Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
The Colgate and Faygate
Parish News
March 2014
Delivered free to homes in the villages
Telephone 01293 871251 The Rectory Rusper
The Grumpy Monk
Among the many sites I have visited on pilgrimage to the Holy Land a large monastery, partly carved out of the rock itself, leans out from the edge of the cliff over a panorama of the city of Jericho, marking the traditional site of the temptations of Jesus.
That Gospel connection and the impressive collection of painted icons and murals is the draw, but there is a drawback. Not so much the cable car trip that makes some queasy, not the scorching desert heat, nor the slow steep climb along the edge in blazing sun, but rather the renown of ‘the grumpy monk,’ as he has come to be known. The grumpy monk is the only monk in the whole monastery. Whether this is why he is grumpy or whether he was sent there because his brothers found him too grumpy to live with is not entirely clear. What I discovered is that arriving at the grumpy monk’s lunchtime is not a good idea. There is a man on the door, who is very good at shutting it if he doesn’t like the look of you. He seemed careworn and long suffering and I did feel a twinge of guilt at sending him off to ask the monk if we could come in, fearful that the grumpy monk might sometimes take it out on him. While he was gone Father Derek, the priest in charge of our pilgrimage caught up with us, knocked on the door and in no time had got in to work his powers of persuasion on the grumpy monk. We stood waiting for a good forty minutes, that felt more like days and nights after which Derek reappeared and recited the conditions under which we would be allowed to enter.
Sad to say, I’m sure that for many people the image of the church they have, fairly or otherwise could be personified as a grumpy old monk, and if that negative perception of Christianity could be described as a season that season would surely be Lent. Lent is understandably seen as the grumpy forbidding face of Christianity, the giving up, going without miserable attitude. As a symbol of a positive approach to Lent the monastery of the temptations represents a call to the edge, to risk taking, yet also the spiritual aspiration that can reward us with a new fresh view; that can refresh and reinvigorate faith.
Lent calls certainly for persistence, for knowing what we want and sticking at it, but if every physical or mental health regime demands that why should the spiritual endeavour be any different?
SPRINGFIELD KENNELSCOLGATE NR HORSHAM
DOG BOARDINGCONTACT SHEILA MARLEY
01293 [email protected]
www.springfielddogkennels.co.uk
S BROWNBUILDER / DECORATOR
PLUMBER
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
CONTRACTORTEL:01293 851471
MOB: 07880 932061
MILBORROW - H.E.T.A.S. REG. – GAS SAFE REGISTERED
PROFESSIONAL & EXTREMELY THOROUGHAll stoves,fires,boilers,Agas,Rayburns swept & serviced (S/F)
MALCOLM’SMALCOLM’SMALCOLM’SMALCOLM’S
Domestic Appliance Repairs
‘My reputation your guarantee’
BOSCH HOTPOINT HOOVERINDESIT BELLING ETC.
WASHING MACHINESTUMBLE DRIERSDISHWASHERS
HOBSOVENS
COOKERS
01403 24247001403 24247001403 24247001403 242470
Professional Locksmith Services24 hours a day – 7 days a week
Call now on 01293 859112/07799 001288
Email us: [email protected]
Call us now for a competitive quote:
01403 256567 OR 07887 712919
Services in the United Parishes of Colgate And Rusper
St Saviour’s Church Colgate A warm welcome awaits you at all our services in March 2014 March Sunday 2nd 9.30am Holy Communion BCP Ash Wednesday 5th 10.00am Holy Communion
for the united benefice at Rusper(said)
2.00pm Rise+Shine Bible fun for 0-5s
Sundays in Lent
Sunday 9th 11.00am *Morning Prayer Friday 14th 12noon Holy Communion
with Bishop Martin at Rusper(said) Sunday 16th 9.30am *Morning Prayer Sunday 23rd 11.00am *Holy Communion Sunday 30th 11.00am Mothering Sunday Family Service with the Sunday Club April Wednesday 2nd 2.00pm Rise+Shine
At RUSPER
Sunday 6th 11.00am Holy Communion BCP APGM * - SIX WORD SERMON
Your chance to influence the sermon! Get the readings from Nick in advance and submit your six word summary to him or even bring it and read it on the day.
Denotes Sunday Club dates – all children are very welcome to meet in Colgate
Village Hall at 11.00am.
Budget- DunlopMichelin-Pirelli
Uniroyal-Goodyear
+Discounted Tyres +Exhausts +MOTs +Batteries+Repairs & Servicing +Fitting While-U-Wait+Waiting Area With Refreshments+MOT Testing By Appointment+Puncture Repairs & Tracking
Cars – Vans – 4x4
www.lynxautocentre.com
Fleet Cars Welcome
01293 851891Unit 4, Holmbush Potteries Industrial Estate,
Faygate, Near Horsham, W Sussex, RH12 4ST
15 Years of Excellent Service
P.J.Barrow & Partners Ltd.Garden and Estate Machinery
Supplied and ServicedWatermead, Henfield Road,Cowfold, Sussex RH13 8DT
[email protected] (01403) 864342
www.pjbarrow.co.uk
Brighton RoadLower BeedingWest Sussex
RH13 6NQ
Tel: (01403) 891900Fax: (01403) 891664
HorshamFencing
Excellent serviceEstablished since 1992
01293822800
Unit 4 Axiom Business Park, Horley, Surrey
EVER TRIED INDOOR BOWLS?
The Horsham District Indoor Bowls Club
Broadbridge Heath
Bowls is one of the few sports where familymembers of different ages can play each other
on an equal basis.
Coaching for new bowlers of all agesis provided free of charge and all are welcome
NEW Junior Section for children of 8+.
for more informationContact Norman Porter (01293 279824 evenings or
email: [email protected])
RETAIL MOTOR INDUSTRY FEDERATION
Professional Carpet,Rug & Dralon
Cleaning ServicesNATIONAL CARPET CLEANERS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS
Ring: Philip Hughes (Horsham 01403) 258958
Email: [email protected]
News from St Saviour’s The scribe has been away for a few weeks, in the land of the Dutch Reformed Church in Southern Africa. Neat, white churches with well maintained gardens are a feature of every small town. An update on the forthcoming visit of the bishop to the area suggests that he will be in the Rusper/Colgate parishes on Friday, March 14th. It is still not clear whether we will see him in Colgate, but hopefully all will be clarified in due course. Meanwhile a date for the diary is Sunday May 18th, when the Holmbush gardens will put on their annual display in aid of St Saviour’s. After the year’s winter rains this spring event will indeed be welcome. The next PCC is scheduled for March 25th and the AGM for April 6th during the morning service, as was done with success last year.
Cuppa & Chat
Every first Monday of the month
Monday 3 March 2014
Any time between 10 – 12 at St Saviour’s Church, Colgate
Have you ever wondered about coming along to Cuppa & Chat? If you have never been, maybe it’s time to give us a try!
‘Like’ us on Facebook: Colgate and Faygate Cuppa and Chat
Check out local information and events on our web site: http://colgateandfaygate.community21.org
Clergy Days Off
Nick is here to serve the needs of the community. He is pleased to hear of new people moving in who may be visited and welcomed by the church. Holy Communion can be arranged for the sick or housebound. He tries to take just one day off each week and it would be appreciated if he is not contacted on a Thursday.
PROTECTA
PEST CONTROL
Mice Rats Moles
Wasps Cluster FliesEffective, Affordable Pest Control
Local Registered Company
Professional, Personal Service
TEL: 01403 259972
MOBILE: 07833 557498
www.protecta-pestcontrol.co.uk
Miller Robinson & CompanyAccountants & Business
Consultants-Tax Returns -Company Secretarial-Annual Accounts -Business Plans-Limited Company Accounts -Start Up Advice-V.A.T. -C.I.S.-Payroll -HMRC Investigations-Book-keeping -Tax Planning-Formation of Limited Companies -Management Accounts
A range of Financial Services available by our Independent Financial Advisors
Call now for free initial consultation
TELEPHONE: 01403 730099Lintot House, 20 Fairbank Road,
Southwater, West Sussex, RH13 9LAwww.mrc-accountancy.com
11 OWLBEECH WAY, HORSHAM,WEST SUSSEX, RH13 6AWPhone : 01403 258079Mobile : 07885 439574
Email : [email protected] : www.chippiebrown.co.uk
GL PLASTERING CONTACT GRANT
FOR FREE QUOTATIONS OR ADVICE
TEL : 01293 851878
MOBILE : 07812 115305WWW.GLPLASTERING.CO.UK
32 YEARS EXPERIENCE
HORSHAM HOME SECURITY24 Hour ServiceAlarms, Closed circuit TV,Wire Free Intruder Alarm Systems.
SSAIB Approved
07860 304244 or 01403 730498
MARTIN A.MAYNARDMSSCh., MBChA., HCPC Reg.
NIKKI AND ROBINWOULD LIKE TO INVITE
YOU TO
ENTER THE DRAGONFOR A WARM WELCOME,
DELICIOUS FOOD AND A GREAT SELECTION OF
BEERS AND WINES.
CALL 01293 851562FOR RESERVATIONS AND ENQUIRIES
the dragon inn colgate, forest road, colgate, RH12 4SY
St Saviour’s Church
I am often asked how the money received by the church is spent. This is the income and expenditure for the year January to December 2013.
Income
Collections, Gift Aid & Income tax claimed £ 9774 Magazine Advertisements 2199 Donations & Grants 2447 Wedding & Funeral charges 790 Fundraising & Fund 49 5335 Interest 29
Total £ 20574
Expenses
Vicars allowance & expend. (1/3 of total, 2/3 paid by Rusper) £ 1845 Deacon’s expenses 305 Utilities 959 Maintenance 976 Service costs (wine, visiting vicars etc.) 453 Magazine printing 1066 Organist’s salary 1680 Parish contribution to Chichester Diocese 12570 Charities 584 Fundraising (Fund 49) 1380
Total £ 21818
Pat Stillwell Treasurer
Community Messaging
Sussex Police Community Messaging enables you to register for email messages and alerts about your local area. If you provide your mobile number we may use this to text you in an emergency.
Once registered you will be kept up-to-date with crime and policing issues where you live. This includes warnings about bogus callers and rogue traders, crime reduction advice and news from your local team. There is no charge for this service - all messages you receive are free. You can sign up for this as individuals and do not be part of a scheme as such. The messages will be sent out in a weekly or bi-weekly newsletter for information.
To sign up for this service you can either go onto the Sussex Police Website at www.Sussex.police.uk and click on the ‘Policing in Sussex’ tab, then under the ‘your community’ section, click on the community messaging section and complete your application on line or contact me at [email protected] giving me your address and I’ll pop a form round to you to sign up.
Colgate Memorial Hall
Day care for children aged 2-5years.
Free childcare places for 3 & 4 year olds.
Ofsted Registered
Monday: 9.00am-3.00pm
Tuesday: 12.30pm-3.00pm
Wednesday: 9.00am-3.00pm
Thursday: 9.00am-3.00pm
Friday: 9.00am-1.00pm
For a prospectus Tel: 01293 851606
or email: [email protected]
Colgate Weather – November 2013 – January 2014
November was an average month except it was a little colder than usual. We had showers on 1st with moderate to strong south-westerly winds which were in control for the first week and bringing rain every day. In particular, on 3rd and overnight the wind brought 0.95” rain with it, the heaviest of the month. In fact it rained every day for the first thirteen days despite the wind changing to a more northerly direction in the second week. Temperatures were in the low to mid-
50sF, until a frost on 13th saw the temperatures dip below 50F, remaining in the narrow range of 43-46F although other parts of England were a little cooler than average. The second half of the month was much drier with just a little rain on four more days, as we lost the south-westerly wind and had either a north-easterly or north-westerly light wind instead. There was also a bit more sun than usual but this did not lift the temperature by much and there was no recurrence of the St Jude’s storm. Total rainfall of 3.85” was about average for us and a little above the 3.5” average across the country. The Met Office summary for the whole of autumn was just a one-word summary – average!
December started quietly with light easterly winds giving cloudy but dry days and a temperature or a round 45F. This was followed by a couple of slight frosts and a little drizzle. We avoided the first storm of the month which produced the worst tidal surge in sixty years on the east coast, bringing severe flooding to thousands of homes. It remained mainly dry during the second week of December and there were a several bright and sunny days, the light south-westerly winds lifting the temperature to 50F, with just a little overnight rain on 11th and 12th. However, by this time the Jetstream had taken up a position directly over us instead of its more usual position south of us. This resulted in strong areas of low pressure that form where cold arctic winds meet warm air from the Caribbean, blowing directly onto our southerly and westerly shores. Although it remained mild, it started to rain every day and night, increasing in amounts from 0.18” on 13th up to 0.75” on 15th followed three
days later by a further 0.64” which was accompanied by gale-force winds which continued through the pre-Christmas weekend. On 21st there was 1” of rain followed by a day’s respite before gales returned on 23rd with a vengeance. This weather led to major disruption in homes as well as total travel chaos in the southern half of the country. I recorded 1.76” of rain
from 9am on 23rd to 9am on 24th, and this is the most I have ever recorded in a 24-hour period in the past twenty-three years – the same volume recorded in Charlwood for the same period.
Christmas Day brought heavy showers, some on hail. Boxing Day was sunny all day although overnight there was more heavy rain giving 0.53”. Frost returned on 28th and 29th, but daytime temperatures remained in the range 45-48F, before the month ended with two further days of rain, each day giving in excess of 0.5”. We did, though, avoid the gales that were hammering the west coast of Britain. Total rainfall for the month was 8.27”, the most I have recorded, and this all fell after a dry first thirteen days! At least it was one of the mildest Decembers in the past hundred years.
Total rainfall for the year was 40.03”which was similar to the average for the past fifteen years, following the drier nineties. Temperatures were equally unremarkable, the cold winter and spring balanced by the hot summer and mild autumn.
January was an extraordinary month for weather, in particular because of the very heavy rainfall we were subjected to. The new year came in with strong to gale-force winds and very heavy rain all day, giving a total of 0.95”, and this pattern of heavy showers and more persistent rain continued for several more days, with usually around daily rainfall of 0.5” recorded. Bright intervals were rare and short-lived, however we had frost on 5th before giving way to another day of heavy rain and high winds, depositing 1.01”. This pattern continued into the second week of the month although 9th and 11th were completely dry with frost on the mornings of 10th and 12th, but always followed by a breakdown and a return to rain and winds. At least the temperatures stayed comparatively high, in the range of 48-54F, unusual for
January but not unexpected with the winds from the south-west mostly accompanied by persistent cloud cover. The third week saw little change and on 16th and overnight we had the month’s heaviest rainfall at 1.26” and further local flooding. It was dry and sunny on 19th, another brief respite, before rain returned accompanied this time by early morning fog. There was no let-up in this pattern for the last ten days of the month, with only a possible mini-tornado around 5pm on 25th to liven things up even more. This brought trees down and caused some structural damage. Temperatures dropped a little to 39-41Fbut the forecast cold snap never came to our area, and the month went out with a lion’s roar with 1.14” of rain, gales, and an eight-hour power cut for some of us. It’s not surprising to report monthly rainfall of 10.21”. I have never recorded such an amount in one month and only twice recorded over 9” in any month. And it was the only month where I’ve recorded in excess on 1” rain on three occasions, likewise only three twenty-four hour periods without rain. Experts tell us it is down to the very powerful Jetstream and the fact that it is further south than usual and thus drawing our weather from the Atlantic and blocking colder northerly winds from gaining a foothold.
BRYAN RADFORD
YOUR LOCAL HORSHAM DECORATORYOUR LOCAL HORSHAM DECORATORYOUR LOCAL HORSHAM DECORATORYOUR LOCAL HORSHAM DECORATOR AAAALL INTERIOR & EXTERIOR WORK UNDERTAKENLL INTERIOR & EXTERIOR WORK UNDERTAKENLL INTERIOR & EXTERIOR WORK UNDERTAKENLL INTERIOR & EXTERIOR WORK UNDERTAKEN
CALL NOW CALL NOW CALL NOW CALL NOW
Mob: 07968 742433Mob: 07968 742433Mob: 07968 742433Mob: 07968 742433
FOR A FREE FOR A FREE FOR A FREE FOR A FREE
Tel: 01293 852549Tel: 01293 852549Tel: 01293 852549Tel: 01293 852549
ESTIMATEESTIMATEESTIMATEESTIMATE
Rob HumeRob HumeRob HumeRob Hume
RB DECORATINGRB DECORATINGRB DECORATINGRB DECORATING
Email: Email: Email: Email: [email protected]@[email protected]@yahoo.co.uk
In April 2014 The Dragon Clay Club will be celebrating its 25th year and we would like to thank everybody who has supported us for all this time.
The first proper shoot was originally held in April 1989 and was an inter-bar challenge between locals from The Dragon Public House using the main and snug bars with a Top Gun trophy donated by the landlords of the pub at the time. After the shoot a few of us who had been shooting at a farm in Pease Pottage and a few who had been shooting occasionally in Springfield Lane got together and the Club was formed
agreeing to meet on a regular basis i.e. once a month on the first Sunday of each month. It was also agreed that it should be a fun Club with any profits going to local charities.
This has been the way the Club has run ever since, a fun Club for all with an interest in clay shooting, with money still being raised and donated to charity. To this day we have donated in excess of £40,000 to many well deserving causes, the Brittle Bone Society and The Phoenix Stroke Club in Horsham being the two we have supported over the last few years. Both charities being very close to us and the owner of the farm where we shoot, Mrs Sue Shore who herself suffered a stroke shortly after we had held a charity shoot and she had presented a cheque to the Brittle Bone Society.
Over the years we have progressed from 10-15 members to around 100. The Club and shoot is regarded as one of the best in the South of England. However, our shoot has never seen a straight 100% target hit, at any of the shoots, from monthly Club shoots to the Open or even our Charity event, all of which have been very well attended by Club members as well as members of the British and Olympic teams trying, even the 22 times world champion and multi European title holder, Mr George Digweed MBE, only managing to hit 97 out of 100 targets.
Again, we would like to thank everyone for supporting us over all the years and we look forward to many more years of The Dragon Clay Club. We would especially like to thank Sue Shore for allowing us the use of her ground for the past 25 years. The aims of Farm Watch are: To reduce opportunities for crime to occur in farming and rural communities To strengthen community spirit, so that everyone works together to protect their property To improve communication between the farming communities and the Police. To encourage people to report suspicious incidents as they occur. The services offered by the Farm Watch scheme include:
Practical crime prevention advise to farmers and landowners, to help ensure their property and goods are as secure as possible A text alert service A new and improved website section to keep members updated with the latest crime trends and prevention tips
The key aim of Farm Watch is to stress the importance of vigilance and communication - both within rural and farming communities and between rural communities and Sussex Police.
To access this application form either go online to www.sussex.police.uk, and click on the ‘Policing in Sussex’ tab and under the heading ‘your community’, click on Farm watch. This application will need to be printed off and sent to the HQ, Lewes address as shown.
Gardener’s Journal
St Valentine’s Day and maybe this extraordinary storm-tossed winter is passing. The ground is saturated and any dead or flimsy branches have been blown down from the trees. Firewood should be in ample supply next season. But it has been mild. Camellias are beginning to flower freely and the first of the rhododendrons, Christmas Cheer, was in blossom at the end of January. Others will follow. Snowdrops started early, at least until nibbled by the pheasant. Crocuses, hellebores and primroses are emerging and forsythia and daffodils will break out shortly. Cut out and burn diseased hellebore leaves. The garden is promising an imminent end to winter. Snowdrops can be dug up and propagated as they finish flowering. Lawns need to be tidied and edges and paths redelineated. New shrubs can be introduced and old ones moved with careful preparation of the soil. Flowerbeds have received their winter clean-up and a bolstering of leaf compost and a little fertiliser. A head start on weeding now will save much trouble in summer. By the end of February roses, fuchsias, wisteria and other shrubs should have been pruned and attention should turn to orchards, currants and berries. Be ready to patch and mow lawns, hope the mole stays away, spot weedkill to catch dandelions at an early stage and feed as desired. Dahlias have been started in the greenhouse. In the vegetable garden some of last year’s crops – parsnips and leeks - are still coming in. As beds are emptied manure and/or compost should be added in preparation for the coming season. Rotate crops from year to year and pay heed to the merits of companion planting as a natural check on pests. Long before St Patrick’s Day onion sets and garlic should be in the ground – autumn plantings should now be well ahead. Let the ground warm up a little before sowing snow peas – they catch up quickly. Rhubarb is nearly ready for a first picking. Broad beans are about to move from the greenhouse to their seasonal location and will be supplemented by direct sowings. Potatoes should be chitted indoors and planted in March. Containers generating their own micro-climates and producing good early crops of potatoes and longer term root crops need fresh soil. Again carrots were particularly successful in raised containers. Last year’s grow-bags can be emptied into raised beds and the whole fully turned over.
A late winter, and first, visit to Cape Town provided a welcome break from the relentless rain and wind. The number of species on towering Table Mountain or within easy driving range of the city was surprising. Some, such as rewarding osteospernum and tender agapanthus, are seasonal plantings at home. Others, in the fynbos category which includes heaths, daisies and proteas, enjoy their own special climate and support colourful birdlife. Here and there one recognises the decorative use made of Iceberg roses and, of course, the grapevine.
The days are lengthening and despite the weather, the gardener’s year is under way. Look out for pests such as small rabbits that wriggle under the fence. Keep the bird tables well stocked. The rising dawn chorus is a sign that local residents at least can see winter is nearly over. Quercus
COLGATE MEMORIAL HALL
Please make a note of the following dates:
The AGM on Wednesday 12th March at 8pm.
Please come along we are always looking for new faces with new ideas. We only meet 4 times a year with a few fundraising events and social occasions.
************* Jumble Sale on Saturday March 15th at 1pm.
If you have any unwanted items please bring them to the hall after 10am. If you have large items that need collecting please ring David Stillwell on 01293 851275.
************* Village Fete on Sunday 22nd June at 1pm.
Further details later. Any suggestions for stalls, activities etc. and help on the day are always very welcome.
*************
Colgate Village Dance “A 60’s Revival”
Saturday 10th May
Guest Band ‘Forever Young’ return once again for an evening of great music in Colgate village hall by some really talented musicians and entertainers.
If you were a teenager in the Sixties then you know what a great time it was, but if it was before your ‘time’ then you just don’t know just what you missed.
So now is the chance to get those old flares and flower power clothes out of the attic and come along and relive those fantastic years.
The evening starts at 7:30 pm through to midnight with a buffet served during the evening.
Soft drinks will be provided, so just bring your own alcoholic beverages!
Tickets are £12 per person in advance so call and reserve yours now.
Call Dave on 01293 851520 or Chris on 01293 851658
HEALTH WALKS
Every Monday 10:45 am: North Heath, Horsham, gentle 2 mile walk around the riverside. Suitable for slow & new walkers. 1 to 1¼ hours. Meet at the Sussex Barn pub car park off North Heath Lane. Leaders Ann or John 01403 268885
Thursday 6th March 10:00 am: High Weald Land-scape Trail. Meet at Roosthole Forestry Commission car park, Hammerpond Road, Horsham (TQ 208298). Various 4½ mile circular walks through forest and open heathland, some gentle slopes, no stiles, no dogs, 2 hours. Leaders Daniela 01403 276973 or Alex 01403 273751
Saturday 8th March 10:30 am: Horsham Going South, 5 mile, mostly flat, circular walk from the historic Causeway, past the elegant spired 13th Century Church of St Mary the Virgin, over the meadows and gentle wooded slopes of Denne Park, to Coltstaple Lane, Southwater, and back along Pedlar’s Way via Chesworth Farm. Some stiles. Lovely views of Horsham. Meet in front of St Mary’s Church. No dogs. 2 ½ hours. Leader Jill 07780 701184
Tuesdays 11th & 25th March 9:30 am: Buchan Country Park A 2 mile walk in a largely wooded area with some open heathland, meadows and ponds, easy walking with well-defined paths. There is a Nature Reserve area and the Countryside Centre may be open. (First timers and families welcome).Meet at car park (RH11 9HQ) off the A2220 Crawley to Horsham side of the dual carriageway. Leaders|: Richard 01403 230293 or Emmy 01403 255517
Saturdays 15th & 30th March 10:30 am: New Walk Leechpool and Owlbeech Woods Meet at Leechpool Wood car park, Horsham (TQ194313), off Harwood Road (B2195). Lovely woodland 2¼ mile walk, taking 1¼ hors, generally following main paths and easy under foot, although a small part of the walk will be on narrower paths with tree roots, stubs and uneven ground. Some inclines. Could be muddy in places. A sensible pair of shoes would be advisable. Leader: Armelle 01403 260342
Saturday 22nd March 2:00 pm: Roosthole, Meet in the Forestry Commission car park on Hammerpond Road, Horsham. 3½ mile various routes, mainly through forest and some open heathland. Some long gentle and short steep hills. 1¾ hours. Leader Simon 01403 260599
Wednesday 26th March 10:00 am: New Walk Rookwood Golf Course Horsham The 6 mile walk taking 2½ hours, is either a clockwise or an anti-clockwise circuit via Warnham, passing ‘Field Place’, ‘Warnham Manor’ and the deer park. After the walk we return to Rookwood for refreshments. Boots are advisable as the route can be muddy. Sorry, no dogs. Leader: Michael 07719 467861
Saturday 29th March 10:30 am: Sedgwick Lane and Park. We have had permission to park at Hilliers Garden Centre, Brighton Road. Please drive into the parking area, and drive right down to the bottom on the gravel and park there. There is a bus stop right outside the Garden centre, it is route 17 to Brighton. This is a lovely local 6 mile walk, along the byways and footpaths just south of Horsham, taking.2½ hours We go down Kerves Lane and then across to Sedgwick Park. Lovely views across Horsham and the south east, particularly in the winter. There will be horses and cows in the fields we cross, so please no dogs. The café in the Garden Centre offers tasty snacks at lunchtime. Leader Jill 07780 701184 Keep your recycling clean, dry and loose
RESIDENTS are being reminded to check that everything they put into their recycling bins is clean, dry and loose. Items should always be placed loose into the blue lidded recycle bin and not put into plastic carrier bags, as any material that is tied together will not be recycled.
The following items can be put into the household recycling bins in the Horsham District: glass bottles and jars plastic bottles drinks cartons liquid food cartons steel and aluminium cans aerosols foil all types of paper, including junk mail and envelopes cards and greetings cards newspapers, magazines, directories and brochures corrugated card
An additional range of items can also be recycled at the two local Household Waste Recycling Sites, run by West Sussex County Council, at Hop Oast, Worthing Road, in Horsham. Currently 50% of household waste collected in our District is recycled. This year we will be communicating with residents to remind them of the need to recycle and what can and cannot be recycled. For more information about recycling in the Horsham District, visit the Horsham District Council website (www.horsham.gov.uk), email [email protected] or call 01403 733144.
Bringing Back the Big Guys by Mike Russell of the Sussex Wildlife Trust
Centuries ago, wolves, lynx and brown bears inhabited our forests, beavers would have made dams in our wetlands and eagles patrolled the skies above our forests and uplands. As an 'apex' predator, they controlled populations across the landscape and a natural ecological balance was maintained. That is until us humans started to increase in number and directly impact on their numbers and a view of no
tolerance towards competitive predators was adopted and gradually they were all eliminated. No-one knows when bears officially became extinct in the UK but it is thought they had certainly long gone by the time the Normans arrived whereas lynx were originally thought to have disappeared some 5000 years ago, although the latest evidence shows that they may have in fact survived until as late as the 6th or 7th century. Wolves lasted officially until the late 17th century when the last one was shot in Scotland, while the white-tailed eagle survived until 1917 before it was finally blasted out of existence.
All these species managed to survive in the rest of Europe, though hunting and habitat loss has severely reduced populations. But recent good news from some analysis undertaken by the Zoological Society of London, Birdlife and the European Bird Census Council says that some of these key species are making a comeback. Statutory protection, habitat creation, hunting regulation and rural depopulation has led to the doubling of brown bears, the grey wolf increasing by 30% and numbers of European beaver have, in the
© Darin Smith past five decades numbers gone up by 3000%. All this though, it has to be remembered, is from a very low base. Sadly this doesn't apply to the Iberian lynx that is hovering on the verge of extinction.
Here in the UK, these animals can't come back naturally as we got rid of them all so we have to think about re-introduction. There has been a long-term project going in since the 1970s to bring back white-tailed eagles to Scotland which has been relatively successful, to the extent that it now brings in £5 million pounds a year in wildlife tourism to the Isle of Mull alone. Trials for re-introducing beavers are currently taking place in a few places in the UK, but now we are starting to get into the realms of concern about these programmes, and in some quarters there is downright hostility. © Hugh Clark
Bringing back wolves, bears and lynx is beyond comprehension for many people; no room in this crowded island, the effect on livestock, eating family pets and being frightened to go out in case we get attacked are just some of the objections thrown into the debate. From the conservation prospective, the amount of available habitat is the big issue; there are places for larger animals to be re-introduced but once an optimum population had been reached where would that population could expand into.
© Hugh Clark
But it is happening in Europe; there are issues with the predators coming up against rural communities and loss of livestock, but the idea shouldn't be dismissed out of hand in the UK. It could help deal with some of the ecological problems we have at the moment such as far too many deer; it could also check the smaller predator populations such as foxes and badgers. Big carnivores roaming Sussex? Not in my lifetime I expect or for the foreseeable future sadly, but it shouldn't be dismissed outright. In parts of Europe it is becoming a reality and who knows, attitudes may change and the fact that there is positive news coming from across the continent does give the merest glimpse of encouragement that there may be a future for apex predators in our world.
www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: All articles for the April issue of the magazine will need to be with Janet by 20th March. If you have email this makes it very easy but typed or handwritten articles are just as welcome.
FREE estimates: All work to BS7671 2008 IEE Regulations
Domestic Electricians
Polite, Friendly and Reliable
Service
Fully Qualified and Insured
Part P Registered
No Job too small
Call Graham on
07825 325449
Dogs, Cats,‘Small Furries’
Horses & Farm AnimalsExotic & Zoo Animals
RusperAlpha Romeo
Now Open at Faygate Garage
MOT, SERVICING& REPAIRS
01293 851232
Hydrotherapy Pool
