The Hurst March/April/May 2023

the Hurst

the Hurst

EDITORIAL

Welcome to the Spring edition of the Hurst. As always, the village is busy preparing for Spring and Summer with plans ranging from film nights, quiz nights and a village fete in June that will, no doubt, be a fun day. Easter is almost upon us and the issue includes information on how the village will participate, from timings of Easter Services to an event involving all the children and teachers from our village school.

Of course, during the period of this issue, we also have the Coronation of King Charles III. The village plans to celebrate this with a live streaming of the historic event on a big screen in the village hall, complete with a cream tea. A very British celebration for a uniquely British event, and one, I am sure, King Charles would approve of! Timings and more information will be posted on the village social media as well as around the village.

We also have some interesting updates in this issue from various clubs and groups. From the world of walking football to a beautiful village walk and plans for the upcoming cricket season, making you really feel that warmer and longer days are just around the corner now. Also, within these pages you will find a fascinating article on the health benefits of dandelions – who knew they were such a rich source of important vitamins and antioxidants?

Hurst Green residents showed wonderful generosity towards the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Thanks to the kindness of villagers, the appeal raised £1526.17 in 2022. A remarkable figure and one that the village should be proud of. We hope you enjoy this issue. If you have any ideas or subjects you feel should be covered, do please let me know.

thehurst.hg@gmail.com

Deadline for next copy is 30th April

Design: John Hawkins Print: Wealden Print, Hawkhurst

USEFUL CONTACTS

Allotment Association 01580 860251

Breakfast Club (75+) 01580 860760/860358

Brownies 01580 860742

Comedy Capers 01580 860221

Cricket Club 07796 976809

First Responders 07837 224905

Holy Trinity Church 01580 880282 (Vicar) 01580 860649

Hurst Green C of E School 01580 860375

Nursery School 01580 860375 x211

Parish Clerk 01580 860111

Rother District Council 01424 787000

Short Mat Bowling 01424 773478

Twinning Association 01580 860977

Village Hall Booking Agent 01580 860111/860425

HELPFUL LOCAL SERVICES

Building and Renovations Mark Roby 07586 702809. Pioneeringcarpentry@yahoo.com

Cars Mobile Car Mechanic: Cliff Mercer 07909 911869

Dogs Holiday and day care: Lorely Watson 01580 880061 / 07796 392653

Pippin’s Pet Sitting and walking: 07717 681972 Sarah.janeheasman@hotmail.co.uk

Eco-friendly products Joanna Girling 07443 411677 girling.joanna@gmail.com

Electricians Gareth Skinner 07929 839309

Tim Russell 07771 687636 trussell.5@btinternet.com

House Portraits Christine Masters Art 07833 342020 www.christinemastersart.wordpress.com

Leather repairs Kay Lloyd,Wealden Saddlery 01580 860860

Pest control Paul Messenger 07940 744411 paul@roecallservices.com

Plastering and tiling Edd Ripley, 07875 494493

Plumbers Aaron Plumbing & Heating LtdAaron Rowsell 01580 230330

Steve Walker 07564 405702

Private car hire and taxi service Hugo, 01435 883803 Mob. 07931 605057

If you or anyone you know would like to be included in this list please email thehurst.hg@gmail.com This is a free listing..

It’s all happening at the village hall!

Paul Cloves updates the village on what’s planned over the coming weeks and months.

The village hall in so many ways is the heart of a community, Hurst Green is no different, our Village Hall sits proudly in the centre of our village and in 2023 the village hall committee are determined to make it a hub of activity that brings us all together and re-ignites many of the events that have faded away from the community over the years.

No doubt some of you will have already seen some of our events and may have even had the chance to pop along to one or two of them! Movie nights have started and so far have been an amazing success, a film on the first Friday of every month to entertain the family with the bar open and snacks available at an affordable price. We really hope that this provides a regular escape from the world and a chance for the family to enjoy a night out without breaking the bank.

Not far away now is our quiz night on the 18th March at 7pm where groups of 5 or 6 will go head to head to battle for the title of Hurst Green’s brainiest bunch! Swiftly followed by a Barn Dance on the 8th April at 7pm where live music will get you all up and dancing, breaking for a hot dinner and then back to round two of dancing the night away – to book a place at either of these events give Sue a call on 01580 860 425. This year marks another momentous occasion where King Charles III’s coronation will be shared with the world and in our little corner of East Sussex the

Village Hall will open its doors to those who want to share the moment with others, to watch the coronation live on the big screen whilst enjoying a scone and a good old British cuppa.

Before you know it summer will be here and it will be time for us to once again come together for a village fete, the team at the Village Hall are in full swing of pulling the plans together, but save the date and join us in celebration on the 17th June for a day full of fun, stalls, bouncy castles, music and a lot more!

With all the challenges and joys that 2023 will bring, we hope that the Village Hall brings us all together, with many happy memories made. Please keep an eye out on our Facebook page, Instagram account or for notices around the village or through your door.

“The village hall committee are determined to make it a hub of activity that brings us all together”

HURST GREEN VILLAGE HALL

WHAT’S ON WEEKLY

MONDAY 11am Lunch Club (2nd Monday each month, 07798 556999 to book)

2pm Knit & Natter 7pm Short Mat Bowls

TUESDAY 8.45am Pilates (07798 663820) 7pm Jive & Lindy Hop (07766 881045)

8pm Parish Council Meeting (4th Tuesday of each month)

WEDNESDAY 10am Upholstery (termtime) 5.30pm Brownies (termtime)

THURSDAY 8.45am Pilates

1.30pm Short Mat Bowls

8pm Zumba

FRIDAY 10am Breakfast Club (2nd & 4th Friday each month)

Booking agent: Sue Endean 01580 860425, 07718 282605

Charity no. 229672

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Letter from the Vicar

This time of year is full of hope and promise as we see everything begin to come to life again after the long winter months. We also have the promise of longer days and lighter evenings as the clocks go back at the end of March. It is also very much a time of preparation.

We are in the middle of our Marriage Preparation course with the couples who will marry in St Mary’s and Holy Trinity in the Summer. The course aims to help them to prepare for their married lives together as well as being a time to prepare the necessary paperwork and legalities. Children and students are beginning to prepare for SATs and exams. Farmers and gardeners are busy preparing and enriching the soil ready for planting. Many Christians are observing the season of Lent, the time of reflection, contemplation, fasting and preparation for the celebrations of Easter. Lent, by the way, comes from the middle English word Lente meaning Springtime, although the Christian observance of 40 days of fasting goes right back to 325AD. It is one of the oldest Christian traditions and for many years it was the time when new believers prepared themselves to be baptised at Easter. These days, as well as or instead of going without something for Lent, some Christians choose to take up doing something. This might be to do a Lent study with others, to read a Lent book, have an additional daily time of devotions and/or perform deliberate acts of kindness for others every day for 40 days.

I am sure that King Charles is busy preparing for his coronation. It is great that he has suggested that the extra Bank Holiday on May 8th, rather than just being another day

off, should instead be a day of volunteering – The Big Help Out. We will be helping out by sprucing up the Churchyard, and we desperately need more volunteers. If you can help out from 10.30 onwards, even for an hour or so, we would really appreciate it!!

God bless, Rev Annette

annette@jhbd.co.uk 01580 880282 07900 332791 www.hurstgreenhtc.org

We meet at Holy Trinity every Sunday – we have coffee at 9am and the service starts at 9.30.

On Tuesday 18th April, we will be welcoming all the children and teachers from Hurst Green Primary school to participate in an interactive walk through the events of Holy Week. They will come up to the church class by class and take part in various activities and crafts to help unpack this amazing story. Yes, it will be after Easter but still relevant! Then there will be an opportunity for anyone who is interested to visit from Wednesday 19th through to Saturday 22nd. The church will be open from 9am till 4pm every day. Do go and check it out.

EASTER SERVICES AT HOLY TRINITY

Palm Sunday, 2nd April, 9.30am Holy Communion

Good Friday, 7th April. We will be having our usual March of Witness from the Village Hall to the church at 10am, followed by coffee and hot cross buns. 2pm An hour at the cross. Contemplative service.

Easter Day, 9th April. This will be an Easter Communion service at 9.30am, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus.

“This time of year is full of hope and promise as we see everything begin to come to life again.”

Dandelions: Pesky weed or Valuable

Dandelions are popping up all over gardens and verges at this time of year. Most people view dandelions as annoying weeds, but they have a long history of medicinal use, and have a range of health benefits. The name dandelion comes from the French dent de lion meaning tooth of a lion and refers to the jagged edges of the leaves which resemble a lion’s teeth. There are many species of dandelion, but the type used medicinally is Tarraxacuofficinale, and this is the type usually found growing in England.

Dandelions are packed full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They are a rich source of vitamin C, folate, vitamin E, vitamin K and they also contain good levels of iron, magnesium and calcium. They are rich in the antioxidants beta carotene and polyphenols. Antioxidants are protective chemicals which help to slow down ageing and disease processes. In olden times, young dandelion leaves would have been picked along with sorrel and young nettle leaves and added to soups and stews or used in salads. They provided a much-needed source of vitamins and antioxidants after a long winter with very little fresh fruit or vegetables.

Dandelion leaves have a powerful diuretic action. In fact, one of the traditional names for dandelion is ‘pee the bed’ because the diuretic action of the leaves makes one

urinate more often, so taking dandelion before bed is a bad idea unless you don’t mind getting up multiple times a night to pee! Diuretics help the body to rid itself of excess fluid, reducing fluid retention and swelling, and easing the pressure on a struggling heart and circulatory system. The danger with diuretics is they make us pee out potassium. Potassium is a vital mineral which works with sodium in our body to maintain blood pressure. If our potassium levels drop dangerously low it could trigger a heart attack. Most diuretics prescribed by doctors today come with potassium added into them to ensure this doesn’t happen. Dandelion leaves are naturally so rich in potassium that consuming the leaves results in a net gain of potassium, making it a very safe diuretic to use. Dandelion leaf tea or tincture is often used to treat swollen ankles, and as an adjunctive treatment for high blood pressure. A high intake of potassium helps to lower high blood pressure, as does the diuretic action.

Dandelion root contains quite different chemical constituents to the leaves. The root has a powerful detoxifying action. It works on the liver to help with the removal of toxins and waste products. Herbalists often use dandelion root in the treatment of acne and skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, for joint conditions like arthritis, and for other conditions where a cleansing and detoxifying action is needed.

Dandelion root stimulates the liver to produce bile and helps with bile flow. This helps with the digestion of fats and helps to prevent constipation. Dandelion root is mildly bitter; bitter tasting herbs stimulate the production of our digestive juices helping us

“The name dandelion comes from the French dent de lion meaning tooth of a lion”

Medicine?

to breakdown and digest our food more efficiently. Dandelion root offers safe and gentle support for a sluggish digestive system, and is useful for relieving symptoms like bloating and constipation.

Ways to take dandelion

Fresh, young dandelion leaves can be washed and added into soups, stews and salads. Just be sure to pick them from an area which has not been sprayed with weed killer or other chemicals. Dried dandelion leaf can be bought as tea bags or as loose tea. Use 1tsp of loose dandelion leaf to make each mug of tea, drink up to three cups a day for a medicinal effect.

Dandelion roots are normally dug up when the plants are two years old. The roots are dried and then roasted in the oven. Roasted dandelion roots are then used to make a decoction: boil a tablespoon of dandelion root in water for 5 to 10 minutes, strain and then drink black or with milk. Roasted dandelion root can easily be found for sale online. Dandelion decoction is useful wherever the liver needs support, for example for skin issues or poor digestion.

Dandelion leaf or root can also be bought as a tincture. This is an extract of the plant in alcohol. Tinctures are stronger than teas or decoctions so smaller doses can be taken, usually 2.5ml to 5ml in a little water once or twice daily, or as directed on the bottle.

Dandelion leaf and root are generally very safe as herbal medicines, but it is always sensible to check with your local herbalist or health care provider before self-prescribing, particularly if you are already taking some medicines or have complex health issues.

Ellie Holly is a highly qualified and experienced Medical Herbalist and Nutritional Therapist. She has over twenty

years experience treating patients with a wide range of health conditions. She also teaches nutrition at the City Lit in Covent Garden. She is opening a clinic in Hurst Green this spring. Ellie offers a free ten minute telephone appointment to all new patients so you can find out how herbal medicine or nutrition may help you. Contact Ellie on 07949463288 or email ellie@ hollyhealthcare.co.uk or visit her website: www.hollyhealthcare.co.uk

1st Hurst Green Brownies

Hurst Green Brownies have three volunteer adult leaders and a young volunteer undertaking her Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award. We have 15 girls.

We concentrate on making sure girls get the best experiences, learn new skills, make friends, have fun and discover the world around them through the Guiding Programme.

In November last year we held our first sleepover in Battle with 10 girls joining in a Harry Potter themed event and in December

we went to the Cinema to see Matilda the Musical as part of a Girlguiding partnership with Odeon Cinemas.

In our weekly meetings we’ve had our first group of new girls make their Brownie Promise to the King, held a Christmas party, had a girl win a Christmas card design competition for our region, marked Chinese New Year and celebrated World Thinking Day on 22 February with girls from Burwash Brownies. Girls have also gained Interest Badges, their First Aid Skills Builder Badge and Be Well Theme Award as well as Anniversary and Birthday Badges.

This term they’re working on their Reflect Skills Builder. We’ll also be celebrating St David’s Day, making cards and gifts for Mother’s Day and holding an Easter party and no doubt a Coronation party.

We also hope to run another sleepover. If you have a daughter aged between 7 and 10 interested in joining Hurst Green Brownies please register her at the following link. www.girlguiding.org.uk/information-for-parents/ register-your-daughter/

Hurst Green Twinning

You can contact the twinning association by email at hurstgreentwinning@gmail.com or by calling 07496 390069. We will also be hosting a social event of some kind on the weekend of 26th August, and would love to see any local residents who would like to attend. Further details will follow in future issues of the Hurst!

Meanwhile we are looking ahead to next year already, which will be the 40th anniversary of the twinning. We have already been invited to Germany and would like to hear from people who would be interested in coming too.

Hurst Green Twinning

Association are excited to announce that in August this year we will be hosting a visit from our twinned village of Ellerhoop.

As many Hurst Greeners will be aware, there has been a long and very successful relationship between Hurst Green, and Ellerhoop, in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany, for almost 40 years. There was a hiatus for the last 3 years, caused by Covid and the impact on international travel. However we are now happy to report that our friends from Germany will arrive in the UK on Thursday 24/08/23 for a 4 day visit. We have a full and exciting itinerary planned including visits to London, Canterbury, a steam railway and of course the English seaside in summer. We anticipate the visiting group to number about 20, and we have already found host families for many of them. But if you are interested in hosting or being involved in any of the activities planned then we would love to hear from you.

Ellerhoop is a lovely village, with beautiful surrounds and close to the exciting cosmopolitan city of Hamburg. I have been involved in several previous visits and it is always a fantastic break with friendly hosts who take great pride in showcasing their area. Life-long friendships are made and, especially in these uncertain times, it is important to celebrate the things which connect us, even across international borders. If you would like to be involved, contact us!

KNIT & NATTER

MONDAYS 2–4pm VILLAGE HALL

Knitting, crochet, coffee and chat

EVERYONE WELCOME

“Our friends from Germany will arrive in the UK on Thursday 24/08/23”

Allan Cheek continues his regular feature in the Hurst describing different walks of varying difficulty. Allan is happy to discuss this and other Hurst Green walks in more detail including the possibility of leading small groups. For information, contact Allan by text/WhatsApp 07803 502972

Hurst Green to

Etchingham Station,

circular via Burgh Wood

A five-mile walk with great variety on quiet lanes and public footpaths through the wonderful ancient Burgh Wood with its peace and quiet and flowing streams.

The walk starts and finishes at Holy Trinity church. I prefer an anticlockwise direction which takes advantage of the initial downhill route through Burgh Wood to the sturdy bridge over the stream which flows into the River Limden just before it meets the River Rother passing under Haremere Hill near the level crossing.

It was in this stream in the wood that several elvers (young eels) were spotted heading upstream. The path now leads uphill to the track to Bellhurst where it pays to pause to take in the view over the

gate where you may be lucky to spot a barn owl on the hunt.

A few strides up the trail and a hop over a stile opens up the highlight vista looking across the valley towards London Barn. A collection of homes in a secluded rural location leads uphill and then down into open pastures before the inevitable climb back up to Sheepstreet and Fysie Lanes. The final stretch to the station and its brilliant Bistro for a welcome coffee and more is just across the fields from the dip. After refuelling it’s just a case of climbing up Burgh Hill with the option of returning to the Church via the edge of the woods.

Given the ups and downs this five-miler should be achievable in around two hours.

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The fastpaced world of walking football

The Burwash Old Boys had to play three matches in ten days last month. It was a struggle to recover from one game before the next one came along! It didn’t turn out to be a great month…

We met our match against Old Bexhillians going down 4-1 to the unbeaten league leaders. On the positive side we scored a goal against a team not used to conceding. We were (genuinely) unfortunate to go 2-1 down before half time when they had a lucky break. 3-1 from a penalty but we managed to restrict them to just one further goal.

We also travelled to Battle for our second game of the month. Selection problems meant that we had to start with a novice goalkeeper and an injured defender. We conceded early on against a defensive Battle side and it became clear we would

find it difficult to score. Changes were made at half time but a mistake and a goal gave us little chance of coming back from 2-0 down.

To cap off the month we played secondin-the-league Hastings United at home. 1-0 down at half time. Hastings found our defence quite resilient.

But it doesn’t end there…The group tried a new sport mid-month – Pickleball. It’s played indoors on a court similar to badminton but with a tennis net and with bats like table tennis! We were guests of the Etchingham Pickleball Club and it is a new and fast-growing activity that can be played by all ages. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and several of us have been back to play again.

Contact Steve ‘Minty’ Mintram on 01435 882444 for more information.

www.burwashwalkingfootballers.co.uk

A View of Holy Trinity Church

As I was sitting in church this morning, with the sunlight shining through the stained-glass windows, I wondered how many Hurst Green residents have seen the inside of this building. The unusual walls painted in the style of William Morris, the newly decorated chancel, and the stainedglass windows, make it well worth a visit. The South facing window is dedicated to an Ellen Carter by her daughter Dorothy Orme Selby. I have not had a chance to find out more about who these people were but maybe it is worth a bit of research? Not only that but there is a tangible sense of peace and tranquillity, so lacking in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

From the outside it is nothing special, built in 1884,Victorian red brick with a single bell in a two-tier belfry over the west end which is best viewed from the top end of Vicarage Way. The main entrance to the church is through the lychgate situated on the left side of the London Road just north of Foundry Close. Many people who I have spoken to weren’t even aware that there was a parish church in Hurst Green.

Starting at Easter this year we are planning to have the church open every day from 9am to 4pm.You can wander in and take a moment to reflect or walk around and enjoy the atmosphere. God is everywhere of course, but sometimes we need to stop and connect with Him.

The churchyard is used by many people every day who walk through, and in recent years we have been able to fence some areas off to accommodate a few sheep. The rest of the work to keep the grass and hedges tidy is done by a few willing people from the church and village community. The Parish Council give us a small grant each year, but this barely covers the cost of petrol for the equipment and any tree surgery needed. So, if you feel able, why not come and volunteer to help out, there will always be a job from pruning to weeding, strimming and mowing and keeping the graves neat.

About three years ago we introduced an ‘Adopt a grave’ scheme. Basically, inviting people to choose one of the older graves which have been neglected over many years and tidy it up, maybe clean the stone and plant some flowers. Initially, it was a great success and the transformation from overgrown plots, unreadable names and generally sad looking graves was tremendous. It would be great if this could be continued

“Now we are reaching out to you to keep this special place open to all”

so if you are interested, contact Rev Annette or John Hawkins.

There is a common belief that the upkeep and care of the church and churchyard is paid for and undertaken by the Anglican Church or the Diocese. This is a false impression. Only the handful of churchgoers who give their money regularly are responsible for everything, no financial help except the grant of £1000 per year from the Parish Council.

So, the bottom line is, if we the residents of Hurst Green want to keep Holy Trinity Church going as a viable asset to the village, there is a need to step up and support it! Sadly, the congregation is an aging one and the danger is that the church will die without intervention from the younger generation. Of course, we don’t actually need a church building to meet as Christians, and the Christian faith will never die, we can use other venues such as the school and village hall which many church groups do. But I think there is still value in having a building set apart for worship, fellowship, prayer and praise, not to mention weddings and funerals.

Nine years ago, Holy Trinity was on the brink of closure. It was rescued by a few faithful people with a vision to share their love of Jesus and re-establish regular Sunday services. There have been some highs and lows during that time and now we are reaching out to you to keep this special place open to all.

A new season for Hurst Green Cricket Club

We’re looking forward to the new cricket season at Hurst Green Cricket Club and welcome new players (male or female) who are looking for a relaxed game of cricket played in the right spirit. Thanks to a generous donation we now have training nets and we’re able to practice on our own ground, behind the Royal George in Hurst Green (follow the track next to the pedestrian crossing). We will be running practice sessions on Tuesday evenings at 6.30pm starting 4th April 2023. Don’t worry if you don’t have kit or are not confident about your ability, we have many players with no background in cricket playing the game every week.

2023 Fixtures

14th May - Crowhurst (H)

28th May - Robertsbridge Development XI (A)

14th June - Pett Piranhas (A)

25th June - Clive Vale (H)

16th July - Felbridge and Sunnyside (H)

23rd July - Wadhurst (A)

20th August - Catsfield (H)

3rd September - Pakenham XI (H)

17th September - Zambuca Tigers (H)

You don’t have to play cricket to join the club – if you’d like to score our games, sponsor, umpire or help out around the ground, please get in touch.

Contact us at hurstgreencc@gmail.com or follow us at facebook.com/

hurstgreencricketclub

Freedom of Hurst Green

In the spring of 2020, the Chairman of the Parish Council, Graham Browne received an urgent telephone call. Local resident, Talena Sharp suggested that the Parish Council join her to establish a local Covid-19 support group. The Council didn’t hesitate, and soon the Hurst Green Covid-19 Support Group was up and running.

Helping those affected, particularly during the lockdown and restrictions, the group grew in size to over 60 volunteers. Led by Mrs Sharp, and supported by local resident, Christy Cole, the group set up a food bank, did the shopping, and ran errands for those in isolation. Members of the group worked alongside government and other local agencies, doing anything they could think of, from being a listening ear for residents, to helping those who felt anxious.

Recognising her outstanding contribution to the community, in April 2022, the Parish Council awarded the highest honour that it can bestow (the freedom of the parish of Hurst Green) to Mrs Sharp. Those who receive the honour are able to use the title of Freeman or Freewoman.

Watched by members of the public and her family, Mrs Sharp was formally thanked and was presented by the Chairman of the Council with a parchment scroll. Mrs Sharp said “It is an honour and privilege to be the first person to receive the freedom of this lovely parish. I accepted on behalf of all those who participated in the group. Thank you also to all who organised such a lovely presentation evening, especially Wendy Browne and Sue Endean for all their hard work.”

“The Parish Council awarded the highest honour it can bestow to Mrs Sharp”

Attendees witnessed the unveiling of a new wooden honours board, which now hangs in the village’s hall. Commenting at the event, Parish Councillor Andrew Brown said, “This evening celebrates the outstanding contribution of a local resident, and it also symbolises what we can do as a community during the most difficult of times.”

While there is no statutory guidance that sets out any criteria for the appointment of Freemen and Freewomen, the Parish Council’s policy states that ‘as the Freedom of the Parish is awarded in recognition of exceptional service to the Parish, persons should be of distinction, and who have, in the opinion of the Council, rendered eminent service to the parish of Hurst Green’.

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