Plumpton & East Chiltington News

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PLUMPTON & EAST CHILTINGTON NEWS

May Page It is wonderful to see, in these Plumpton Parish Council 2 difficult times, that our villages can East Chiltington Parish Council 5 come together and organise events. Sarah Osbourne 6 In this magazine we have reports of Rob Banks 9 the successful Village Market and the VJ Commemorations. We look Maria Caufield 10 forward to the Apple Fair in October DR’s Diary 12 and hopefully the Festive fair in Bird Watch 13 November. Chailey School results 15 As ever if you have any events you VJ Day Commemoration 15 would like us to cover or details of clubs re-opening please let us know... Church Services 16 Events Calendar 17 This is your magazine.. Plumpton Village Society 18 [email protected] Apple Fair 20 Prescription Pickup Service 22 Footpath Detective 24 Plumpton & East Chiltington Wildlife 27 Chailey Commons Society 28 Citizens Advice 31

1 Plumpton Parish Council they could help. One meeting on-site with College staff was held. www.plumptonpc.co.uk Unfortunately, the Virus crisis put a stop to further progress, but the council will restart conversations with the college as The council does not meet in August, soon as possible. Some urgent tree but any urgent business is dealt with as surgery has taken place along the usual via e-mail which has now become twitten between Station Road and the norm since lockdown started in Westgate and more is needed. Council March. Council business has been able will discuss at the next meeting. to continue seamlessly and as Chair I would like to take the opportunity to The Village Hall can now be used for thank all councillors, plus of course certain events. Government guidelines Anita and Jane for their flexibility and on the permitted event type and continued commitment over the past number of people allowed are not months. We have recently welcomed straightforward – and are of course two new councillors, Ron Jury and subject to change. If you want to hire Alison Gardiner, to the team. We still the village hall please contact Jane need to fill an additional 2 vacancies to Donovan who will let you know if the bring us up to full strength, so if you required type of event is possible and, if are interested in helping your so, guide you through the process. community by becoming a Parish Councillor please contact Anita or Finally, please be reminded that since myself. April the Parish Council monthly meetings have been held successfully The (mostly) good weather over on-line via Zoom. Resident are very lockdown has brought a surge of welcome to join - just email Anita Emery unwelcome visitors to Statons Farm ([email protected] ) to Quarry, Plumpton. I would like to thank receive the login details which will be Rob Banks for liaising with the Police on issued on the day of the meeting. this matter and for his assistance in trying to get the landowners, Dudmans, The next meeting is on the 8 th to take more responsibility for the site September and at the time of writing security. Of course, recognition must go continues to be online via Zoom. We do to the many long-suffering residents on intend to revert to face to face meetings that section of Plumpton Lane who as soon as the Government guidance have had to put up with the extra allows. littering and anti-social behaviour. Many have written to PPC, LDC, Dudmans and the Police and direct action by some residents has on more than one occasion resulted in the Police attending the site to evict trespassers.

The land around the village pond needs attention and at the beginning of the year the Parish Council were starting to engage with Plumpton College to see if

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Tel: Plumpton (01273) 890668 or 07711 712 477 Email: [email protected] 4 grass in the winter months thus preserving the verge.

The field used by network rail has now been restored and has attracted a large number of visitors who have come to marvel at the beautiful show of The parish council has responded to sunflowers and other wildflowers that the East Sussex Minerals and waste have been sown by the farmer revised plan consultation to express concern over the decision to further safeguard the site for sand extraction. Whilst understanding the need to safeguard valuable minerals to prevent development that would impede future extraction, at this site very little sand has been extracted in over 28 years, and none in the 10 year period of the extension granted in 2016. This would seem to indicate that commercially the sand is not worth extracting. In the meantime the site remains a magnet for people wanting to get together in the countryside, camp, swim in the lakes and generally cause a nuisance for the local community, leaving litter and excrement.

The East Chiltington children's playground in Hollycroft has re- . opened with gov.guidelines in place. Please do enjoy the facilities whilst The parish council will continue to following advice about hand washing monitor government advice regarding and keeping a safe distance. meetings. Please refer to the parish Parish councillor Mark Durham has website: www.eastchiltington.net for kindly made sturdy new shelves for details of any upcoming council meetings. the community book swap housed in TECT the restored telephone kiosk in The date for the harvest supper is Chapel Lane. Residents are invited to Saturday 19 th Sept. and the 10 th of bring a book and leave a book. October has been earmarked for the Parish councillors Paddy David and Apple pressing on Saturday 10 th October Mark Durham spent an extremely hot As with all public events this will be day installing wooden posts around wholly dependent on government the grassed area at the top of guidelines at the time. Please check on Hollycroft. It is hoped that this will the website or East Chiltington Facebook solve the issue of parking on the page for timings and any updates.

5 County Council deliver 445 new jobs and safeguard a Report July 2020 further 177 across East Sussex, as well as creating an additional 177 jobs during - Councillor Sarah the construction period. The money is Osborne part of £85 million secured by the Local Enterprise Partnership, SELEP, for a total New Funding for Businesses of 34 projects across East Sussex, Kent East Sussex County Council has and Essex. More information at https:// secured £500,000 which it is hoped www.southeastlep.com/ will support up to 250 businesses to grow, and create more than 100 new [email protected] jobs. 07986 776 105

The project will also offer assistance to new enterprises and support local women and BAME entrepreneurs. The project is designed for small and PLUMPTON & EAST medium enterprises, which covers the CHILTINGTON GOOD majority of businesses in the county, NEIGHBOURS wanting to grow and increase their productivity. Supporting anyone in need Support, which will be available for Assisting with shopping existing businesses and around 60 newly started businesses, will include Helping after an illness or injury coaching, workshops and specialist Even a small job like changing a light bulb support. Accompany to doctors, dentists or opticians. More information about the support Putting your bins out or feeding a pet, there programme, which is being delivered is no job we can’t manage by Always Possible and Digital Islands, is available by calling the Business East Most importantly keeping someone Sussex Growth Hub on 01273 335878 company and generating a friendship or “One of the greatest gifts we can give is our emailing [email protected]. time.” uk We are here to help! In addition £11 million from the For help or to volunteer call our Getting Building Fund has been coordinators on secured to deliver jobs and aid economic recovery. One example, 07478 524152 supported by Lewes District Council as Or well as East Sussex County Council involves the development of the 07786 152215 world’s first large-scale solar farm to directly power electrified railways in East Sussex.

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Buses A reminder that following a conversation with the director of Update from Rob Banks, Lewes Compass Buses, the 166 service which District Councillor serves Plumpton has been re-instated. Don't forget the 122 service runs on a Covid update Saturday. And Compass have also At the end of July, the government confirmed that the 167 and 168 bus announced it would not be currently which serves East Chiltington and sending out food parcels to those on the currently on a reduced timetable will be shielding list (though volunteers still fully re-instated in September. Keep available to help with things like food your eye on https://www.compass- shopping if needed). As I write this in travel.co.uk/compass-timetables/bus- early August there are still some food timetables/ parcels stored in the parish from the District Council that are available for Train Station Parking those in need, let me know (in Due to Covid-19, the petition I collected confidence) if you or anyone you know against parking charges was handed in could use one. electronically - thank you to the Other helpful reminders: hundreds of people who signed. I am Lewes District Council’s COVID following up to ask for a response. information page is at https:// During lockdown this has been less of a www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/ problem, but with people returning to community/covid-19/ . use the trains a bit more I have been You can also call 01273 471600 should following up on this issue and if I hear you have problems with things like any progress will let you know. paying council tax as a result of the pandemic. If you are not getting the help [email protected] you need, Lewes District’s “Community 07986 755246 Hub” helpline for vulnerable residents is 01273 099956.

Novington/Dudman sandpit Along with Sarah Osborne as Plumpton's County Councillor, I have written to the County Council following their publication of the Draft Waste and Minerals Local Plan, asking why the sandpit remains on the list of possible places to extract minerals from (in this case soft sand), given no extraction has taken place for several years now. I emphasised that any future plan for the sandpit needs to address the problems that have been

9 Maria Caufield MP

During lockdown we have generally seen a fall in crime with reduced numbers of violence and burglary. However, one area where we are seeing an increase is in rural crime which includes crimes affecting agricultural equipment, equine, wildlife and buildings. This means that in many of our villages in Sussex that rural crime is a big issue.

Sussex Police have stepped up to the mark and in June launched a new rural crime team.

The team has been brought together to serve the rural community, to increase confidence and encourage reporting through preventing crime and carrying out more proactive investigations. Made up of two sergeants, eight constables and six police community support officers (PCSOs), they aim to make rural communities feel safer by building long-lasting partnerships, responding to the community’s needs and providing an effective policing service. In turn, this work aims to increase confidence in the police in more isolated areas.

With 62% of Sussex’s area dedicated to farming and a significant proportion being in the South Downs National Park, Sussex is defined as ‘significantly rural’ by DEFRA (2011). Recently, Sussex Police arrested three men near High Hurstwood, Wealden, on suspicion of burglary and going equipped for burglary. This is just one example of the force’s approach to disrupting rural crime in the county.

I recently held a virtual meeting with local farmers and rural crime was high on their list of concerns with cases having increased during lockdown and the issue of trespass being significant.

I am hoping that the introduction of this new rural crime team will give residents living in our rural areas confidence that resources are going into to making their communities safer.

Do let me know if you have been affected by rural crime as I can be contacted on [email protected]

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11 DR’s Diary CALL OF THE .....SOFA?

I have just finished reading a very good book called 'Call of the Wild', written in 1903 by American author Jack London. The story centres around Buck, a huge St Bernard / sheepdog cross and is set in the Klondike gold rush of the 1890's in the Yukon.

Buck lives an easy life in the warm Southland's of America, that is, until he is stolen and sold to be a sled dog in Canada. And so begins a new, more brutal life, a life where Buck has to evolve and adapt to meet the challenges that a change of circumstances and environment bring.

I won't say more than that in case any of you are thinking of reading it yourselves. There are parallels to the times we live in today. OK, so abandoning the commuting to work from home may not be the same as driving a team of huskies over one thousand miles of ice sheets, but all over the world changes are happening and folks are doing their best to adapt.

As for how our environment affects us, well, we all know someone who gets demonic behind the wheel, or 'that nice, quiet lad' that epitomizes all the charm of Vinny Jones the moment he gets on the pitch.

Anyway, it’s made me think about 'man best friend'. Our own mini Buck may only be 8 kg, but what she lacks in size, she makes up for in attitude! I'm wondering if she's had a butchers at my discarded book, in the last week she's chased a dog in the field and nearly caught something small and gingery (a weasel ?) in the garden. Dog behaviour never ceases to amaze me, while we're discouraged from shaking hands, at least we don't do 'sniffy bottys'. Still, maybe they think we're unhygienic for pooing in the house?

To anyone thinking of buying a dog, I'll say this; little Bucks are now BIG BUCKS! Follow the advice on reputable web sites and always see the pups with their mother. Years ago you had pedigrees, mongrels or mutts from the local rescue. Now, the two main types are those with poodle or those without poodle, as for the rescues, well, they're as likely to come from Croatia as Crawley.

Oh well, the 'beast' has answered the call of the sofa' , so I guess its backsides to the floor for me!

12 Bird Watch they have developed enough to be ringed, the wing feathers are about half grown and showing the light fawn colour. To break up their outline, on their heads they have crazy tufts of white down, In July, under licence, we checked the looking rather like an unsuccessful, self- Barn Owl nest boxes and ringed the inflicted “lockdown” haircut. This young. Adult Barn Owls are magnificent gradually grows out as they complete full birds that are seldom seen unless feathering at fledging. perhaps caught in the headlights of a car at night. They are by no means scarce Even at this early stage the locally as each of the five occupied boxes sexes are discernible. Females have grey we checked was no more than a mile and markings on the surface of the wings and a half from home. One is only a hundred dark spots on the underside. As with all and fifty yards away but, because the silent flying owls, the leading edges of birds fly mainly after dark, I had to make the primary feathers are comb-like so the effort to see them, by waiting out by that, as they fly, the down beat goes the gate as the light faded. through the air quietly. The body feathers are very soft and fluffy at all ages. This is Because owls hunt by sound, after why owls have problems in wet a wet and windy night that will have conditions. If the long herbage, over made their hunting difficult, they do which they hunt for voles, is wet, their sometimes appear early in the evening feathers readily soak up the moisture and especially if they have several owlets to they can suffer from chilling. feed. During years when there is a good population of rodents, dead mice and We caught up one adult, a voles are often stored in the nests so female, at the same site as last year as I that if the weather is unfavourable, the reported then. She had been ringed as a chicks have something to snack on. This nestling in Norfolk in 2014, nearly two year is no more than average. We hundred kilometres away. This is one of recorded ten good young in the five the longest inland movements recorded. sites, a four, two twos and two singles. That year had been a particularly good There were also two weedy little chicks one for voles and therefore also for owls. that were unlikely to survive and may Many large broods were reared so, after well be food for their older siblings if fledging, she had to disperse to find a supplies get bad. It would be interesting territory when all the local ones must to know that if there were fewer pairs have been already occupied. That same over the same area, the broods may year one of ours, a male, from a brood of have been larger as each pair would six above St. Helena Lane, is now have commanded a bigger territory and breeding near Newick, a more usual therefore more food to rear an equal distance to total of young. disperse from where it was Beautiful though the mature birds hatched. are, it would be difficult to describe the R.J.L. small young as such. When freshly hatched, they are pink and have sparse white down and screwed up faces that only a mother could love. By the time

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14 Chailey School GCSE Results 2020

Many congratulations to the Chailey School Class of 2020. We are hugely proud of the kind, caring and mature young people you have become. You were wonderful role models for our younger students. Your work ethic was fantastic and you richly deserve the results that you have achieved. In the current climate it feels inappropriate to quote statistics and grades specifically.

We say goodbye to the entire Class of 2020 and with them the very best for their brilliant futures.

As an exams centre we were robust with our Centre Assessed Grades and confident all of our results are the product of hard work and application by all of our students and staff. VJ Day 15th August 24 people gathered around the memorial at 10.55am to join in the nationwide remembrance ceremony. After the 2 minute silence the ‘Cry for Peace’ was read out. This was being proclaimed by Town Criers all over the country

OYEZ! OYEZ! OYEZ!

Victory in Europe So August fifteenth Was on the eight day of May Became a day of celebration Now it’s August fifteenth, As Japan agreed So what of this day? To the Potsdam Declaration.

Japan’s now surrendered, And on September second, And told to “Lay down its arms, At last it was done. Go back to your factories, The World War was over, Offices, and farms.” The battle’s been won.

But in Singapore, Thailand, V.J. Day, And Burma, no less Is a day to be cherished Our ‘forgotten army’ When we remember Still had to clear up the mess All those who have perished

We mustn’t forget Stand proudly my country, The war in the Far East, Stand proudly with Britain Or the lives that were lost, Dwell on the cry, Before the battles were ceased. So proudly written

Three quarters of a century This Kingdom never gave up, and it Have passed since those days must never forget! And life has moved on, In so may ways GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

15 SERVICES

6th September TRINITY 13 All Saints 10.30am Sung Communion

13 th September TRINITY 14 All Saints 10.30am Sung Communion

20 th September TRINITY 15 All Saints 10.30am Sung Communion

27 th September St Michael & All Angels St Michael’s 10.30am Sung Communion

4th October TRINITY 17 All Saints 10.30am Sung Communion

Rector: Please contact the Churchwardens for all information.

Howard Wood (07794 484373) Amanda Inglis (07941 241148) David Dawson (01273 890134)

The Rector’s writes …

Many of you will have seen me walk up to the Village Shop in Plumpton Green. We live, as I have said, in strange and unforeseen times. I was supposed to have retired from being Rector of Plumpton and East Chiltington on 31 st March 2020. However lockdown intervened and the Church of England closed down. It meant that the house we were supposed to be moving to was not prepared for us nor was the CofE Pension Board ready to prepare my retirement payments. However I hope that I retire on 30 th September 2020 after more than 30 years as Rector of Plumpton with East Chiltington cum Novington. My last Service will take place on Sunday, 27 th September at 10.30am on the Principal’s Lawn in front of St Michael’s Parish Church by kind permission of the Principal of Plumpton College. I would ask you to bring your own folding chairs with you to the Service. I wish you all the best for the future for you and your families. God bless.

The Parish Churches AGM The Parish Churches AGM will take place on Sunday, 6 th September immediately after the 10.30am Sung Communion. This is the meeting at which we elect our four Churchwardens, 2 for Plumpton and 2 for East Chiltington. We also elect our P.C.C. for the coming year. We also receive the Parish Church Annual Report and Accounts. This year there will be an added item to the Agenda: The Diocese’s Report of uniting the Parishes of Plumpton & East Chiltington with that of Hamsey & Offham with the Rectory being at Offham and Hamsey & Offham being the lead Parish. This meeting is open to all parishioners. Paper relating to the merger of the two Parishes are available in All Saints Church, Plumpton Green.

Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals As from the beginning of September, please contact the Churchwardens.

16 VILLAGE EVENTS CALENDAR

VH = Village Hall HQ = Scout HQ TC = Tennis Club StM = St Michael’s ANX = Church Annex PAV = Pavilion ECC = East Chiltington Church Sch = Plumpton School ALC = All Saints Church

September 2020 The Village Hall has now reopened. Contact Jane Donovan to find out what restrictions are in place. 3rd October - Apple Fair VH

28th November - Festive Fair VH 13th March 2021 - Plumptonfest VH

BOOKINGS Village Hall & Pavilion: Jane Donovan 07747 050903 or 01273 891036

COPY DEADLINES

15th August for September 15th September for October

Copy to The Poplars, Station Road or email: [email protected] or Telephone: 01273 891 427

17 PLUMPTON VILLAGE SOCIETY

After weeks of glorious sunshine, it, of course, rained on Saturday 25th July, the day of the village market!! But the rain didn’t deter the 25 stall holders, nor the 29 volunteers and 225 of the good people of Plumpton & East Chiltington who turned out in force.

Plumpton Village Society wanted to hold a Strawberry Fair in June, and obviously this was cancelled due to the lockdown, and it was decided to hold the market as an opportunity for the villagers to start meeting each other in a safe environment. Local business and crafters welcomed the chance to sell to their customers.

Ashurst Organics Market Stall and Plumpton Primary School Stall

Plenty of room to social distance with help from Social Distancing Champions, including Jane Hildyard

We think that, despite the weather, the event was a real success with a total of £462 raised for the Hospice through the Hospice Support Group tombola, a bucket collection, donations from the stall holders instead of a pitch fee and Zoe Awcock raised £95 for the Hospice by selling face coverings made by her Nan.

Hospice Support Group’s Tombola Stall

Thank you to everybody for supporting the event. Especially the team of volunteers, and, those who got soaked when they helped with the tidying up afterwards deserve our special thanks.

These events cannot take place without the kind support of volunteers. If you think you can spare an hour of your time at future events, please contact Lee Stevens on 07887 562721 to be a Friend of Plumpton Village Society. There is no obligation and if you cannot help when asked, that’s fine, hopefully we will have enough Friends to spread the effort amongst us.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday 3rd October at the Apple Fair inside the Village Hall and outside on the Green, between noon and 4pm. Entry is free. Bring your facemasks for inside the Main Hall and plenty of cash/change. This will coincide with the annual Apple Pressing, with stalls from local clubs and societies, plus some market stalls and refreshments.

Let us hope for better weather and that the Government COVID Guidelines will allow us to hold the event as we have planned it.

19 Plumpton Village Society Apple Fair coinciding with the Annual Apple Pressing

Saturday 3 October 2020 Noon until 4pm

The Apples on our trees are now flourishing and its time to celebrate the Great British Apple.

Do come along to Plumpton Village Green, where there will be stalls from Clubs and Societies across Plumpton and market stalls too. There will be a good mix of stalls both inside the Village Hall and outside on the Green, all with appropriate social distancing rules. There will be Social Distancing Champions to ensure you stay safe and refreshments available too.

The Apple Fair and Apple Pressing will be run to the Government Guidelines, including facemasks inside the Main Hall. So, please bring along facemasks, some change and of course Apples to press.

It’s time to have some more Village fun.

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21 Prescription pick up service

Ditchling Pharmacy Delivery has resumed but Linda Watson 07478 524152 will help if you need. Newick Pharmacy Monday and Thursday Gina Hawthorne Please DM or text to Plumpton Voluntary 07595 894425 by midday. Lewes Pharmacies - any of them. Driving Scheme Wednesday. Monday-Friday, 9am - 5pm Greg and Lesley Hall 07771 840118 please contact this number or DM To local Drs/ Hospitals/ Chiropodists/ Lesley Hall by 2pm Opticians and Dentists. Burgess Hill Pharmacies - any of them. Bookings tel: Wednesday Please contact Meg Cutts 07807 Jackie: 07855 213 947 766316 by 2pm. Enquires tel: if you need something picked up from Gill: 01273 890055 somewhere not listed please call 07595

894425. If you would like a prescription New Covid-19 advice in place collected you will need to provide the Limited drivers at present but we’ll do appropriate volunteer with the name our best to help. and address for whom the prescription is for.

Your prescriptions will be left on your doorstep. Please dispose of outer wrapping and then thoroughly wash your hands. Plumpton Flower Club Update

Dear Members and Friends,

Thought that I should send you an update during these “unprecedented times” I have been receiving weekly emails from the local NAFAS committee and our current way of meeting is not fit for purpose, so we must look for a new model that will provide members with the security and reassurance you are looking for. I have cancelled September’s meeting and will be reviewing the situation again at the end of the month with the up-to-date government guidelines As soon as we can meet together again in a safe environment I will let you know. Let’s hope it’s not too long!

Best wishes, Frances Gazzard, Programme Secretary

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23 Footpath As the road ascends we accessed a footpath over a style on our left. The path heads Detective’s diagonally up across a field. At the top of the steeper part of the climb is a little bench and Diary: its well worth stopping here and turning to look back at the view south of the Sussex Ouse A Footpath Detective’s Diary valley. The path exits the field at the top of September 2020 Church Road and we turned right from the Exploring Barcombe style and left at the end of the lane to find our next path on our right at Camoys Court Farm. This strange year continues and I’m conscious As we headed north on the path we passed a that it has brought mixed emotions to people field of many goats all of similar appearance, and some of those emotions will be extreme brown and white with floppy ears, but of and hard to bear. In March when our freedoms varying sizes. They trotted across to see us but began to be restricted one of the very regular as they realized we were not going to feed activities that I have done for most of my life them they returned to climbing on a picnic was no longer easily accessible. That was table. swimming. The swimming pools were closed and for me the open water was too cold. As We descended towards a small reservoir of the summer weather developed so did the lovely clean looking water and wondered if this chance to swim. One of the places I have could provide us with a swimming site. The enjoyed swimming for several years is the family enjoying lunch by the water kindly River Ouse at Barcombe Mills. Now please allowed us to walk around it and admire its don’t all rush for your keyboards or pen and development and explained it was to be a paper, please save your efforts. I’m well aware fishing lake. We returned to the footpath to that there is no ‘safe’ inland open water for continue NNE through a meadow and then swimming in the UK, and yes there are risks turned more east across the next field. From associated with run-off from the land, pumping here a strange sight met us. A little up hill and stations, rodents, etc. I assess those risks away from the path is a barn type structure of every time I swim (and so should anyone else) brick and flint but with a large and prominent and so far I’ve not had a problem. Swimming castellated stone frontage. It looks most out of in the river for me is like going for a run or place. With reference to the O/S map I walk along its banks, simply beautiful. Now to determined it was at Banks Farm and a little the point of this rambling, I’ve spent a lot of internet searching reveals that the castellation time in Barcombe this year and explored its was added to the barn in the mid-19 th Century footpaths. and likely designed to be seen from Barcombe Place. The barn has been converted into Taking the Sussex Ouse Valley Way from residential accommodation in the 21 st Century Barcombe Mills we walked west and onto the and is now known as the Folly. road for a short stretch where the now disused railway line would have crossed. I have lived We continued turning right onto Anchor Lane here long enough to recall a tea room that was and then left off it again onto our next path in the old station building and The Angler’s that wiggles its way through a few small fields Rest pub. We noticed as we past the later and around a wood before descending to a (now a dwelling) that there are still two beer bridleway marked on the map as Blunt’s Lane. hand pumps on a bar inside. Barcombe Mills We continued north to White Bridge at Isfield Station (originally Barcombe Station) was on to cross the river and turn south to return to the Wealden Line as is Isfield. The line was Barcombe Mills using the Sussex Ouse Valley opened in 1858, the station was renamed to Way with lovely views of the river and the Barcombe Mills in 1885, when the new wildlife that enjoys it. Barcombe station on the East Grinstead to Lewes line opened, and then closed in 1969 EJH thanks to the Beeching report.

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26 Plumpton & East grow for the summer and clear it in Chiltington Wildlife August or September. Don't mow it all because you have always mown it all, Don ’t mow, let it grow leave a strip under the hedge or a circle around the base of a fruit tree or your Are you a mower or a grower….a Jay garden pond. You never know what Gatsby or a Nick Carraway? In the book, might appear. not mowing his plot causes a rift between the two so annoying that the Scientists have suggested that people do great Gatsby sends his gardener over to not notice plants because they are mow it for him. For some, mowing the stationary and the same colour. This lawn is an important civil responsibility, form of cognitive bias is known as “plant whereas for lawn dissenters it is just a blindness”, an all too human tendency noisy waste of time. That subtle yet not to recognise the importance of plant unmistakable frontier where the closely life to the whole biosphere and human shaved lawn rubs up against a shaggy affairs: a philosophical view of plants as one is a scar on the face of suburbia, an an inferior form of life. Undoubtedly intolerable hint of trouble in paradise. some people do fail to appreciate the unique features or aesthetics of plants Throughout the glorious spring we have and prefer to look at a long strip of bare had this year I watched with complete earth frequently sprayed with Roundup joy the blooming of flowers and or strimmed….or perhaps they just don't maturing grasses on amenity grassland look at all. areas which, pre-Covid, were usually strimmed and mowed by contractors. A survey of Brighton residents found that Verges that are normally just dust by 70% of respondents agreed or “strongly” June due to the unselective whip of the agreed that verges should be cut less nylon strimmer were covered with frequently and that 87% of respondents flowers and, as we should all wanted to be responsible for cutting the understand by now, flowers (weeds) verges with their own tools. Things are mean insects and insects mean birds. A different in a rural parish where some wildflower verge or un-mown patch of stretches of verge can run hundreds of grass in your garden is undoubtedly metres along individual property fronts. better for nature. But whilst it may be But we do have designated wildflower more beautiful to some, it provokes an verges in our community that are equally passionate response in those managed for their plant life by the who like a more Telly Tubby-like district council. If anything, people in the landscape of order and “neatness“. countryside should have as much, or even more, empathy and love for wild There are plenty of areas that need to "untidy" nature and hopefully not always be kept short, for example safety sight the desire to make it look like lines along roadsides or footpaths, or another area of creeping suburbia. areas for playing ball games and having Visit the RSPB website for some helpful picnics on. And it is definitely easier to advice on lawns for find the dog poo if the grass is cut! If wildlife. www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and- you are someone who is lucky enough wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/ to have a lawn or a verge to nurture lawns-for-wildlife/ perhaps think about leaving an area to James Otway

27 Chailey Commons www.chaileycommons.org.uk Following some relaxation in the COVID-19 guidelines, and remembering that social distancing still applies, the Society’s meetings and gatherings are being reviewed to see what we can do for the rest of the year. Thank you to our members for their support and understanding at this time. Provisionally we hope to hold a few meetings to go some way in replacing the published programme.

Firstly, we are planning a get together in the format of a group talk by Claire Ottewell on ‘Nettles and Foraging for Natural Health’. This will be at Townings Farm BN8 4EJ where we have kindly been given covered open space for twelve people to gather and hear the talk. This will be on Sunday 13th September at 14.30 – 16.00. Thank you to Carole Uridge for her help and advice and bookings to 01444 831098.

Secondly, we hope to hold a Late Summer Walk for twelve people on Saturday September 26 th at 14.30 – 16.30. Meeting at Romany Ridge car park, social distancing will apply and bookings to 01444 831098

Thirdly, we hope to replace the indoor talk planned for Thursday October 8 th at 19.30 by an Online Talk through Zoom. Peter Lovett will talk to us about his garden as’ The evolution of a formal garden to a nature reserve’. This will be a new way and will be open for anyone to join in by, nearer the time, contacting 01444 831098 for details of the link.

Finally, for now, the Society has been invited to visit the Chailey Windmill on Sunday October 18 th at 14.30 – 16.30. The logistics of this are still in the planning stage so details on the website. All meetings will be subject to current guidelines and attendees will be asked to register for ‘Track and Trace’ purposes, and to maintain social distancing. For further information, visit our website – www.chaileycommons.org.uk or our Facebook page www.facebook.com/chaileycommons/ William Coleman 01444 831098

Jo Morrison It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that Jo Morrison, a resident in Plumpton for nearly 70 years, passed away on the 17th July aged 93. Jo was determined to remain in her village flat, which she was able to do, until lockdown was enforced in March.

The family would like to express their grateful thanks to all the villagers who cared enough to express their concerns, enquired after Jo and generally watched out for her during her last few years.

What a wonderful caring community Plumpton has so it is little wonder Jo wished to stay in the village she loved. Thank you again. Christine, her niece.

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30 Lewes District Citizens Advice

15 – 19 Chapel Street Southover House 37 Church Street Newhaven Lewes Seaford BN9 9PN BN7 1AB BN25 1HG Contact : Jackie Wilkes 01273 007556 @Lewescab1 www.lewesdistrictcab.org.uk Helpful information about what your responsibilities are after signing up for Universal Credit. When you apply for Universal Credit you agree to a Claimant Commitment with your work coach. This is the record of responsibilities that you accepted in order to receive Universal Credit payments. Your Claimant Commitment will be updated each time you see your work coach. When you agree to your Claimant Commitment you are allocated to one of four work-related activity groups. These set out the tasks you’re expected to complete in order to receive your full benefit payment. Check these online, or you will have been given a paper copy explaining which group you’re in and what tasks you'll have to do regularly, e.g. writing your CV, signing up for job alerts or applying for vacancies. You should keep a record of the tasks you’ve completed and how long they took in your Universal Credit online journal, or in a diary if you’re not online. If you applied for Universal Credit for the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19, you may not have a Claimant Commitment yet. Those who claimed before, will have had their Claimant Commitment suspended during the outbreak and had no work- related requirements imposed. From 1 July The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be calling all claimants to help them to prepare for work, so you should be contacted. The DWP will tailor your work-related requirements to reflect your circumstances e.g. shielding, or have childcare responsibilities because of COVID restrictions.

Citizens Advice Helplines Adviceline call 03444 111 444 . Monday- Friday 9am to 5pm. Email advice www.eastsussexcab.co.uk Chat online to an advisor on our website citizensadvice.org.uk/contact-us . Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 Universal Credit Help to Claim line 0800 1448444.

31 Baby & Toddler Group Charlotte 01273 891086 British Legion Reg Lanaway 890070 Brownies girlguiding.org.uk Chailey Commons Society William Coleman 01444 831923 Cricket Club Kelvin Speirs 890785 Dance Classes for Children Carol Grant 01444 243592 Flower Club Gill Wells 890561 Football Club Ian Earl 891099 Footpath Society Judy Lawrenson 01273 472277 Guides girlguiding.org.uk Happy Circle Cherie Winchester 891592 Haywards Heath Town Ladies Football Club Peter Hickman 01444 257822 Honeybees Preschool 890885 Societies Horticultural Society Ken Beard 890572 Hospice Support Group Sue Akers 891701 Clubs Junior Football Darryl Bailey 07792 686673 Groups Oil Buying Group Diane Marks 07929 336065 Pantomime Society Duncan Taylor-Jones 01273 649259 Plumpton Activity Scheme Pat Duffy 07717 285871 Plumpton Bowmen Andrew Holdsworth 890001 Plumpton Camera Club Tim Honess 01273 890582 Plumpton & East Chiltington Cindy Penny 891273 Good Neighbours Plumpton Rude Mechanical Lee Stevens 07887 562721 Theatre Co. Friends Plumpton Short Mat Bowls Malcolm Beard 890826 Plumpton Tennis Club Gareth Prosser 07801 869316 Plumpton Village Society Lee Stevens 07887 562721 PPTFA Marie Leviston 891497 For changes or new entries: Rainbows girlguiding.org.uk phone: Rugby Club Mike Allen 890076 01273 891427 Scouts Rodney Hill 890410 Email: Southdown East Pony Club Mike Nichols 01444 452295 [email protected] Stoolball Club Jo Taylor 890450 Turning Pointe Dance Classes [email protected] Wildlife Group David Philips 07768 886358

Plumpton & East Chiltington News

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Plumpton & East Chiltington News

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