Chailey

ST GEORGES FETE: takes place this Saturday (April 23) at Markstakes Corner, South Chailey, and admission is free. There will be arena events including a tug of war competition, Burgess Hill Rumblers drumming display and Chailey & Newick Rainbows and Brownies dance display. There will also be lots of stalls, a car boot sale, children's rides, barbecue, beer tent and a Fun Dog Show. Entries for the dog show will be from 12pm and classes include: Prettiest Bitch, Handsome Dog, Best Pair, Waggiest Tail, Best Rehomed/Rescued, Best Veteran, Best Puppy (up to 18 months), Most Appealing Eyes, Best Crossbred, Young Handler and the Dog the judge would most like to take home. Entry for the dog show is £1 per class. For more details call Diane on 01273 401900.

CHAILEY FREE CHURCH: has services every Sunday. A Morning Service at 10.30am and an Evening Service at6:30pm. All welcome to the services, visit www.chaileyfreechurch.com for more details.

CHAILEY WINDMILL: The Windmill stands on Chailey Common adjacent to a Yew Tree which is said to mark the centre of Sussex. The Mill and Rural Life Museum will be open for the first time this year this Sunday (April 24) from 3pm to 5 pm. Admission charges are £1 for adults and 50p for children aged 10 to 16. For more details call John Smith on 01825 723519.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

WARRS HILL FOOTPATH: East Sussex Highways are consulting on the long-standing project to run a footpath alongside Warrs Hill Road from the New Heritage to the A275, a project to be paid from funds set aside as a Developer contribution when building the New Heritage. Public consultation runs until Friday April 29 and details, plans and an online version of the survey are available at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/haveyoursay.

BLUEBELL WALKS: at Sheffield Park and Garden are on Wednesdays April 27 and May 4 from 10am to12pm. These guided walks are a chance to explore exclusive areas of the garden and parkland and enjoy this natural wonder. The cost for adults is £5 and booking is essential on 01825 790231.

TOY AND RAIL COLLECTORS FAIR: is on Saturday April 30 from 10am to 4pm at the Bluebell Railway’s Horsted Keynes Station. There will be stalls on the platform and a marquee within the station car park with railway artefacts and model railway equipment. Admission ticket costs £3 per person which covers both Horsted Keynes Station and the marquee.

WILD ART WEEKEND: at Sheffield Park and Garden is from Saturday April 30 to Monday May 2 at 11am to 12.30pm each day. This is an opportunity to create masterpieces from natural materials and tick off one of the National Trust list of 50 things to do before you are 11 ¾ . The cost is £3 a child and booking is essential on 01825 790231.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

ANNUAL CHAILEY LINK WALK: is on Monday May 2 starting at 10am from the North Chailey Sports Ground where route details will be available. The walk is just over six miles but if required can be reduced to four miles by means of a short cut. At this time of the year the scenery is particularly beautiful, beginning by crossing Memorial and Pound Commons then proceeding through ancient woodland, with a profusion of bluebells and views to the South Downs. At the finish there will be the usual barbecue; provided free to all participants on completion of the walk. There will be certificates for the children as well as a biscuit for any dog who would like one. For more details call John Smith on 01825 723519 or Trevor Smith on 01273 891008.

CHAILEY WI: next meeting is, at the village hall, on Tuesday May 3 at 7.45pm and will be the annual Resolutions meeting. It is always interesting to see which resolutions are debated before being taken forward to the National Annual Meeting in October so do come along and join in. Also in May the group are marking the Queen’s 90th birthday by going out for a celebratory cream tea. Guests and prospective members are always most welcome; there is a nominal charge of £3. For more details call Margaret Smith on (01825 723519).

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING: will take place on Friday May 6 in the village hall. The meeting proper will start at 7.30pm but those attending are invited to arrive at 7pm when light refreshments will be available.

VOLUNTEERING AT THE BLUEBELL RAILWAY: want to find out more? A ‘Find Out More Day’ is taking place on Sunday May 8. Anyone, skilled or unskilled, who can offer a day a month or more to the Railway are invited to ‘find out more’ about volunteering in our various departments. And if under 16, you can gain experience in the 9F Club. Book your place on an orientation tour, and get more information about the opportunities at the Railway, by phoning 01825 720800 or emailing [email protected].

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

BAT WALK: at Sheffield Park and Garden takes place on Thursday May 12 from 8pm to 9.30pm. The cost for adults is £6 and children £3.50. Have a go at detecting the bats living in the garden and parkland while learning more about them. Booking essential on 01825 790231

SOUTHERN AT WAR: at the Bluebell Railway takes place the weekend of May 14 and 15 and any preservation groups that would like a trade stand space, at Horsted Keynes station, should contact Charlotte Archer at 01825 720800.

TRUMPTONSHIRE SERIES: Are Chailey, Plumpton Green and Wivelsfield Green the real locations of Trumpton, Chigley and Camberwick Green? To learn the views of a Chailey resident visit http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/655855/Trumpton-real-locations-revealed.

ACCESSIBLE STEAM HERITAGE (ASH) APPEAL: This Bluebell Railway appeal is to provide £210,000 to match the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Round 2 grant they are seeking of £840,000 which has received approval at Round 1 of the HLF application. Therefore every £10 donated is worth £50 to the Project, and even more if Gift Aided. Watch Nicholas Owen’s Video for the ASH Project. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tWI3jxjecM. The ASH Project’s aims are to improve the Railway’s capacity to operate steam locomotives including a new maintenance facility, ensure the survival of a unique collection of steam locomotives, create an exciting exhibition and display area for a wide range of visitors to learn about steam heritage, provide the opportunity for steam locomotive history, working and operation to be easily understood and target new audiences to increase visitor numbers plus encourage return visits. This will be achieved by repairs to the Running Shed (including a new roof) and permitting footplate access to some of the locomotives on display. Some space will be given up to the interactive exhibits of the exhibition, including a mock-up of locomotive “Stepney”. This will be more than compensated for by the provision of a new building in which up to four locomotives may be stored, or worked on under cover. The southern end of the existing Running Shed will remain open to the public to view a variety of operational and non-operational locomotives, but under improved conditions, retaining the environment and atmosphere of a traditional Loco Shed. If the appeal reaches its target of £210,000 any surplus not required for the ASH project will be used to improve other buildings or provide tools and equipment for the locomotive department. In the event that the HLF grant application for £840,000 is not ultimately successful any funds raised by this appeal will be used to carry out badly needed repairs and improvements to the locomotive Running Shed so as to protect the unique steam locomotive collection and enhance the experience for visitors. If you are able to support this campaign and help the Bluebell Railway improve their facilities and make a donation this can be done at justgiving.com/bluebell-ASH. Since JustGiving deduct a percentage administration charge for larger amounts donations by cheque are preferred. Please send cheques for the attention of Roger Kelly, the Funding Director, at Sheffield Park Station, East Sussex, TN22 3QL. If you are a taxpayer, please download a gift aid form at http://rasalmon.co.uk/bluebell/download/fund/GiftAid_ASH.pdf and send that too. If the appeal reaches its target of £210,000, any surplus not required for ASH will be used to improve other buildings or provide tools and equipment for the Loco Department. For more details call 01825 720800.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.midsussextimes.co.uk

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/midsussextimes

3) Follow us on Twitter @midsussex_times

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Mid Sussex Times - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.