Staplecross

How busy every one seems to be just now, no doubt due to the recent glorious influx of the much awaited and longed for sunshine that we are all (currently) enjoying. Having said that, there are now several local events coming along that may be of interest to some of you.

Taking place on Thursday June 13 at St. Mark’s Church Room, Northiam Road, Staplecross at 7.30pm is our monthly Ewhurst Parish Council meeting. As always these meetings are open to both the public and the press. Further information can always be found on the parish web site http://www.ewhurst.info/ The ‘what’s on’ box on the home page is especially informative. Typical information about upcoming road works, planning applications under consideration and parish notices can be found here and if you are looking for a club, society or a social group this may be the place to look first.

Is there nothing finer than the scent of English roses ? or any other flower, come to that. If you agree, then come and spend a pleasant hour or so at the Village Hall in Staplecross on SATURDAY 15th JUNE where the Annual Rose Show will be held. Starting at 2pm and hosted by the Ewhurst, Staplecross & Bodiam Garden Society, you will be overwhelmed by the sights and scents of what’s on display. It’s not just for roses, as the name implies, but a number of classes, including pot plants, a variety of flower and the increasingly popular vegetable classes. Even the children will have classes of their own and these include Playschool up to year 11. So please pop in, spend an enjoyable afternoon there. Who knows what ‘green fingered’ celebrities may be being nurtured there.

Further along Northiam Road the following day on SUNDAY 16th JUNE the Staplecross Bowls Club are hosting an ‘Open Triples’ competition. 24 Teams from mostly local Bowls Clubs are taking part, all competing for various trophies and prize money.This will be an all day event and spectators will be made very welcome by the friendly participants. Light refreshments will be available, so do come along and enjoy a typically English, but surprising skilled sporting past~time.

There is a lot going on within the Brede High Woods at Cripps Corner at the moment. For example FRIDAY 14th JUNE (Today) at 8.45pm a Moth Trapping Day will take place. To find out more about this amazing meeting, contact Heather on [email protected] .A Family Food & Craft Day is going to take place the next day, on SATURDAY 15th. JUNE from 10am until 2pm. This will be an activity filled day making crafts from natural materials and making foods from foraged ingredients. This certainly promises to be an unusual day out so contact Martin Felstead at [email protected] or telephone 0845~2935734 for more information. This will be a free event, but numbers will be limited, so book now to ensure your place

Still at the Brede High Woods, an event that started on JUNE 7th and will last until 22nd JUNE is the fascinating Big Dig. This is an exciting community archaeology project which began in 2012 and which have resulted in some very interesting discoveries. Many artefacts have been unearthed by the Big Dig Team and as well as pottery, glass and metalware, a coin of George 3rd was found, dating to the late 1700 or early 1800s. Having secured a’ Your Heritage’ grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund this worthwhile and amazing project is now able to run until June 2014. Volunteers are still needed and very welcomed and you could find yourself taking part in field work, including archaeological excavation, archaeological survey, washing and marking finds, as well as a host of support activities, including archive reseach, photography and administration. Chris Butler Archaeological Services will be leading this very important project and if you would like to become involved contact Chris on either [email protected] or [email protected] or telephone him on 01323~811785. So, enjoy,fresh air and fun, perhaps make new friendships, all whilst learning plenty of interesting facts and enjoying the community spirit.

Further on in the week, on SATURDAY 22nd JUNE. The Bonfire Society will be hosting a summer Bar-B-Q and Band evening at The Cross Inn at Staplecross. Beginning at 7pm~ food will be served 7 ~ 8.30pm after which the band will ‘strike up’. Can there be any nicer way to celebrate our glorious English summer with the long, light and hopefully warm evenings than to spend them with family and friends. Why not do so at this fundraising event for local charities. Enjoy a wonderful evening amongst congenial company and do your little bit for charity. Please ring Brian on 01580~830570 or contact [email protected] for all further details.

Meanwhile,weird and wonderful things have been happening at the Staplecross Methodist Controlled Primary School! ~ “Same Sky”, an art company from Brighton came into the school to work (surely play! ) with the pupils for three days. A fabulous and very creative time was had by all and loads of arty items were made to show off to parents when they come in for tea and homemade cakes. The children showed what can be done with “junk” items, by recycling them to make a giant green man and a giant green lady for the inside of the school. Not to be outdone, the outside of the school will be home for a resplendent pair of waterproof green giants. This lady and gentleman will be well protected should it dare to rain in that neighbourhood. If only all recycling was this much fun ! These items all fit in with the Woodland project which they are doing for the Summer term. Picture frames have been made from bark, leaves and twigs which have been garnished from the local woods, when out on field trips. Giant flower themed withy lanterns have also been made which will be used during their Summer performance of Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream”. The rehearsals of songs and performances are already busily underway and excitement for both teachers and pupils is slowly creeping in. A magical performance is promised in due course. ~ So, Watch This Space !. The PTFA are organising a Summer Fayre which will take place on the school field in the near future. Having been given a sneak preview of what is proposed for this event, all I can say is that you’ll all be fools to miss it!. It promises to be great fun and entertainment for all, ~ young and old alike. Some parents at the school have recently completed a cycle ride from London to Hastings, no less, and have raised over £500:00 for the PTFA funds. Showing great presence,and not wanting to be outdone, the children have also had a sponsored skoot/skate and cycle ride. The sponsored money is eagerly awaited as all the pupils benefit from the proceeds of whatever activities the PTFA organise in order to subsidise school trips and most enjoyable workshops etc. The school would also be pleased to accept any ‘school vouchers’ currently on offer from Sainsbury’s which will be used to gain additional physical education resources together with the tokens from Nestle cereals, which would be used for books. Some children are already enjoying the ‘School Breakfast Club’ This is a newly initiated idea which allows children to be welcomed in before school to eat a healthy breakfast with their friends and prepare for school with homework help, art and quiet games. More pupils will always be gladly accepted.

It would appear that a very busy term full of sporting activities, such as after school stoolball, ~ that very Sussex sport ~athletics and multisports are helping to keep our ‘caretakers of our future’ Fit, and Healthy and Happy. The old adage, “ It Wasn’t Like That In My Day “ is certainly true in this case, but, Oh, how I wish it were.

Please keep me informed of any events that you would like to see published and I’ll do my best to get them ‘aired’ on your behalf. Please allow approximately two weeks or so before your event to fully maximize the coverage.