Call on public to back plans for Bedelands Nature Reserve in Burgess Hill

Exciting plans for the future of Bedelands Nature Reserve in Burgess Hill have exclusively been revealed to the Middy.
Council leader Pru Moore, Dominic Moore, chairman of FoBHGCN, and deputy council leader Chris Thomas-AtkinCouncil leader Pru Moore, Dominic Moore, chairman of FoBHGCN, and deputy council leader Chris Thomas-Atkin
Council leader Pru Moore, Dominic Moore, chairman of FoBHGCN, and deputy council leader Chris Thomas-Atkin

Friends of Burgess Hill Green Circle Network (FoBHGCN) have teamed up with Burgess Hill Town Council to carry out the plans and are calling for the community’s support.

The first proposal is for a six by 12foot adventure trail to be built above the ground and a zip wire along the west edge of Watford Wood.

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It is applying for a £40,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund to pay for it.

Council leader Pru Moore, Dominic Moore, chairman of FoBHGCN, and deputy council leader Chris Thomas-AtkinCouncil leader Pru Moore, Dominic Moore, chairman of FoBHGCN, and deputy council leader Chris Thomas-Atkin
Council leader Pru Moore, Dominic Moore, chairman of FoBHGCN, and deputy council leader Chris Thomas-Atkin

Dominic Moore, chairman of FoBHGCN, told the Middy: “I would like to strongly recommend this wonderful adventure trail we are proposing on Bedelands as a fantastic facility for children and young people, close to the existing BMX track and football pitches which would keep all these activities in one main area.”

Its second proposal is to complete the Green Circle.

Dominic said: “When the Green Circle is completed along the south of the Northern Arc, this would provide a continuous, mainly traffic-free, route around Burgess Hill for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.”

Pru Moore, leader of the town council, added: “We are really looking for a the completion of our Green Circle, which is part of our Neighbourhood Plan and town-wide vision.

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“This of course will be travelling through the Northern Arc which has been taken over by Homes England.

“They are working closely with us but we must ensure that this route is adhered to and is completed as per our plans, so if you could please complete our short questionnaire, this would help ensure that this happens.”

FoBHGCN’s third proposal is to extend the nature reserve.

Dominic said: “With the building of the Northern Arc, there will be a huge increase in the footfall on Bedelands, with some 10,000 additional residents nearby – an additional third on top of the exisiting 30,000 people.

“Our beautiful local nature reserve can hardly cope with this additional pressure.

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“We would appreciate MSDC and Homes England to agree to set aside the land as far as Freeks Lane for a Bedelands extension, using the southern meadow as a community park with various amenities for family outings.”

Pru added: “It is a service to the huge increase of residents we are going to have.”

People are invited to give their views in a questionnaire. Visit https://goo.gl/forms/M8okRxapyRUzQMoB2.