Hundreds swarm to sledging mecca of Horsham

Snowboards, sledge-scooters and even washing up baskets have been hauled to the top of Denne Hill - branded the ‘Val D’Isere’ of West Sussex by one local.

“The scenery is beautiful,” said Mel Benton, 40. “The children are sledging and the adults are drinking soup. There’s a real community feel. The kids actually know half of the others around here.”

“We were hoping all year for snow,” said Crystal Rosen, 21, who had come equipped with her snowboard along with Daniel Lawrance, 22, and Hayley Spinks, 28.

“This is a great beginners slope, and it’s been so nice interacting with all the kids.”

Not everyone had brought a conventional mode of transport, however.

Sophie Adwick, 32, of Brighton Road, had taken a washing up basket and a plastic box - which had already shattered.

“I would not recommend it,” she advised the County Times. “Last time it snowed we used a washing up basket and it worked better than sledges. The snow this year though doesn’t hand itself well to the basket!

“There’s a brilliant atmosphere here today, it doesn’t happen very often which has made it special.”

John Billington, 42, added: “I’m here with the family, and this is such a good facility.

“It’s a safe environment for the children away from the traffic. It’s very kind of the farmer to let us use the land and I hope people respect the wishes to tidy up after themselves and bin their rubbish.”

A total of 240 sledges have flown off the shelves at Goodacres Toymaster in Horsham town centre this weekend.

“We only have eight left,” said owner Roy Ringer. “We’ve actually had these for the last two years in storage after it snowed.

“I would like to thank the public for their support.”