Sussex Local Magazine - Arundel/Barnham JANUARY 2023

HELLO!

Welcometo2023and hopefullysomerespitefromthe turbulenceofthepastcouple ofyears.

Asisourtradition,theJanuary issuehasalargerhealthand wellbeingfeature.Ifthelast fewyearshavetaughtus anything,it’stheimportanceof lookingafterourownphysical andmentalhealthand wellbeingsowecanalsohelp thosearoundus.Itmaybe coldoutsidebutawalkwith like-mindedpeoplecanbea realtonic.Thereareguided walkstakingplaceinourarea mostdaysandwehavea dedicatedpageoflistings. Beinghomelessiswretchedbut evenmoresointhecolder, darkermonths.Brightoncharity SussexNightspotprovidesa vitalservicehelpingtohouse youngpeoplewithvettedhost familiesintheircommunity. “Gardensarefourdimensional”says horticulturalistAndrewStaib. Findouthowtodesignyour gardenfromtherootsupand makethemostofthespace. Don’tforgetwearehappyto printcharityandcommunity information,newsandevents forfree.

HappyNewYear!

Kris&Jeff

What’s On - January 2023

Event organisers please enter your event details on www.sussexlocal.net/events-add/ We regret that we cannot accept submissions by email. We take the details from our website for the magazine listings which can appear in up to all eight editions distributed to over 54,000 addresses. Charity, community and non-profit events are free of charge (subject to space). Commercial events can be listed from just £25 plus VAT which includes promotion through Facebook & Twitter. Deadline for February events to be put on website - 4th January

BUSINESS

02/01/2023 12:00 PM Sussex Innovation Networking events A series of events launched aimed at local businesses & entrepreneurs. The University of Sussex Business School Brighton BN1 9SN Free. University of Sussex Business School: exteng@sussex.ac.uk

CHARITY

18/01/2023 2:00 PM Friends of the South Downs Zoom Webinar with George Monbiot How can we be effective in the issues facing our environment? Zoom £10 Gill 01798 875073 enquiries@friendsofthesouthdowns.org.uk friendsofthesouthdowns.org.uk/public-events/ 20/02/2023 11:00 AM 'Promise of Snowdrop' at Denmans Gardens Denmans Garden Visit and Talk at Denmans Gardens in Fontwell BN18 0SU Lucy Ashworth 01243 572433 office@snowdroptrust.com

CHILDREN'S EVENTS

1st & 2nd Jan 9:00 AM The Nutcracker Festive Trail in Chichester Follow the trail and discover the names of the 11 Nutcracker Kings guarding the city of Chichester City Centre PO19 1LQ Chichester BID office@chichesterbid.co.uk www.chichesterbid.co.uk/christmas

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

2nd Jan & 6th Feb 8:00 PM Felpham Singles

Social Club Social club for widowed, separated or divorced of mature age. monthly The George Inn Bognor Regis PO22 7PL Free/donations Anne Cook 01243 821530 anniecook555@yahoo.co.uk www.felphamsingles.yolasite.com

5th Jan & 2nd Feb 6:45 PM Comic book club Novels aimed at adults including literary adaptations, biography, history, journalism, travelogue, memoir, politics etc monthly Private house Barnham PO22 0EF Free. Contact Paul Wilson: paulw21erin@gmail.com 7th Jan & 4th Feb 10:30 AM Parkinson's Support Group in Washington Support group for people with Parkinson's and their families Washington Village Memorial Hall RH20 4AP £2 Gillian Chard 01903 746871 gillian.chard@btinternet.com 09/01/2023 7:30 PM Every Monday, and Wednesday and Friday West Chiltington Table Tennis Club West Chiltington Village Hall hosts Table Tennis Club three days of the week West Chiltington Village Hall RH20 2PZ Ron Ladley ronfayeladley@hotmail.co.uk 09/01/2023 7:30 PM Pulborough Meadows WI January 2023 Meeting A friendly, small group who meet every second Monday of the month at Pulborough Village Hall RH20 2BF Mary Walker 07920 326000 mary.walker50@gmail.com 13/01/2023 3:00 PM Rosehill Book Club New members welcomed to this small, friendly club Rosehill Book Club Pulborough RH20 4NL Carol Davison carol953@hotmail.co.uk 18th Jan & 15th Feb 7:30 PM Sullington Windmills WI A friendly group of around 60 ladies, meet monthly on the third Wednesday of each month. Parish Hall Sullington RH20 3PP Erika Brichta erikabrichta@hotmail.co.uk sullingtonwindmills.org/ 19/01/2023 11:00 AM South Downs Probus Club in Findon Monthly Club Lunch for retired gentlemen to make new friends and enjoy trips and events in Storrington area. The Black Horse Findon BN14 0SX Don Johnston 01903 740904 donjohnston@btinternet.com 25/01/2023 2:30 PM Storrington Flower Club Affiliated to NAFAS. Welcome new members and visitors. Sullington Parish Hall RH20 3PP £6 01903 742102 chrissyldesmond@gmail.com

More events on www.sussexlocal.net - please contact event organisers to check for changes

Every Sun (except b/holidays) 11:00 AM West Chiltington Sunday badminton club meets weekly on Sundays from 11AM to 1PM at West Chiltington Village Hall Pulborough RH20 2PZ Vivian Jones vmjones18@hotmail.co.uk

Every Wed 11:30 AM Wednesday Lunch Club Weekly lunch club for the over-55’s with social activities before lunch Pulborough Village Hall RH20 2BF £5 Contact Louise: louisekaiser4807@gmail.com

Every Wed 7:00 PM Worthing Short Mat Bowls Club Short Mat Bowls Club in Worthing play every Wednesday St. Andrews School Worthing BN14 8BG Contact Betty Potts: bobetty_highsalvington@yahoo.co.uk worthingshortmatbowls.weebly.com

Every Thurs 10:30 Thakeham Table Tennis Club playing for fun and exercise with coaching available. Thakeham Village Hall RH20 3GP andytttc@gmail.com thakehamtabletennis.co.uk

COURSES

11/01/2023 and weekly for 10 weeks 2:00 PM "Judge and Jury" WEA Course in Billingshurst Study the people, issues and outcomes of 10 famous trials Billingshurst Community & Conference Centre RH14 9QW £100 for 10 sessions (benefit claimants 2 hours free) David 0300 303 3464 david@daviddaley.plus.com

COURSES & TUITION

9th, 16th, 23 & 30th Jan and 6th & 13th Feb 10:00 AM WEA class in Chichester - Hearth and Home: Sussex Vernacular Buildings 5 sessions on history of housing locally New Park Community and Arts Centre Chichester PO19 7XY £50 (income related benefit concession) WEA 0300 303 3464 www.wea.org.uk/ chichester.branch@wea.ac.uk

28/01/2023 9:30 AM Birding for absolute beginners at Pulborough Brooks Get to grips with birding on this absolute beginner course RSPB Pulborough Brooks RH20 2EL £20.50 for members and £25.50 for Non-members Lydia Fletcher lydia.fletcher@rspb.co.uk 01798 875851 events.rspb.org.uk/pulboroughbrooks

03/02/2023 9:30 AM Birding for beginnersWinter Wetlands at Pulborough Brooks Learn more about winter visitors at RSPB Pulborough Brooks RH20 2EL £20.50 for members and £25.50 for Non-members Lydia Fletcher 01798 875851 lydia.fletcher@rspb.co.uk events.rspb.org.uk/pulboroughbrooks

EXHIBITION

18/02/2023 2:30 PM 'Snowdrops - where you least expect them' exhibition in Fontwell Garden Visit and Photography Exhibition Denmans Gardens Fontwell BN18 0SU Lucy Ashworth 01243 572433 office@snowdroptrust.com

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

Last day - 1st Jan 2:00 PM 'Beauty and the Beast' pantomime at The Regis Centre It's Panto time again, with 'Beauty & the Beast'. Alexandra Theatre, Regis Centre PO21 1BN £18.50£20.50 £17 - £19 under 16's Hazel Latus 01243 867676 hazel.latus@regiscentre.co.uk www.alexandratheatre.co.uk

1st & 2nd Jan 10:30 AM Tree-Mendous Christmas Explore Petworth House to see Christmas trees taking centre stage this season. daily Petworth House and Park Petworth GU28 9LR Petworth Property Office 01798 342207 petworth@nationaltrust.org.uk nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth 25/02/2023 2:30 PM Ministry of Science Live! Science Saved the World Join presenters as they dive into the world of science and look at how science shapes our modern world Worthing Pavilion Theatre BN11 3PX £17.50 01903 206206 boxoffice@wtm.uk wtm.uk/events/ ministry-of-science-livescience-saved-the-world

FILM

11/01/2023 7:30 PM

Storrington Rotary Film Night - Phantom of the Open Starring Mark

Rylance Tickets £5 from Card Shop Bar + Raffle Info Ken 01903 740745 Sullington Village Hall Storrington RH20 3PP £5 Info - Ken Collins: 01903 740745 kandjcoll@btinternet.com 16/01/2023 7:30 PM Pulborough Film Night Mrs Harris Goes To Paris is a 2022 Drama/ Comedy 1h 56m Pulborough Village Hall RH20 2BF £7 Terri: 07711 470635 terriashpool@uwclub.net

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ARDENS & HORTICULTURE

1st Jan (Last day) - 4:30 PM Glow Wild at Wakehurst The enchanting winter lantern trail is back at Wakehurst, Kew's wild botanic garden, Haywards Heath RH17 6TN From £14 (Adult Kew/Wakehurst Member) From £11 (Child). Under 4's go free. Wakehurst glowwild@kew.org www.kew.org/wakehurst

HEALTH & FITNESS

28/01/2023

8:30 AM Bluecoat Sports Open Day in Horsham Kickstart the New Year at this Open Day. All activities on offer will be free to everybody!

Bluecoat Sports Health & Fitness Club Horsham RH13 0YB Free. Bluecoat Sports Health & Fitness Club 01403 247572 info@bluecoatsports.co.uk www.bluecoatsports.co.uk/

HORSERACING

02/01/2023 10:15 AM Sussex National Raceday at Plumpton Racecourse Enjoy the historic Sussex National. 7 races, music, food & drink, under 18s free! Plumpton Racecourse Ltd Lewes BN7 3AL £17 01273 890383 racing@plumptonracecourse.co.uk www.plumptonracecourse.co.uk/events/ goodwin-racing-sussex-national-raceday/ 18/01/2023 11:15 AM January Jumps Raceday at Plumpton Racecourse Come along to Plumpton Racecourse to enjoy six races Plumpton Racecourse Lewes BN7 3AL £16 Free for under 18s racing@plumptonracecourse.co.uk www.plumptonracecourse.co.uk/events/januaryjumps-raceday/ 01273 890383

MUSIC

07/01/2023 7:00 PM Mozart Symphony No. 41 Lewes Music Group Orchestra and Lewes Singers present Vivaldi - Gloria, MozartSymphony No. 41 All Saints Centre Lewes BN7 2LE £15 Child: £8. lewesmusicgroup.com Daniel: admin@lewesmusicgroup.com

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09/01/2023 8:00 PM Fernhurst Choral Society

Weekly rehearsals leading to concerts in March and May. Fernhurst Village Hall GU27 3EH See website for prices Nigel 07485 145141 or Tina 01730 816542 fernhurstchoral@gmail.com www.fernhurstchoralsociety.org.uk/ 19/01/2023 7:30 PM Dixieland/Trad Jazz in Lancing Evening of Dixieland and Traditional Jazz with the Featherstone Jazz Four. DRNK Coffee House, Lancing Manor Leisure Estate Lancing BN15 0PH Free. Derek Little 01903 249900 dglittle@ntlworld.com

SALES & MARKETS

28/01/2023 9:00 AM Pulborough Farmers

Market Eggs, bread, home made cakes, crafts. Plus popular cafe with full English breakfast, teas & coffee Pulborough Village Hall Pulborough RH20 2BF Terri Ashpool 07711 470635 terriashpool@uwclub.net

21st Jan & 18th Feb 9:00 AM Arundel Farmers Market 3rd Saturday of every month - local growers, bakers, meat, poultry, flowers, plants and food and drink makers. Arundel BN18 9AA www.arundelfarmersmarket.co.uk

04/02/2023 9:30 AM Cheeki Monkeys Big Baby & Children market Buy or sell quality, gently used babies' and children’s toys, clothes and equipment. The Shoreham centre Shoreham-By-Sea BN43 5WU £1.50 Delphine delphine.cheekimonkeys@gmail.com www.facebook.com/Cheeki-Monkeys-BrightonBN2-and-Shoreham-by-Sea-107135655022217

SOCIAL & ENTERTAINMENT

18/02/2023 7:30 PM Eastergate Motown and Northern Soul Evening Evening of Motown and Northern Soul, all played on pure vinyl. Great dancefloor and free parking Eastergate Village Hall PO20 3RP £5 Tony Cassini 07718 415620 di_cassini@hotmail.com fb.me/e/5RsMT1F5O

TALKS

06/01/2023 2:30 PM Weather Lore - Fact or Fiction? talk in Storrington How reliable are weather sayings such as ‘cows lying down mean rain imminent’ or ‘red sky at night? Storrington Museum RH20 4LL £8 / £6 members 01903 740188 storringtonmuseum@hotmail.com storringtonmuseum.com/

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09/01/2023 10:00 AM The Arts Society, Steyning Cubism Explained by Steven Barrett The Steyning Centre BN44 3XZ Free to members, £10 donation for visitors. The Chairman steyning@theartssociety.org www.theartssocietysteyning.org.uk

09/01/2023

7:15 PM 'The Red Arrows' in Chichester

A talk about 'The Red Arrows' with Lt. Stuart Roberts at Chichester Park Hotel in Westhampnett, PO19 7QL £8 David Batcock 07502 400657 david.airaces@hotmail.com

11/01/2023 10:00 AM How to start your family tree This is one of a series of workshops to get you started with your family and local history research. West Sussex Record Office Chichester PO19 1DD £7.50 / £6.50 for members of West Sussex Archives Society Matthew Jones: 01243 753602 record.office@westsussex.gov.uk www.westsussex.gov.uk/ro

17/01/2023 2:00 PM The Sinking of the Laconia Talk in Midhurst Talk by Jeremy Prescott and social event. Midhurst Methodist Church Hall Midhurst GU29 9DU £2 members, £3 visitors thinking of joining Midhurst u3a midhurstu3a@gmail.com midhurstu3a.org.uk 23/01/2023 7:15 PM 'A Day at the Antiques Roadshow' & 'About Military Medals' in Chichester Mark Smith - the BBC TV Antiques Roadshow 'medals & militaria' presenter, coming to Chichester. Chichester Park Hotel PO19 7QL £8 David Batcock 07502 400657 david.airaces@hotmail.com

01/02/2023 10:00 AM Researching the history of your house This is one of a series of workshops to get you started with your family and local history research. West Sussex Record Office Chichester PO19 1DD £7.50 / £6.50 for members of West Sussex Archives Society Matthew Jones 01243 753602 record.office@westsussex.gov.uk www.westsussex.gov.uk/ro

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28/02/2023

7:00 PM The Pallants: Chichester's Town within the City Join local historian Alan Green for this fascinating talk, hosted by West Sussex Record Office West Sussex Record Office Chichester PO19 1DD £8 / £5 to attend online Matthew Jones 01243 753602 record.office@westsussex.gov.uk

THEATRE

10/01/2023 2:00 PM The 2 O’clock Club

The Reunion Band ‘Fun Filled Folk’ Performing a wide range of great songs and tunes people can easily recognise, drawn from English and Irish folk traditions. “Just Let Yourself Go”. Alexandra Theatre Regis Centre PO21 1BL £6 / Friends of the Theatre £4.50 01243 861010 info@regiscentre.co.uk alexandratheatre.co.uk/ events/the-regis-2-oclock-club/2023-01-10 19th – 21st Jan 7.30pm

Marvellous Musicals

This romp through Musical Theatre moments includes selections from Legally Blonde, Six, Jesus Chris Superstar, Sister Act and more Alexandra Theatre Regis Centre PO21 1BL Adult: £17 / Child: £8 info@regiscentre.co.uk 01243 861010 alexandratheatre.co.uk/events

WALKS

21/01/2023 7:00 AM Dawn of the Ducks at Pulborough Brooks – wildlife watching walk with breakfast Join them at dawn and watch the brooks come alive with waders, ducks and geese. RSPB Pulborough Brooks RH20 2EL £20.50 for members and £25.50 for Nonmembers Lydia Fletcher 01798 875851 lydia.fletcher@rspb.co.uk events.rspb.org.uk/ pulboroughbrooks

YOGA

Every Mon

varied session times Wellness

Yoga Classes focus on mindful movement paired with awareness of mind body and breath. New Classes at Bury Village Hall Mondays Slow Flow 11.15-12.15 & Chair Yoga 12.30-1.30. Slow flow also in Southwater Mondays 9-10am & Wednesdays 6-7pm,7.308.30pm. email to book or for further info wellnessyoga332@gmail.com

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ABBA Forever

One of the UK’s leading international tribute shows

and gently humorous show. The wonderful lyrics penned by Benny and Bjorn are sung in beautiful harmony by all performers on stage.

Dynamic non-stop choreography, stunning visuals, top class musicianship.

Win a pair of tickets to see Abba Forever at the Alexandra Theatre, Regis Centre on the 17th March 2023 at 7.30pm. For more information visit www.alexandratheatre.co.uk

Abba Forever is one of the UK’s leading international tribute shows and theatre audiences from across Great Britain and Sweden have long enjoyed this superb recreation of possibly the world‘s greatest pop group.

The unique Abba sound is replicated with an incredible attention to detail by this seven-piece band featuring electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards and piano, bass, and drums. Two outstanding Abba girls complete the line-up, adding the essential glitz and glamour to a well-polished

Sussex Walks - January 2023

Please note that any walks with duration of 90 minutes or more are not accredited by The Ramblers but are managed by Chichester District Council. Please arrive 10 minutes before the start of the walk, the walk will leave on time. These walks are led by volunteers and if the weather is poor the walk may be cancelled.

IMPORTANT: You must pre-book the 90 min + walks on the Chichester District Council Website or call 01243 521041 www.chichester.gov.uk/heartsmart

Sun 1st 10.30am Binsted woods

L: Dominic 2 hrs 3 miles Gentle Pace. Mainly flat headland path, grass, gravel Meet: Walberton Village Hall car park, The Street, Walberton, Arundel, BN18 0PQ

Every Mon 10.30am Chichester Canal

L: Sarah 30mins 1 mile A flat walk at a gentle pace, suitable for beginners. Meet: Chichester Canal, Basin Road, Chichester PO19 8DT

Tues 3rd 10.30am Tangmere

L: Peter 2 hrs 3 miles Flat walk via Aviation Museum to Tangmere C12th Church with WWII memories and the old airfield Meet: In Oving park roadside on Church Lane and meet outside the church

Wed 4th 10.30am Slindon

L: Alison 3 hrs 6 miles

A longer strenuous walk to the folly and through Slindon Woods, with some steep gradients Meet: National Trust Car Park at Park Lane, Slindon BN18 0QY

Wed 11th 10.30am Eartham Woods

L: Alison 2.5 hrs 5.5 miles A walk through Eartham Woods, coming back along Stane Street. No stiles Meet: Forestry Commission Car Park, Eartham

Thurs 12th 10.30am Chichester Marina

A linear, flat, coastal walk with some lovely sea views Meet: Chichester Marina Public Car Park

L: Jane 3 hrs 7.5 miles

L: Gerald 1.5 hrs 3 miles Discover the history and see one of the oldest deer herds in the country Meet: The Horse Guards Inn, Upperton Road, Tillington, GU28 9AF

Fri 13th 10.30am Petworth Park

Sun 15th 10.30am Mill Road to Black Rabbit

L: Dominic 1 hrs 2.4 miles

A flat riverside walk, 1 stile. Mill Road car park to Offham, return via Black Rabbit Meet: Mill Road car park by the river in town centre (charge) BN18 9AA

Mon 16th 1pm Benbow Pond & Cowdray

L: Sandy 2.5 hrs 5.25 miles This outstanding walk through archetypal Sussex countryside has scenic rolling parkland, quiet drove roads, forestry tracks, wildlife & wonderful views. One stile. No dogs on this walk please Meet: Benbow Pond Car Park

Fri 20th Jan 10.30am West Marden

L: Jane 2.5 hrs 5 miles

A pleasant walk with some hills and stiles through woodland and open countryside. Sorry no dogs Meet: West Marden on the corner of Noredown Way

Thurs 26th 10.30am Singleton and Levin Down

L: Bruce 1 hr 45 3.5 miles Ascent 150m. An invigorating climb to the top of Levin Down Meet: Outside Singleton School. (Nearby postcode PO18 0HP)

Mon 30th 10.30am Centurion Way, Brandy Hole

L: Ian 1 hr 15 mins 3.5 miles A gentle walk to the NW quadrant of the City Walls Meet: The western end of Westgate, near Bishop Luffa School Bus turning circle

Mon 30th 1pm Eartham Woods

L: Sandy 2.5 hrs 6 miles Climb upwards through Eartham Wood through indigenous woodland to the highest point of Upwaltham Hill and return via Great Down. Great views to be had. No dogs on this walk

Meet: Free Forestry Commission Car Park, Eartham Wood, PO18 0LU

Easy ways to create a calorie deficit

In November’s issue, I discussed factors which can influence the energy our bodies use, and we can make many of the factors work in your favour! I am going to give you action points. By increasing the energy our body needs to stand still, and decreasing the energy we take in without starving ourselves, we can make losing weight a bit easier. There are two sides to a calorie deficit. The calories we eat and the ones we use. Let’s look at both.

Ways to increase the calories our body uses

- Increasing Exercise

Exercise burns calories, either a structured workout or using the stairs, parking further away or getting up from your chair more often. It’s not always a case of ‘the harder the better’.

- Increasing Muscle

This will increase your daily energy requirement and help create a natural calorie deficit.

- Eat More Protein

Protein needs energy to be digested, by replacing some calories with protein calories, you're creating

an extra calorie deficit without reducing intake. Ways to decrease the calories we eat

- Increasing Fibre

Filling up with low calorie vegetables is a great way to feel satisfied with fewer calories, not to mention that being topped up on nutrients reduces food cravings too.

- Eat More Protein

Eating enough protein will help you reduce your caloric intake naturally.

- Eat Slowly

It takes time for the ‘I’m full’ signal to be created, and the faster you eat, the easier it is to go beyond what your body needs.

- Look after your Lifestyle

Work on your sleep quality and duration, and learn how to manage stress, in order to reduce food cravings and hormonal fluctuations. www.fitbiztraining.co.uk

Health and wellbeing benefits of gardens

How a garden benefits physical and mental health Studies show spending time in a garden can reduce blood pressure and the stress hormone cortisol.

In winter time, walking around a garden can give you a sense of peace. In Spring, the first sight of developing buds and bulbs can fill you with anticipation and joy. Gardens provide space for a break from the stress of everyday life, trees, plants, bird songs and water are easy on the senses and can bring stress levels down.

Gardens enable you to be more active. Being more active is associated with better physical and mental health, including reduced risks of cancer, heart disease and depression.

Gardens provide socialising and relationship building opportunities with neighbours. Opening your garden for the NGS is a great way to show off your hard work and make new friends.

Visiting an NGS open garden in 2023

Not everyone has a garden. However, visiting someone else’s can provide all these benefits. A garden visit can lift spirits and help you feel connected. Volunteering at an allotment or community garden can also provide that sense of wellbeing. In 2023 you can find links to all the NGS gardens opening in West Sussex on the Sussex Local Website, starting with Snowdrop Gardens in January. Some local gardens will also be featured in Sussex Local Magazines.

Raising funds for charity and community

Founded in 1927 by the Queen’s Nursing Institute to raise funds for community nursing. Every ticket bought, garden visited and cake/cup of tea savoured translates into millions of pounds in donations to nursing and health charities, garden charities and community projects. For more information on the NGS and gardening benefits, visit ngs.org.uk. You can also pick up a free copy of the Sussex National Garden Scheme Booklet from local outlets from February.

In Your Garden

Monthly gardening ideas & tasks

Four Dimensional Design for your garden

A garden has many more dimensions than we could possibly fathom. We are finding out more and more about the intricate communication systems trees have developed with their roots to other trees, seeds that make the ground infertile for other rival plants, colonies of insects with complex social systems, fungi that transform debris in different ways. Our gardens are little microcosms that exhibit all these details and more. Time is an extra dimension - how plants will perform over time, what plants will die out after a few years, which ones need to seed each year to keep the species alive, what pruning is needed for particular types of trees knowing the way in which they grow and how you want them to look. We are involved in a shifting, flowing 4-D sculpture. If you take a walk in nature you will realise that plant life tries to occupy all the different layers of space. From tall trees to a canopy of small trees underneath, to shrubs then ground cover, bulbs and climbers. Different plants survive on different levels depending on their light requirements and due to other factors such as wind, soil stability and ability to grow next to different species. The result is powerful and achieves a complexity that most urban gardens lack.

Of course in many ways gardens are simplifications of nature, bringing out the essential elements whilst allowing for more functional human spaces as well as ease of maintenance.Yet it is possible to bring some of that rich ‘wovenness’ into the smallest of gardens and the results will give you a deeper satisfaction and more four dimensional beauty. So if there are gaps in your beds or just one or two layers going on compared with the eight I have mentioned below, you can notice what is missing and plan to enrich your layering for next year!

Trees

Choose your trees carefully. Often I arrive at a client’s garden and there is either one massive tree that dominates the rest of the garden space

or there is a lack of trees. People sometimes assume that planting trees will create too much shade but if your garden is small/medium, well positioned trees with a delicate and spacious leaf and branch character can create a canopy that will give your garden a sense of height, enclosure and intimacy.

Some trees for the smaller gardens are Amelenchier lamarki, Weeping Birch, Malus, Sorbus, Viburnum Tinus, Cercis, Albezia and Rhus. All of these trees will give your garden a lovely sense of breadth without a tree surgeon being called in every year.

Taller Shrubs

We will be looking at shrub combination in a future article, but one can start thinking of shrubs in a more complex way.

Underneath the tree layer one can plant a layer which I call Tall Shrubs. These plants can contribute lots of height when needed but can also be pruned severely each year depending on the plan you have for the shapes in your garden. Some of them can be also be developed as multi stemmed plants.

Some are Sambucus ‘Sutherland’s Gold’ and Sambucus ‘Black Lace’, Philadelphus, Forsythia, some of the taller Cornus, Ceanothus, Fatsia, most of the the Pittisporums and the different types of Laurel.

They are the aesthetic bridge between taller trees and the rest of the garden creating a more natural context for the smaller perennial beds and lawn.

Smaller Shrubs

Smaller shrubs can then be chosen that will tend to give longer periods of colour and fit snuggly under the ‘umbrellas’ of the taller trees and shrubs. Some interesting shrubs are: Rosa rugosa, Teucrium fruticans, Japanese Quince, most of the Hebes, Hydrangeas, Cistis, Pittisporum ‘Tom Thumb’ and the Choysia range. Lavatera ‘Barsley Baby’, Mahonia Soft Caress, the smaller Phormiums and variegated Euonymous.

Ground Cover

Ground cover can be used as the ‘glue’ that holds all the different layers together. Not only can you plant these in large ribbons and drifts to give your border a sense of flow and unity but they solve the practical job of suppressing the weeds whilst the trees are establishing themselves.

Some tried and tested ground covers that I like are the smaller height Geraniums, Sedums, Chaerophyllum ‘Roseum’, White Bay Willow Herb and Persicaria. Grasses can also be used here, with dotted planting of Pennesetum Fairy Tails.

Smaller Ground Cover

The smaller ground covers tend to be at the front of borders where they won’t be swamped by the

bigger plants. Some nice examples are: Pachysandra, Ajuga, Brunnera, Galium odoratum, Epimedium, Bergenias, Lilly of the Valley and Periwinkle.

Climbers

It is surprising how many gardens I visit and see unsightly spaces that a well chosen climber could easily transform.

Climbers hide fences, can shoot up trees like rambling roses or drop languidly down from shed roofs or pergolas. They are a first choice for many an unsightly wall or tool shed and with their exuberant need to spread out can give your garden a new dimension of space.

More unusual climbers are Akebia, Campsis, Berberidopsis coralline and Solanum.

Bulbs

The bulb range is enormous. Some come out before the trees have come into leaf to grab the early sunlight when they can, others push through other plant life tenaciously. As I have written in previous articles plan your bulbs with the months of the year in mind and you can have bright splashes of colour almost all year.

I would like to include another dimension to designing you garden with layers - and that is what is called ‘Window Plants’ . These are plants that even though some are quite tall they can be planted in the middle or even the front of a bed and you can see through their spacious foliage to other plants.

Examples of these - and please look them up as they have a great ethereal feeling, are Sanguisorba ‘ Pink Elephant’, Dierama, Qaura, Molinia Tranparent and Molinia ‘Karl Foestar’, Allium Sphaerocephalon and the more commonly known Verbena Bonsariensis and Stips gigantia.

See what is performing well and see where you can add extra depth.

January tasks

• Start to force your Rhubarb by placing as big a pot as you can find over the heads.

• Sow in your greenhouse all sorts of vegetables ready to be transplanted in Spring into your plot.

• The biggest jobs are the pruning of deciduous plants like Roses, Wysteria and fruit trees.

• The best place to go to learn proper pruning methods is a professional gardener, the RHS Pruning Manuel or Youtube! If you type in “Pruning a small apple tree” you will get all sorts of well meaning gardeners showing you what they do. Choose to listen to an expert though there are different options. Try RHS first. Also make sure the apple tree looks like your one as there are different types.

A garage full of opportunity

After the entire family has taken up every inch of space during the festive period, Christmas seems a distant memory. In hindsight one extra room with all the trimmings would have been ideal. Life has changed, we’re at home more than ever before. But the idea on an extension could just be a step too far when you consider the national crisis about soaring utility bills and thermostat rationing. This is when your garage might just provide the cost-effective solution to adding an extra bedroom, office or whatever you need. Let’s face it, we store a lot of junk in garages! And most would struggle to home a motorbike let alone a modern-day family car! They’re a convenient place for all bits and pieces for the ‘tomorrow’ that never comes. But, hidden within those three walls, lies a huge opportunity to expand your living area and create a transformative improvement to your property.

In most cases, garages already have the fundamental requirements to extend into but it’s important to know that there are far more details

than you might think when embarking on a conversion. Whilst planning permission isn’t usually required, it’s imperative that building regulations are met with regards to ventilation, fire safety, thermal performance and structural elements. Most garage conversions are straight forward but it’s not unusual for projects to turn complex when work gets underway, and the layers are stripped back to reveal what surprises are in stall to ruin your day. Our advice: instruct an architect or builder you can trust to – at the very leastassess your garage before starting the project. It may stop that swear jar from overflowing!

Unsurprisingly, demand for conversions is at an all-time high - they’re a brilliant way of transforming your home. They don’t encroach on our valued gardens, they cause minimum disruption as far as building work goes and they boost the value of your home. This is why they’ve become one of the most popular ways to gain space.

www.robertsmillerredshaw.com

Lifetime Mortgages

Freeing up wealth tied up in your home

You may have heard Equity Release or Lifetime Mortgages mentioned more frequently recently. They can offer many benefits in later life and something you may not have considered before. A lifetime mortgage is a loan secured against your property and doesn’t need to be repaid until you go into long-term care or on the event of your death. Lifetime mortgages free up wealth tied up in your home and you can continue living in it.

There is a variety of reasons we’ve seen enquiries increase; it could help purchase a holiday hideaway, provide home deposits for family, replacing lost income when retiring and a range of other needs. But the primary reason appears to be the amount of wealth tied up in a property.

How do Lifetime Mortgages work?

Lifetime Mortgages are a form of equity release. They enable you to borrow money secured against your property, but the property must be your main residence whilst retaining ownership of it.

In some circumstances, there might not be enough money left from the property sale to repay the mortgage, which could leave beneficiaries having to repay extra above the home’s value. Equity Release Council lenders offer no negative equity guarantee which ensures your beneficiaries never have to pay back more than your home’s value. Depending on the lender and the mortgage product, you can ring-fence part of the value of the property as an inheritance for your beneficiaries.

Different types of Lifetime Mortgages

The two primary types of lifetime mortgages:

• Interest roll-up mortgage

• Interest-paying mortgage

It’s important to understand the difference in these Lifetime Mortgages before applying. Ensure any discussions about later life finance schemes are provided by an FCA regulated adviser.

About Mortgages Ltd specialise in mortgages, lifetime mortgages, financial protection contact: 01403 283928 / www.aboutmortgages.co.uk

Tell us what matters to you and we’ll listen. We want to know how we can make a difference when selling your home. We’ll bring opinions and ideas on top of solid advice, and we’ll provide friendly support alongside professional services. We’ve been here before and you can count on us to get results – we’ve proven it for over thirty years.

They’re all saying it’s a gloomy property market, but we’re positive we can help.

Yet more historic Arundel snippets

During my research into the history of the town and people of Arundel, I often come across interesting snippets that I note down and put to one side, planning to go back to them in the near future, but rarely find the time to do so. I am sharing some of these with you today in the hope you too will find them interesting peeks into the past.

In 1902, to ensure the view from Arundel castle was preserved, the Duke of Norfolk paid Arundel Borough Council £31,000 to purchase the area of farmland along Mill Road known as the Burgesses Brooks. This deal included handing over to the Council forty-eight acres of land for the building of housing. The housing in Torton Hill, Canada Road, Jarvis Road and Pearson Road was later built on this land.

From a news clipping dated April 1838 – The distribution of a large quantity of coal to the poor of this parish is now going on and will be continued weekly throughout the winter months. Fifty pairs of good warm blankets have also been distributed among the indigent. Both gifts being given by the respected MP, Lord Fitzalan.

Contrary to the popular myth that part of Maltravers Street was ‘levelled’ after Queen Victoria’s coach struggled with the incline during her 1846 visit to the town; there is no mention of this in any of the many news articles, reports or in Victoria’s own diary. Work to level the slope of the hill was carried out a year or two later but any connection to Victoria’s visit was purely coincidental.

In 1862 – There were 22 Public Houses in Arundel including the following that no longer exist, The Bakers Arms, The Hare & Hounds, The Hart in Hand, The Mount Pleasant, The White Horse, The Newburgh Arms, The Chestnut, The Queens Arms, The Old Ship, The Jolly Sailor, The Bridge Hotel, The Wheatsheaf, The General Abercrombie, The Ship & Lighter and The Victory.

On August 4, 1835, an auction took place at the Arundel Custom House selling the following that had been seized from smugglers: 400 Gallons of Brandy and 116 Gallons of Geneva (Dutch Gin).

In the first half of the 17th century, Thomas Heyney, Arundel’s ‘scandalous’ Anglican vicar, was expelled from his position for ‘… drinking, revelling and neglect of his duties.’ He was found guilty of ‘…having a church in disarray with the chapel and chancel locked and disused and an altar carelessly set up in an aisle.’ He would seldom preach ’… unless it be for special reward,’ and his philosophy towards his flock was ‘… to make them glad with one sermon a month.’ He was also accused of using his position to appoint ‘…scandalous persons to be placed for schoolmasters to corrupt the youth.’

A news clipping from the late 1900s refers to local ironmonger Charles Penfold boring an artesian well in South Marshes, now Fitzalan Road. The drilling was ‘…extremely interesting from the variety of soils it passed through and its great depth. An oak tree was perforated by the augur at over 80 feet below the surface where various fossils and curious deposits were encountered.’

I would like to conclude this month with a few interesting/bizarre extracts from the Arundel Police Occurrence book from 1876-1887:

PC Warner impounded a donkey straying on the highway at the Causeway.

Mr Atfield’s house blown to pieces by gas at 7.30am.

Sent PC Warner home at 12.20am for being drunk.

Three fowls stolen from Mr Mashall’s, Green Road. Head of one fowl left behind.

A parcel was sent to Mrs Mitchell of Maltravers Street containing a dead child.

Took three sailors into custody for disobedience of orders.

Mr Constable’s men were emptying the Red Lion dung hole at dinner time. I ordered them to leave off as the smell was so bad.

The Mayor locked up a man walking in the streets naked.

Yapton Village Pound & Green

Most villages in England by the end of the Medieval period (13th to 15th c ) had a ‘Village Pound’. The word ‘pound’ being of Saxon origin and meaning an enclosure. Its main use was to hold stray farm animals such as cattle, goats, pigs and sheep for up to three weeks or until the owners claimed them. Yapton was no exception. According to the Victoria County History, a Pound was constructed in Yapton c.1842 but was moved to a new site 10 years later. The Ordinance Survey map of 1897 indicates a half-acre plot of land called the Pound which was situated in the corner of Berrea Court estate, on Church Road next to the entrance of the Twitten, a walled footpath connecting Church Road to North End Road. There was normally a fee to pay by the owner of the strays to the landowner on whose property they were found to cover any damaged caused, also to the ‘pound-keeper’ for feeding and watering the animals while impounded. The usual practice for payment was for the landowner to take a stick or piece of wood and notch it a number of times equivalent to the number of animals in question. He would then split the stick down the middle, keeping one half and giving the other half to the pound-keeper. The owner of the animals would pay the landowner his dues and receive in return the half stick which he would take to the pound-keeper. If the half sticks matched, the keeper would release the animals after receiving the cost of their keep. The general rule was that if the animals were not claimed after three weeks they were taken to market and sold. The proceeds being used to settle the fees.

To date research has not revealed when the Pound ceased to be used for its original purpose. What is known is that the half-acre piece of land in question was being offered for sale at the Norfolk Arms, Arundel in 1867. The Ordinance Survey map of 1876 shows two houses having been built on the site. Today they are called East and West Pound Cottages. During a conversation with Jim Diggance shortly before he passed away in 1994, the subject of the Pound and the area of grass between it and Church Road cropped up. Being a member of the Diggance family, well known in the village as the Postmasters, he was passionately interested in the history of the village. He informed me that the area of grass was all that remained of the old village green, a fact that I have not been able to confirm. This area is highlighted on the 1876 O.S. map and remnants of it can still be seen albeit greatly reduced in size.

In recent years the house named ‘Rumford’, was built in the corner of Berrea Court, the drive of which cut through the green and the site of the Pound. Part of the wall still exists and can be seen from the Twitten opposite to West Pound Cottage.

If any reader can add to my knowledge regarding this area, I would be very interested to hear from you.

To contact Allen Misselbrook on a local history matter please email: allen@yaptonhistory.org.uk

Storing your Classic Car this Winter

7 Tips from Toyota Master Technician Graham Bothamley

With rain lashing down and gales blowing Britain’s classic car owners are putting their cherished vehicles away for winter; but what are the pitfalls to avoid which can lead to heartbreak and big bills when you come to retrieve it next Spring?

Graham Bothamley has more than a hundred Toyota and Lexus vehicles in his care, from 1960s examples to new cars just delivered. Here are Graham’s top tips:

1. Put your car up on axle stands if possible, it really helps to keep it off the ground, especially to protect your tyres. If this isn’t possible pump your tyres up to the highest safe level you can.

2. Fit a “trickle charger” to the battery, ideally one which conditions as well as charges.

3. Clean your vehicle inside and out before storing, using a good-quality wax on the exterior. Invest in a car cover, ideally a breathable one.

4. Ensure the hand brake is left off. If the handbrake is applied the mechanism can seize during storage. However, it’s vital to make sure that the wheels are firmly “chocked” if you’re not using axle stands so that car doesn’t move.

5. Leave your windows slightly open to prevent condensation which can damage upholstery and other surfaces, and allow mould to breed. Remember to remove anything in the vehicle which could rot or cause smells.

6. Ensure the vehicle’s antifreeze level is at the recommended maximum – enough to prevent engine freezing.

7. Finally, consider placing a humane rodent trap close to the vehicle and check it every few days. It’s amazing how much damage one little mouse can cause if it decides to build a nest in your engine or wheel arches and feast on your wiring!

Arundel C of E Primary School

London visits, British Museum & The Gillian Lynne Theatre

Happy New Year to everyone. Here is a tiny snipping of the things we have been doing at ACE recently.

London visits London is one of the best locations for school trips. During our most recent visits to London, our ACE pupils were able to witness culture from around the world, as well as see one of the greatest stories ever told and visit a place which hosts some of the most significant artefacts which can be found on this planet!

Year 3 visit

Peter David Eaton is the fourth and current bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida and we met him at the British Museum. He loved our children and said they were easily the best group in the museum in terms of their behaviour, questions and general manners. There are 2 ways to study history. Children can memorise facts from textbooks or can visit the

many history museums. We believe history should be taught through a hands-on approach. The children loved the opportunity to find out about the Egyptians in particular, ready for their next unit of work in history. We learnt about mummification right through to the power and impact of the pharaoh dynasty.

Year 5 Visit

Year 5 had the amazing opportunity of going to The Gillian Lynne Theatre in Covent Garden, London, by train and underground, to watch The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. They clearly showed a "oneness". They were impeccably behaved from start to finish. It was an experience that will last a lifetime. www.arundelchurchofenglandschool.org.uk

Amberley C of E Primary School

Class trips & Nativity

November flew by with some very special trips taking place and December was full of Advent, Christingle and Christmas joy; here are a few highlights of what was a wonderful half Off to the Tower!

As part of their learning in English and History, Oak Class visited the Tower of London during November. The day was a wonderful adventure with the children experiencing going to London on the train, seeing the sights of London as we walked along the Thames Path and, at the Tower itself, seeing the Crown Jewels and visiting the famous White Tower. There were many steps! It was brilliant day, enjoyed by all!

Battle Abbey

Oak Class were not the only class out and about in November – Maple Class visited the beautiful Battle Abbey as part

of their learning about 1066 and the Battle of Hastings. On a very rainy day, the class braved the elements to see this historic site where William the Conqueror overcame Harold to become King. Although quite a long journey, the children all had a wonderful time!

Nativity loveliness

Nothing epitomises Christmas in a school more than the Nativity play! Willow and Maple Classes performed ‘The Nativity’ in December singing all the songs with gusto! The children looked amazing and it was a joy to be able to share this time with parents and carers.

We are looking forward to many more good times in 2023 and wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Mrs

Executive Headteacher, Arun Villages Federation www.amberley.w-sussex.sch.uk

St Philips Catholic Primary school

Story time, competition, Deanery advent service & the Lido

Year 3 story time: With bubbles and lockdowns, a thing of the past for now, it was wonderful to have some Year 3 children share their Mammoth Stories, that they had written, with the new Reception children. The children were engaged and excited to learn new facts about Mammoths through their Stone Age topic.

Gym competition: Well done to our Year 5/6 gym squad who won the Locality event in November. The girls worked hard on their routine and impressed the judges with their determination and skills. There were many teams from others schools.

Open day: We had a wonderful Open Day at the start of November. We had many families visit and, without exception, all commented on how well our Year 6 tour guides conducted themselves. It is wonderful to be able to show off to new families what our school offers and the wellrounded, enthusiastic and polite children we have. Thanks too to the parents who served tea, coffee and answered questions.

Deanery Advent Service: Year 5 and 6 took part in our Deanery Advent Service in the Cathedral in Arundel. They joined together to celebrate the start of Advent with the other deanery schools. They raised money to support the charity L’Arche, where adults with and without learning disabilities live in community together. They are currently supporting around 300 adults with a learning disability in the United Kingdom. The children sang an original song of the ‘Our Father’ and were a credit to the school.

Elevenses at the Lido: The Singing Superstars, from St Philip’s (Year 6 and 4), had the opportunity to visit the Lido, at the end of November to sing for the highly successful ‘Elevenses’ morning. They sang some musical numbers and ended with some Christmas cheer to bring light to everyone there. They were even given a hot chocolate, to keep them going through the wind and rain.

www.stphilipsarundel.org.uk

New Headteacher announcement

Slindon College’s first female Headteacher

Heading up a highly qualified team

Joining Slindon College in 2016, first as an Assistant SENCo and Specialist Dyslexia teacher (Level 5 Dyslexia / SpLD) and then SENCo, Mrs Vlahodimou completed her NPQH in 2021. Her extensive knowledge of educating pupils who struggle to fulfil their potential in mainstream environments is motivated by her own personal experiences of education.

When she was at school she was told that she was not academic enough and not very good with languages. This led Mrs Vlahodimou to dedicate her teaching career to working with children to remove barriers to their learning. Most recently she has had a very successful track record as Acting Headteacher at Slindon College. These experiences shone through in the recruitment process amongst a strong field of candidates. Becoming the first female Headteacher in the College’s 50 year history, Mrs Vlahodimou heads up a highly qualified team in a supportive and calm setting which enables pupils to engage in a learning style that is accessible to them.

Over 10 years experience in special education

Following a thorough and competitive recruitment and selection process the new Headteacher of Slindon College has been announced as it looks forward to further growth in Academic Year 2022/23 and beyond.

Slindon College Board of Governors announce Mrs Sotiria Vlahodimou as the new permanent head of the College with immediate effect. Mrs Vlahodimou (BSc, MSc, Post. Grad. Diploma, PGCE, NASENCO, NPQH) has over 10 years of experience in special education in both the mainstream and independent sectors. She studied for her first degree in Medical Microbiology at the University of Surrey and gained her MSc and Post. Grad. Diploma whilst working full time. Following a successful career in paediatric vaccines in the Pharmaceutical Industry she gained a PGCE from the University of Chichester. Mrs Vlahodimou worked in an outstanding West Sussex special school where she refined her own pedagogy in helping children enjoy and achieve in education and gained her SENCo qualification (NASENCo).

Mrs Sotiria Vlahodimou, Headteacher, said: “I feel deeply honoured to be able to lead Slindon College going forward and I am very excited about the future. You can be assured that as Headteacher, I will strive to create the best education for each pupil here by nurturing their happiness and self-confidence as learners.”

Independent day and boarding school for boys Slindon College is a day and boarding school for boys aged 8-18. If you’d like to find out more about how Slindon College could help your child or to make an enquiry, contact the college or visit www.slindoncollege.co.uk.

Slindon College holds Open Mornings in September and March. To register for an upcoming one, visit their website, call: 01243 814320 or email: registrar@slindoncollege.co.uk.

Sussex Nightstop

Community-based response to homelessness by Lynn Smith

Brighton and Hove has one of the highest rates of rough sleeping in England, with numbers increasing since 2010. A 2021 Shelter report cited Brighton and Hove as the second highest ranked local authority outside of London, with 1 in 78 people in the City experiencing homelessness. Additionally, polling conducted by ComRes, in 2017, suggested that two-fifths of 16-25-year-olds in the UK have sofa-surfed at one time because they had nowhere else to live and that one in ten of these young people did so for more than a month in total.

Sussex Nightstop, Executive Director, Alison Marino tells me, was founded in 2009: “By a handful of determined locals who were moved and motivated by the visible experience of young people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping in Brighton and Hove.

“Local residents motivated to make a practical difference”

“Local residents became increasingly aware of the number of young people they saw sleeping rough in the City, “And wondering how they might make use of the assets they held within their spare rooms they looked further afield to see how other communities were responding and discovered the Nightstop model.”

Nightstop originated in 1985 in Leeds, where local church groups responded to the problem of young people rough sleeping through homebased hosting. The first formal Nightstop service launched in 1987 and Sussex Nightstop is now one of over 33 Nightstop services across the UK, accredited by the youth homelessness charity DePaul Uk, and operating across the Brighton and Hove area.

Providing practical solutions through collaboration and kindness

Nightstop, Alison says, is a community-based response to homelessness. “We believe that through collaboration and kindness, people power can provide practical solutions with big impact. Keeping young people safe from the very real and known dangers whilst providing them with housing advice, wrap-around support and kindness provides the very best chance for a young person

to flourish and reach their potential.” The model has a reassuring success rate, “Over 75 per cent of young people who stay with Sussex Nightstop go on to achieve a safer place to call home – our ultimate goal.”

The concept behind Night stop is, Alison explains, simple. People see the injustice of roughsleeping and homelessness and they want to respond. “We facilitate that by recruiting and training them to open up their spare rooms on a nightly basis and in a safe way to young people aged 16-24 years experiencing homelessness.”

Every young person who stays with Nightstop is carefully appraised and vetted by the charity’s small team of highly skilled staff, ensuring that Nightstop is the best place for that young person, and working closely with them during their stay ensuring they have access to, “The advice and support they need to make a positive next step in relation to their housing.”

‘’I have come such a long way since finding Nightstop. We have been on such an amazing journey together, I have had such a positive experience.” – a young Sussex Nightstop Guest.

Currently Nightstop has a pool of seventeen host households, all of whom are supported by a 247, on-call service. Alison describes the hosts as, “The lifeblood of what we do. Their kindness, freely offered at a point of crisis, often has a profound impact on young people.”

Alison explains that all of Sussex Nightstop’s volunteers undergo a robust recruitment process. Volunteer hosts will undertake interviews and home checks, will undergo Enhanced DBS checks and be trained in the policies and

procedures of the charity’s Host Handbook, covering an overview of homelessness and the experiences of young people, the importance of communications, hosting boundaries, safe hosting measures and safeguarding.

“Through their roles as volunteer hosts, on-call volunteers, community champions, business ambassadors, trainers and trustees they bring huge breadth and depth to the work that we do. Having the broadest and most inclusive representation across our volunteer and staff team is what we aspire to.”

Which brings us to one of the greatest challenges facing Sussex Nighstop – a need to re-grow its host volunteer pool, following a reduction in numbers thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst at the same time cost of living increases and steep rent rises leave young people with few options and a greater demand for Sussex Nightstop’s services.

The charity is seeking new hosts particularly, but not exclusively, in the Brighton and Hove area, people willing to offer their spare room for short nightly stays, ranging from four to seven nights

in a row. Although sometimes only one night is needed. Nightstop welcomes all people, regardless of colour, ethnicity, race, faith, gender, sexuality or ability Although, Alison points out that the service is “Disproportionately used by young people of colour - being 60 per cent of our placements last year. We would like our host pool to reflect this and particularly welcome applications from hosts of colour.”

Alison summarises the qualities sought in volunteers: “The ability to treat everyone with dignity and respect, without judgement and to be able to volunteer within the boundaries of the scheme, with a commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of young people. No formal qualifications

“Young people need Nightstop and they need us for longer”

are required but strong communication skills, patience, understanding and commitment are all sought after.”

In addition to the 49-strong volunteer team the charity has a paid team, of 27 full time equivalent staff, “Governed and supported by a highly experienced and professional board comprising six Trustees.”

“We move out of Covid into an ever-challenging funding environment”

Alison Marino tells me that Sussex Nightstop is funded through a range of income streams. “We enjoy support from the local authority, the fundraising of schools, churches and other community groups and are enthusiastically supported by local businesses who understand clearly the vital contribution that they can make to the problem of homelessness facing young people living in the community in which they operate.”

Which brings us to the charity’s other challenge: Post-COVID, Alison explains that Sussex Nightstop faces an ever-challenging funding environment.

“Building on the generosity of our varied supporters to date we are looking to grow that supporter base and welcome the opportunity to

speak and collaborate with businesses and community groups who would like to make a material difference to the lives of young people experiencing homelessness. “

Fund raising activities are therefore of vital importance and the charity is building on the success of its 2019 ‘Sleep Safe’ campaign, encouraging people to share on social media to generate new donor support, and increase collaboration with local businesses. Alison Marino says, “We are really excited about our Autumn Tryathlon event on 16 September. With volleyball, a quiz and baking contest there is something for everyone and we are inviting businesses to join us on the day for a lot of fun.”

“Sussex Nightstop.” Alison concludes, “welcomes the generous support of all members of the community. By following and sharing our socials you help us to reach new and different audiences that can get behind our cause.”

Contacts:

Liz Wakefield – Volunteer enquiries, Tryathlon and Business enquiries. Call 07887 492872 or email liz.wakefield@sussexnightstop.org.uk www.sussexnightstop.org.uk

Sussex Snippets

Charity & Community news from across the counties

Discover your local library!

West Sussex Libraries have asked us to remind readers about all the things your local library can offer:

• Free, warm welcoming spaces for everyone

• Computers for people to use

• Free Wi-fi in every library

• Regular free activities – children’s rhyme times & story times, knit and natter sessions, reading groups, board games and jigsaws

• Digital volunteers to help people get online if you are nervous or new to the internet

• Take home toys – children can take home up to three toy bags (for up to three weeks, with no late fees!)

• Newspapers and magazines

• Books for people wanting to start new hobbies, learn a language and more

They also offer Home Library Direct for people who are unable to visit personally. Lastly they are always on the lookout for more volunteers. www.westsussex.gov.uk/libraries.

Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne is inviting residents to provide their thoughts on policing priorities in a survey about police funding through council tax. You can provide your views on potential increases and tell Katy what you want the police to focus on. The short online survey is at www.sussex-pcc.gov.uk.

A new initiative from the West Sussex Waste Partnership (West Sussex and District/Borough councils). is aiming to improve recycling rates in students aged 15-24. The partnership is working with the University of Chichester and the Chichester College Group (at Brinsbury, Chichester, Crawley, Haywards Heath, and Worthing).

Concern about children’s mental health and the negative messages in children's media has led two dads to launch a fun and satirical podcast and magazine aimed at promoting kindness and mental resilience in children. Martin Spinelli is a professor at the University of Sussex while Lance Dann teaches at the University of Brighton. Their podcast is called The Rez and it has also just been accredited to be taught in schools as part of the PSHE curriculum. www.jointherez.com

South Downs MP Andrew Griffith has made the views of his constituents known in his response to the new routes published by the Rampion 2 proposed windfarm, calling it a “cable motorway” that would “leave a scar on the South Downs”. Andrew says that “vast swathes of delicate chalkland in the South Downs will be trenched” to accommodate the cables and accompanying access roads which will run from Climping beach through to a new substation at Cowfold, via Storrington and Washington. Rampion say that all disturbed land will be restored after the work is completed. See the routes at www.rampion2.com/consultation-2022.

A fresh and redesigned website has been launched by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to support those living with mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity conditions. www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk.

West Sussex-landscaper Paul Greenyer is baring all for the horticultural charity, Perennial, in its ‘Naked Grubby Gardener’s calendar” for 2023. Proceeds are going towards its work helping people from the horticultural industry to improve their financial and mental well-being. The calendar is available to purchase online at www.perennial.org.uk.

Potholes are a big source of frustration for all road users, and in the six months from April 2022 West Sussex Highways say approximately 22,000 were filled. They are also taking a holistic approach to the condition of our roads, with whole roads and larger sections completely resurfaced to make them more resilient to potholes, and “vastly reduce the need for smallscale, disruptive repairs”. You can report a pothole at www.westsussex.gov.uk or by phone to 01243 642105 if it is an immediate safety risk. The Sussex Sunday Walkers programme runs from October to March with walks usually 1216 miles long, starting and ending at the same car park, with a pub stop along the route. www.sussexsundaywalkers.org.uk

Fire Service awards

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service celebr -ated the courage, selflessness and dedication of its staff at its annual Recognition and Achievement Awards Ceremony. Those honoured at Arundel Castle included serving firefighters, support staff and members of the public.

A total of 31 long service and good conduct medals were given to members of staff that have served within the fire and rescue service for 20 and 30 years, with medals being presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, Lady Emma Barnard.

CRRC’s Rescue Pet of the Month

This month we would love to introduce you to a lovely pair of female rabbits called Hersheys and Reeses. These two sisters have been at The Centre since April as their owners had separated

and realised that they couldn’t provide them the life they deserved. These beautiful sisters are now one year old and would love to find their forever home together. They are both very friendly girls that love to explore and be active. They would be suitable to live with children as they are happy to be handled. As they are so young and active they would benefit from a home where they are provided with lots of things to keep them busy.

If you think you may be able to offer Hersheys and Reeses a loving home please give the centre a call on 01243 967111. www.crrc.co.uk.

Gardening talk

Jane Reeve of Manhood Wildlife Group will be giving a talk on "Wildlife in the Garden in a Time of Climate Change". Chichester Organic Gardening Society, January 30th, 7.30pm at Bassil Shippam Centre, St Pancras Chichester PO19 7LG.

Charity & Community News

MP’s Christmas card competition

Arundel & South Downs MP, Andrew Griffith, had a busy day of prizegiving at the schools of those children who have won his annual Christmas Card competition.

Andrew announced the winning design and six runners-up whose pictures will be featured on his official Christmas card and sent to over 1,500 people including Prime Minister.

Children from primary schools across the constituency sent in their colourful designs which can now be viewed on Andrew’s online gallery on his website. The MP invited Hassocks-based children’s author and illustrator Louisa White to help him choose the pictures for his card. View the cards here: www.andrewgriffithmp.com/xmas2022

A painting by Poppy Pritchett, a pupil in Year 3 at Arundel C of E Primary School, was picked as the overall winner. Her ‘Reindeers at Arundel Castle’ was chosen for its stand-out design and use of paint to create the local Christmas scene.

Runners up included Amber Grimmet, who is also a student at Arundel CofE Primary School,

Alice Andrews and Barney Wadell at Dorset House School, and Layla Marsh at St Peters CofE Primary School in Henfield. Poppy and Amber are pictured with Andrew Griffith above, and Andrew is pictured presenting the Prime Minster with the card featuring Amber’s design.

Chicken & Mushroom Soup

Light in calories yet richly flavoured & great for all sorts of occasions

Ingredients - Serves 4 Cook time: 50 minutes

• 1 cooked chicken (or turkey) carcass plus 1 cooked chicken breast or fillet

• 1tbsp olive oil

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, chopped & 2 large sprigs parsley

• Juice and grated rind 1 lemon

• ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce

• 2-3tbsp dry sherry or dry white wine

• 175g button mushrooms, finely sliced

Method

1. Place carcass in roasting tin, broken up into 2 or 3 pieces, roastfor 15mins at200C/400F/gas Mark 6.

2. Heat the oil in large saucepan and fry the onion and garlic until translucent and softening but not coloured. Add parsley stalks, lemon rind and half the juice, the sauce, sherry/wine and seasoning.

3. Add the roasted carcass and about 1 litre/2¼ pints water to cover. Cover and bring to the boil. Simmer for about 30 minutes or until the stock is well flavoured and there is at least 750mls/1¼ pints liquid left.

4. Strain the stock through a clean muslin cloth. Return liquid to the pan, add the sliced mushrooms, the rest of the lemon juice, the chopped cooked chicken, and half the parsley, chopped. Bring to the boil and simmer for 2-3 mins.

5. Season to taste and sprinkle on the remaining parsley before serving with Melba toast or fresh granary bread. Tip: A little glug of good sherry will not go amiss!!

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Contact Alex 01243 532240 www.cookwithalex.co.uk

Andrew Griffith MP

Member of Parliament for Arundel and South Downs

As we start the New Year, I wanted to update readers on progress on two issues of perennial local concern.

Fibre-capable broadband improvements

Whether you have returned to office or have adapted to spending more time working from home, faster broadband is an issue that affects everyone – especially in hard-to-reach rural areas like ours. As someone who struggled with a connection of less than 1Mb at my home for years, I know myself that access to a decent local download speed is something that has historically been a challenge. I’m therefore pleased that West Sussex has been selected by the Government to receive £128 million worth of broadband improvements, bringing fibre-capable broadband to 68,000 homes and businesses across our rural area – all starting this year. Already ‘gigabit broadband coverage’ – which is essentially the fastest broadband you can get in your home – is now at 55% which is genuinely a light speed away from what it used to be.

Reducing the number of road accidents

As we continue to endure the dark evenings and the cold and wet January weather, representing a rural community where everyone has to travel to access essential services, I worry about safety on our dangerous West Sussex roads. Local residents have no choice but to rely upon roads such as the A272, the A285, the A283 and the A27 and A29. Tragically, the latest figures I have obtained show that last year over 450 people have been killed or seriously injured on West Sussex’s roads – a frightening number in which each represents a personal or familial lifechanging tragedy. There is no single magic cure but a combination of, lower speed limits in towns and villages where they are appropriate, greater police presence and the right investment and maintenance on the roads themselves all have an important role to play.

Andrew Griffith MP for Arundel & South Downs Andrew.Griffith.MP@parliament.uk www.andrewgriffithmp.com

Arundel Town Council

Cast iron street lamp replacements

Edited extracts from draft minutes of the Town Council meeting on 10th November 2022.

Street Lighting - Since the October Council Meeting the Council and the Mayor have:

a) Looked at street lamps in conservation area b) Reviewed the street lighting inventories c) Met with Street Lighting PFI Officer, Street Lighting Manager of West Sussex County Council and Enerveo Operations Manager.

Who owns Arundel street lights - There are 360 street lights in Arundel. Arundel Town Council own 111. Only one of these, the light on Parson’s Hill, is a cast iron heritage light in the conservation area. This ownership is set out in 2010 agreement signed by Arundel Town Council. The 64 cast iron heritage street lights in Arundel are owned as follows: Arundel Town Council = 1, Arun District Council = 2 in Crown Yard and WSCC = 61.

Why cast iron lamp columns are being replacedWhile there are tests which enable stability assessment of stainless steel columns, there isn’t one for cast iron. If a column falls causing death or injury,

Enerveo (management co.) couldn’t demonstrate they took steps to ensure columns were safe. This has led them to replace these columns in W.Sussex

Options

for Arundel Town Council -

I. Take ownership of all cast iron lamp columns in Arundel from WSCC. The Town Council would: a) Assume responsibility for replacement and bear risk of any liability incurred through owning them b) Seek to add them to Council’s insurance policy c) Agreement for electricity/maintenance/painting

II. Take ownership of some columns which are most important to street scene. Above points apply.

III. Allow replacement, provided new stainless steel columns replicate design of existing ‘heritage’ ones.

IV. Secure replacement of Gainsborough lamp columns with ‘heritage’ columns, where appropriate. Next Steps

I. Enerveo to ask representatives to see what they could provide to closely match current designs.

II. Enerveo to investigate if they can provide matt paint finish for columns. arundeltowncouncil.gov.uk

Aldingbourne Parish Council

Public session,

Sports Centre.

Allotments & Finance

Report of Aldingbourne Parish Council (APC) Meeting 1st November 2022 at ACSC

Public Session - Two members of the public raised the subject of a consultation leaflet for the Land to the Rear of Meadow Way that was received by several residents. Concerns that the leaflet was not distributed to all relevant addresses. Council suggested residents go through developer’s website to respond with comments, take into consideration the Aldingbourne Neighbourhood Plan and to raise the issue of perceived limited consultation.

Aldingbourne Community Sports Centre (ACSC):

• At Annual General Meeting on 12.10.22 only 2/5 trustees agreed to stand for re-election meaning no Chair, Vice- Chair or Secretary in post. Trustees continue to support until replacements found.

• Agreement that ACSC needed to look pro-actively on recruitment of new members.

• Finance report shows positive cashflow, all maintenance required was completed and turnover looking good.

Allotments - Review of allotment charges required from April 2023 and recommended existing allotment plot holders moved from £25 or £12.50 for half plot to £35/£17.50 for 2023/2024 and this to increase to £50/£25 from April 2024. New plot holders to pay £50/ £25 with £50 deposit. All in attendance agreed.

Finance - Minutes of Finance Meeting 18.10.22 noted and following recommendations discussed:

• Precept for 2023/2024 – recommendation from Finance Committee was that precept for 2023/2024 should be left at current rate with no uplift due to current cost of living crisis and reserves that council had in place. A vote was taken on keeping the precept at current rate with no changes for 2023/2024, 3 voted in favour, 1 abstained, and 2 were against. Majority vote carried in favour of recommendation.

• Review of Insurance took place, agreed that cyber security insurance be investigated following any DPO recommendations. www.aldingbourne-pc.gov.uk

Barnham & Eastergate Parish Council

Planning Applications

Edited extracts from the draft minutes of the Planning & Environment Committee meeting on 1st Nov. New applications: BN/119/22 - Land adjacent to Highfield House Yapton Road PO22 0AZ - Outline application with all matters reserved, except access, for 19 No. dwellings for people over 55 with associated car parking, landscaping, drainage and open space. Application may affect setting of listed buildings and departs from Development Plan. Committee agreed to submit an objection to application as site is in conflict with Barnham and Eastergate Neighbourhood Plan policies ES1A, ES1C, ES4, ES5, ES7, ES9, ES10, ES14, ES15, ES16, ES17, GA1, CLW5, EE2 and H8. No public consultation by developers, which there should be given size and location of proposed development and that they’ve not consulted with the Council.

BN/125/22 - 21 Elm Grove Barnham PO22 0HJTwo storey rear, first floor front/side extensions including installation of balconies, alterations to fenestration/openings and installation of solar panels. Committee agreed to submit an objection. They

don’t object to extension, they object to balconies proposed due to privacy of neighbouring properties. BN/143/22 - 37A Hill Lane Barnham - Change of use from Class E to 1 No dwelling house (C3) (resubmission BN/50/22/PD). Committee agreed to submit objection. It’ll be situated next to nursey, environmental health queried noise element which also concerns Committee. It’s also against Neighbourhood Plan policies; EE2, ES10 and ES5.

BN/144/22 - Nuthatch Wandleys Lane Fontwell PO20 3SE - Outline application with all matters reserved (except access) for erection of 4 No. residential units with associated car parking and landscaping with new access be provided via Wandleys Lane. Application departs from Development Plan. Committee agreed to submit an objection as site is in conflict with Barnham and Eastergate Neighbourhood Plan policies; ES1a, ES1b, ES5, ES10, ES14, ES15, ES16 and ES17. Application represents overdevelopment of site in a rural location and is outside of built up area boundary. barnhamandeastergate-pc.gov.uk

Walberton Parish Council

Extracts from the minutes of the Full Council (8th November) and Planning Committee (15th November) meetings

The Council resolved to take on a freelance assistant to aid delivery of ongoing projects. The forthcoming A27 supplementary consultation was noted. A councillor has met with the detrunking group to discuss future plans for the old route. The lack of footpath from Yapton Lane to the A27 was forwarded to the A27 team for consideration. NH can provide meetings to discuss the procedures for DCO and other technical issues; WPC will take up this offer. A Neighbourhood News will be published and delivered to all residents to encourage responses to the consultation. It was noted that clay soil appears to have been placed on the allotment area of the Fontwell Meadows development leading to localised flooding through poor drainage. The developer will be asked to clarify the situation. WPC supported the demolition and reconstruction of the bottle store to provide a safe structure but

maintaining a building in keeping with the site’s heritage.

WSCC HIghways will be asked to install double-yellow lines around and opposite the entrance to the Fontwell petrol station to try to reduce the number of inconsiderately parked vehicles.

A number of Planning Applications were considered. Objections were raised against the felling of a tree in Arundel Road and two applications on Eastergate Lane. It was agreed that, when appeals result against refusal of consent then WPC will request a formal timescale for completion of works be given should the appeal succeed. WPC will also consider contracting external help in compiling responses to appeals. The appeal against refusal for the land east of Yapton Lane was noted.

The suggestion by a developer of building 95 dwellings off Wandleys Lane was noted. There is no formal planning application at this stage. www.walberton-pc.gov.uk