Staplecross

First off the shelf is that if you are aged between 40 and 74 (or know of anyone who is & may benefit ) you may be eligible for a free NHS Health Check that can help you live a longer and healthier life. The programme aims to help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. Everyone eligible, who has not already been diagnosed with one of these conditions, will be invited to have a health check and will be given support and advice.If you would like more information visit ww.eastsussex.gov.uk/health and click on’NHS Health Checks in East Sussex’.

Second notification is that hundreds more parents of two-year-olds will be eligible for 15 hours free childcare from September 2014. This government scheme which already provides this benefit to parents on low income or already receiving benefits, has been extended to include families receiving ‘Working Tax Credit’ who are earning less than £16,190:00. You can find out if you are eligible and find a list of childcare providers, by going online to: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/freechildcare. For further help in finding childcare, you can also call Information for Families on:0345 60 80 192.

The Woodland Trust is hoping to encourage everyone to plant more trees and with tree planting in the UK falling short of Government targets and ancient woodland continually under threat, it’s more important than ever that the Trust upholds their principles that trees are a vital part of everyone’s life. To help underline how important they feel about this endeavour the Trust is offering FREE TREES for our Schools or Communities. You can enhance your local area and help wildlife into the bargain by applying for one of more than 4000 packs of saplings that the Woodland Trust are giving away this Autumn. The closing date is Thursday September 4th. 2014 and delivery will be during the first week in November.For further information please contact [email protected]

The hardworking and committed Herdman Association, based at the brilliant little sports pavilion in Ewhurst Green is seeking new members. Now known as the Herdman Pavilion, this State of the Art pavilion recently completed, following years of fund-raising and campaigns by the Association and it’s supporters, and ably supported along the way by Ewhurst Parish Council, R.D.C. & E.S.C.C.is currently available for hire at a reasonable cost and is suitable for a wide variety of sports events and gatherings. There are showers and changing rooms for both hosts and visitor teams, a superbly fitted out kitchen, as well as plenty of space for a number of other functions ie. celebratory events, sports fixtures, various committee meetings, as well as a whole range of crafts and pastimes can be held there with ease and comfort together with the use of the recreation field. For an annual subscription fee of just £5:00, an Individual, a Family or Group will be entitled to the following benefits of membership:~ *a discount of £5:00 (the annual membership fee !) on the first occasion of hiring the Pavilion either the Pavilion or the Field. * Priority booking in the event of a non-member seeking to hire the facilities at the same time. * Attendance at any events organised by the Herdman Association. * Receipt of any newsletter or other relevant notices and * The right to stand and vote in Executive Committee elections held each October at the A.G.M. All members shall be entitled to receive notice of and attend and speak at such meetings and receive minutes of meetings. If you would be interested in becoming a member please contact the Membership Secretary via the email:

[email protected] or telephone 01580~830086.

Details of a forthcoming ‘Road Closure’ is sure to bring a scowl to many a motorists counternance, but this is to allow R.W.Green, on behalf of E.S.C.C. to undertake tree felling and remedial tree surgery to dangerous roadside trees. The road in question is C19 Bodiam Road, Ewhurst and will be closed from adjacent to the property known as ‘Madamses Farm’, to the junction with the C20 Shoreham Lane, for a distance of 356 metres. The road closure is anticipated to be in place on Monday July 28th to Friday August 1st 2014. and a diversion will be in place. Please bear with the workforce,as they are working to make this area a safer place to drive through.

Now that the school holidays have started in earnest and if you’re looking for something a little different to visit, why not check out the “Whizz, Bang, Pop” Festival at the Convent Fields, in Lewes. This One-Day event, happening on Saturday July 26th is for children aged 0 - 10. It includes national performers, local acts, a disco den, crafts, science shows and space hopper racing. Making the most of the great outdoors and entertaining the family at the same time can sometimes be difficult, so what could be better than enjoying some music and fun outdoors. Visit http://www.whizzbangpopfestival.co.uk/ Also the East Sussex Youth Orchestra celebrates it’s 35th anniversary this year, with it’s Summer Concert at the De La Warr Pavilion. Visit http://www.dlwp.com/ Why not go along and listen to the emerging talent.

Something completely different is the “Knights & Princesses Academy” held at Bodiam Castle every Wednesday and Thursday from July 30th to August 28th between 10.30am and 4.30pm. Are your little ones brave enough to complete the training to become a Knight or a Princess of Bodiam Castle and receive their prize and certificate ? For more information please telephone 01580~831320 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bodiamcastle

Never ones to let time stand still, the busy Staplecross Bowls Club have more fixtures filling up the diary of events as this Tuesday July 29th finds them playing away to Fairlight. On Wednesday July 30th the club will be the host for the first of three Home matches at their own ground in Northiam Road, Staplecross, the first of which is against Clive Vale. Thursday 31st is the second Home match with their opponents being Alexandra, and Saturday August 2nd will be against Beckley. On Sunday August 3rd the club will play a ‘Round Robin and this will begin at 9.30am. Jolly Good Luck to all our players !

Three very interesting and very different walks are planned by the Rother Ramblers this week. The first begins on Wednesday July 30th and is a 6.5 mile circular stroll around Firle Beacon.Meeting at 10.30am in Firle Village car park (SatNavBN86NU) This walk carries a health warning,- it consists of one fairly steep ascent and descent, so do take care. Dogs are, of course permitted to join you on this walk, and the ups & downs shouldn’t prove a problem for them. Please contact the ‘walk leaders’ Margaret & Stephen on 01424~223482 for all details. Walk No:2 is another of those wonderful evening strolls and takes place on Thursday July 31st. and is entitled “Gates for Stiles”. Meeting in the central car park in Northiam (SatNavTN310DE), This ramble encompasses a route that includes the five (5) gates that the Rother Ramblers have paid to be installed on the Sussex Border Path. A refreshment stop is suggested at a pub either midway or at the end. ~ or perhaps both !. Dogs are again permitted to walk with you so please telephone Jane and Peter on 01424~ 733300 for all further details. The third and final walk for the week is on Sunday August 3rd. and is a 7.5 mile walk ‘Round and About Battle and 1066’. Meet up at Battle Railway Station car park (TN330DE), at 10.0am. where sadly, car park charges do apply. A picnic lunch is suggested and as usual, a walk wouldn’t be the same without our doggy pals to enjoy it with us. Please contact the ‘walk leader’ who on this occasion is Janet on 01424 420570 for all further information.

In case you were unaware, being a little settlement between two once majestic buildings,that of Bodiam Castle and Battle Abbey. These sites were not just strongholds and important trading sites, but were also quite prominent households. With such history abounding, it’s no surprise to discover that a ‘Knights’ Tournament’ has been arranged for our delight and enjoyment. Taking place on Saturday August 2nd and Sunday August 3rd. between 10.0am and 5.0pm at the 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield. Come along and marvel at the noble knights as they take on the ultimate medieval tournament. Swords will be wielded, archery skills tested and helmets battered. Soak up the sights and sounds of medieval encampments and laugh out loud at the silly jesters.This is a splendid day out for all the family and to find out more and to book visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/events or call 0870~333 1183. If that isn’t enough for you, - or certainly not for your wee ones, - the following day for two (2) weeks, that is Monday August 4th until Sunday August 17th. between 10.0am and 5.0pm - a ‘Just For Kids’, a “Bows, Arrows and Battle Tactics: Medieval Knights’ School has been arranged for their entertainment. Will you allow them to be transformed into noble knights by learning the sword skills, archery techniques and etiquette of the 15th Century.( You can cross your fingers they won’t come home with too many bruises !!!). Indulge their creative side by trying out a spot of shield painting. It could be the perfect summer solution for budding Knights and Princesses. To learn more about this event, please visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/events. or call 0870~333 1183.

Church services for the parish of Ewhurst commence at St. James the Great, Ewhurst Green on Sunday August 3rd. Trinity 7.with a service at 9.30am which will include Holy Communion. A Family Service at 11.15am will follow at St. Giles, Bodiam. There will be NO SERVICE at St.Mark’s Church, Northiam Road, Staplecross, on this day. Both services will be conducted by Reverend Gordon Winchester and if there are any church matters that he can help you with, please contact him, either at the Rectory, 01580~830268 or via his email: [email protected] He’ll be glad to help.

This column is keen to publicise any event with which you are associated. Please let me know what events you are planning or what your charity, group, or club are doing and I’ll do my best to provide extra publicity and promotion......Thank You.

Anne Reed

[email protected]