 12.30 for 1pm

Contact
Carole Hayward or Andrew Wimbush
for tickets (£6) 413571

ROAD CLOSURE

The lane from the water tower to Balcombe

is scheduled to be closed from the 8-13 March

HIGH BEECHES

20 Mar Gardens Re-open
5 Apr Easter Monday Spring Flowers
3 May Bank Holiday, open from 11am
23 May Nat Gdn Scheme
29-31 May Bank Holiday, open from 11am, Bonzai w/end
26,27 Jun Wild Flower Spectacular
15 Aug Heavy Horses Harrowing Hard
26 Sep Nat Gdn Scheme
17 Oct Autumn Gift Fair
31 Oct Garden closes for the winter
 

-----ANNOUNCEMENTS-----

VILLAGE GETS A NEW WEBSITE

click here

or click on the button, above left
to visit the
St Mark's Fresco Appeal

FIVE FISHES

We are villagers (Brantridge Lane) and have to leave the area for a short while.

 We have a problem in the shape of five goldfish  (3” up to 6” in length) that need rehoming in an in-house aquarium.

  We are happy to provide the aquarium measuring
36” x 16” x 22” (w x d x h)
complete with cabinet and filter if so required,
free of charge. 
Ideally the fish would go to an enthusiastic fishkeeper.

Would anyone like to take them on either permanently or temporarily? (We hope to be back in around 3 months)

click here

In case of emergency, the need to collect
prescriptions etc you may be able to call
on one of the kind volunteers below who
have access to 4x4 vehicles.

Ron and Gill Stevenson: 401168, Ron's mobile is 07732 618617

Lesley and Tony Hextall: 400281

Ben Drake: 400311, e-mail: bd@maven-ventures.co.uk

Gordon Diaz: 401688

Peter Charlton: 400642 (patients of Handcross surgery only)

Please don't call them for a lift to the pub etc
(unless it is an emergency)

The footpath through Nymans Woods is passable (5 Feb 10) but muddy and slippery.
The picture on the right show the diverted footpath which is perfectly usable.

Various comments have filtered down to me recently about local peoples concerns over this winters tree felling in Nymans woods. 

I’d like to reassure everyone that no trees are cut down at Nymans without careful consideration but it is a working woodland. Tree felling is carried out in the winter months while the sap is down and to avoid disturbing nesting birds so a year’s work is often done in a short space of time. I understand that this can look destructive at the time but the trees here are felled for a variety of reasons. 

This winter for example an area of Sweet Chestnut coppice has been brought back into rotation, essential tree safety works were carried out along the public paths, conifers and non-native exotics were removed, the canopy thinned over hazel coppice, light was let down to the ponds and waterways for dragonflies and glades created to benefit birds, butterflies and insects. It is a case of woodland management as opposed to solely tree management. Although we also survey, record and protect special individual veteran trees. 

As sad as it may seem to fell a healthy tree it is also important in the UK to produce sustainable, local timber from well managed woodlands as opposed to imports. No tree here at Nymans is felled solely for timber,  only as the result of conservation management or safety but I always endeavour to make sure all the timber is used. Much of the timber is processed and used within the Nymans estate and any surplus sold on. The good quality oak will go to a local furniture maker or construction, the chestnut to fencing, the lower grade for fire wood and even the off-cuts are made into charcoal here in the woods, again reducing imports. 

If people are concerned that the timber appears to be left in situ it is because we are waiting for the ground conditions to be right before extraction takes place. The terrible track damage is a stark reminder why this must never be done too soon. 

As for the damaged track itself I'd like to emphasis that this isn’t part of our normal working practice and is most regrettable. The matter is being taken up with the contractors responsible and when conditions are dry enough repairs will take place. In the meantime I hope the alternative route helps people to still enjoy the woods. I can only apologise – no-one is more mortified than myself. 

I hope this helps to reassure everyone that the woods are cared for and greatly valued.

I am always happy to explain matters further I anyone should wish. 

Chloe Bradbrooke

Warden

FLOWER SHOW, SATURDAY 24th JULY 2010

If you are planning your vegetables and flowers for your garden next summer, here are all the classes you could plan to enter.

The Royal Horticultural Society’s Banksian Medal and 8 cups will be awarded to the relevant winning entries in the following classes.

HORTICULTURAL CLASS All varieties to be named if known

1. One plate of six white potatoes

2. One plate of six coloured potatoes

3. The heaviest potato

4. Five onions from sets – see notes for exhibitors

5. Five onions from seed – see notes for exhibitors

6. The heaviest onion (topped for showing)

7. Nine pods of runner beans

8. Nine pods of broad beans

9. Nine pods of French beans (dwarf)

10. Three beetroot (round)

11. Two cabbages

12. Twelve large shallots – see notes for exhibitors

13. Twelve pickling shallots – see notes for exhibitors

14. Two vegetable marrows

15. Two cucumbers

16. Six carrots (stump rooted)

17. Six carrots (long)

18. Six pods of peas

19. Six plum tomatoes

20. Six tomatoes (not cherry or beefsteak type)

21. Six cherry tomatoes

22. Three courgettes – see notes for exhibitors

23. Two cos lettuce

24. Two cabbage lettuce (all the year round type)

25. One plate of unusual vegetables (all one type)

26. Collection of mixed herbs (four varieties in separate containers)

27. Posy of mixed herbs (judged for variety)

28. Plate of fruit (one variety)

29. Salad selection in a basket, trug or box, not exceeding 18 inches x 18 inches. Containing 4 varieties of salad crops

30. A collection of vegetables on a black tray or board 18 inches x 24 inches. Four distinct types as in classes 1-24, numbers as in classes

31. Outdoor planted container or hanging basket

32. Six fuchsia flowers (containers supplied)

33. Six roses

34. Single most fragrant rose

35. Eight sweet pea blooms with own foliage

36. Four mixed dahlias

37. Four dahlias (all one type)

38. A single flower stem, spike or spay different from classes 32-37

39. One decorative pot plant (foliage)

40. One decorative pot plant (floral)

41. One pot cactus or succulent

42. One vase of garden flowers (one variety – not classes 32-37)

43. One vase of mixed garden flowers (three or more varieties, not shrubs)

POT HOLES

Here's an easy way to report potholes...

click here

The site is run by CTC, one of the national cycling groups which obviously has an interest in reducing accidents
caused by potholes.

Nymans is delighted to be able to offer a complimentary admission card
for residents of Slaugham Parish.

 The card entitles the card holding adult(s) and up to 3 children to free admission to Nymans during normal opening hours for 12 months.

 To obtain your card please send :

• 2 copies of proof of address (e.g. utility bill, council tax bill etc)

• Passport sized photos of the 1 or 2 adults who will use the card.

You should send these items to:

The Property Office, Nymans, Handcross, West Sussex. RH17 6EB 

We will then send out your admission card along with your photos and supporting documentation.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

It has been confirmed as a scam by Royal Mail originating from Belize. 

Trading Standards Officers are making people aware of the scam:

 
A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service)

suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on

  0906 6611911  (a premium rate number). 

 

DO NOT CALL THE ABOVE TELEPHONE NUMBER
 

-----PERSONAL ADS-----

LOCAL FAMILY
 

Local family with connections to the village
are looking to buy a 3 or 4 bedroom house in Staplefield or surrounding areas.

If you're thinking of selling then please contact
Mike on 07764 378579.

Babysitter

Need a babysitter?
Call me on 01444-400639 or text to 07929-964842

I charge £4 per hour and after midnight £5

My name is Matthew Brewin, you will know me as Linda Brewin's (Churchwarden) son.

FOR SALE

Trek Trailer Tag-a-Long bike

Single speed

Good condition

£50 ono

 Tim & Alison

01444 400 669 (evenings only)

-----QUESTIONS-----

LOCAL HISTORY

Does anyone know of a J H Jonathan
that used to farm in the village?
(Probably just after the war)

My kids have found something of his and are trying
to discover how old it is.

click here

GOOGLE EARTH view of Staplefield has been updated.

Can anyone work out the date of the photo: it looks like early summer '06.

click here to view it

click here if you think you can date it

Looking at the picture of Brantridge School. Our 'New Block' foundations are there but not the block itself. That came in early August 2006. I believe the picture must have been taken in the late July of that year.

Gary

Far be it from be to contradict Gary - but aren't those the Beerfest Marquees in The Tanners garden ?  If so then it's the Mayday Bank Holiday weekend in (I guess) 2006.

Mike Anderson

The common is marked out for the children's sports day. which takes place in late June/early July, so the tents must have been for another event.

Paul

ps my kids tell me that google streetview was 'doing' the village this week. Anyone else see this?

Ruth and I took possession of Warwick Cottage in December 2005.  One of the first acts of garden clearance was to take out the ornamental tree on the drive.  I did this before Christmas 2005.  This tree is still shown on the picture.

So, for those who say it is 2006 I would place a large wager on them being wrong!  It is definitely 2005 (or prior).