Staplecross

Those well known ‘fellows of the rural footpaths’, will be setting out once again, for a series of interesting and diverse walks,on their forays into our beautiful countryside. This ever-changing and often very unreliable weather of ours, doesn’t seem to prohibit them from getting out and about and making the most of every oportunity in which to explore and certainly enjoy, this lovely part of East Sussex, in which we live. The first walk arranged for our delight is on Sunday February 9th and is a 10 mile circular tour of Rushlake Green and Old Heathfield. Meeting at 10.am in Rushlake Green,(SatNavTN21 9QE) on street parking around the green. As normal, ~ a picnic lunch is suggested and once again, your doggy pal can accompany you. Please contact David on 01580~852432 for further details. The second of our lovely outings, is a slightly shorter walk of only 8 miles (only?) and this will be a super stroll along the Teise valley,- beautiful at any time of the year and will be taking place on Tuesday February 11th where the group will be meeting- again at 10.am- and this time in the public car park in Lamberhurst (SatNavTN3 8DB) Once again, a picnic lunch is suggested and naturally, your dog may come along and enjoy the walk with you. Carol is the lovely lady, who will be the ‘Walk Leader’ on this occasion, so please contact her on 01580~852432 for more information. Last, but certainly not least, is a very interesting and panoramic stroll of even less miles. This walk could be just right for a novice to start off with,~ being only a 5 mile circular route around the Hastings Country Park. Arranged for Saturday February 15th. This walk offers some spectacular scenery and views, well worth the walk to enjoy. All those interested on going on this walk are to meet in the public car park at ‘Rock-n-Nore’ area in Hastings (SatNav TN34 3DW) at 10.30am .Parking charges apply here, but are only a mere £3:00 charge for all day parking, -cheaper than a multi storey car park, so take advantage of the closeness and convenience and use it-. For this walk a choice is given, either a picnic lunch or a meal at the cafe. Again, your doggy pals are allowed and encouraged to accompany you. The person to contact regarding this walk is Tim and you may telephone him on 01424 272459 for further information. As with all these walks, please do make yourself known to the leaders and other ‘walkers’ at any of these events. It makes for a more companionable outing and who knows what new friends may be made just by saying ‘hello’.

Walks of a completely diferent nature are being offered and arranged by the Rother District Council,under the umbrella heading of “Healthy Walks in Rother”, These events are part of a new initiative to encourage us all to try to look after ourselves better and become more healthy and it also sounds like something that could be fun and friendly, without causing too much pressure on us to aim for a size 8 or a catwalk figure!. There are several venues throughout our area and 5 diferent days to choose from.~ Monday - 3 walks - RYE; 10.am~meet at Gibberts Marsh car park, Udimore Road. or SIDLEY: 11.am~ all to meet on Sidley Green. Final walk for today is a meeting at 2pm in HASTINGS ,Old Town at the corners of Courthouse Street and High Street. On Tuesday- 2 walks A walk is arranged for ROBERTSBRIDGE area where all are to meet outside the Youth Centre, at The Grove at 9.30am. The second walk is set in Hastings, ST.LEONARDS seafront, this time it’s at 11.am Please meet inside WRVS Centre, South Street. Middle of the week ‘Pick-me-up’ and on Wednesday there are 2 walks where we either meet up in ALEXANDRA PARK, Hastings, at 12 Noon and meet outside the cafe in the park or meet at ASHDOWN HOUSE, St, Leonards, 1pm and meet outside E Floor Reception, Sedlescombe Road North. Edging towards the weekend and Thursday finds us in HASTINGS TOWN CENTRE, 2pm outside the United Reform Church in Robertson Street and closing the week activities on Friday are the last 3 walks, beginning with BATTLE where all those interested will meet on The Green, opposite Battle Abbey at 10.am or at

HOLLINGTON, at Church Wood, St. Leonards, meeting at 10.30am at the Church-in-the-Wood car park, Hollington and finally finishing with BEXHILL SEAFRONT. 11.am at the Colonade Cafe on the Prom, - behind the De La Warr Pavilion. In case of inclement weather,- such as we are experiencing at the moment, alternative routes are arranged. There are no stiles, walls, steep inclines or hazardous terrains to deal with. All these walks are of only 1 hours duration. Nothing too strenuous, stressful or overtaxing. These strolls are designed just to get us started and to allow us to enjoy them, and hopefully to entice us all to repeat them again and again. The walks are free, friendly and hopefully fun and will be taken every week, ~ just for an hour at a time. Why not get up a group of friends or colleagues and try them out together. If you enjoy them, perhaps at some time in the future, you may also want to join in some of the many other walks, in the various other locations throughout East Sussex within this new project. I’ve been informed that some of these walks are suitable for use with child-buggys and some are fine for wheelchair users. For more details and further information please contact Paula Hubens who is the ‘Healthy Walks Project Officer’ on 07740~899559 or via her email which is [email protected] Try one and see, ~ and then tell me about it!.

The Ewhurst, Staplecross & Bodiam Garden Society will be heading for the Village Hall,Staplecross on Thursday February 13th for their February meeting. Beginning at 7.30pm and following their ‘official business’ the Chairman will greet their speaker for the night -who in this case is Mr. Michael Hoad, and who will be giving a really fascinating talk entitled “ From the Weald to the Wallend”. It’s about the River Rother, - a wonderful subject and should prove of great interest to gardeners, fishermen, birdwatchers, walkers and wildlife enthusiasts alike. Non members and interested visitors may also like to attend and would be very welcome to do so. A mere £2:00 entrance fee is required, which does include refreshments. Do try to come along and listen. As always, you’ll be most warmly welcomed.

A little further along the road, at St. Marks Church Room, the Ewhurst Parish Council will also be holding their monthly meeting on the same evening, namely Thursday February also at 7.30pm. Many issues and subject matter will be discussed together with reports given from our East Sussex County Councillor: Angharad Davies and Rother District Councillor: Tony Ganly. They will both be on hand to listen to~ and answer~ any comments or complaints that you have. Now is your chance to put your questions to either of them. During the specified ‘Public Question Time’, you will also be entitled to discuss, propose, comment and/or complain to the Ewhurst Parish Council on any matter or topic. We, as a community, are so very lucky to still have the services of a PCSO,and bar any ‘shouts’ or other ‘incidents’ Demi always endeavours to attend in order to appraise us of what’s been happening in ‘the wrong arm of the law’.Look out for the big banner hanging outside the church rooms. Please do make regular use of the parish web site~ http://www.ewhurst.info/ The ‘What’s On box on the home page is particularly informative. Here you can typically find information about upcoming road works, planning applications under consideration and parish notices. We could do with some more help with the ‘What’s On’ page, so if you are involved with a local community, sporting or recreational group email your event listing to: [email protected] Agenda’s are also displayed on the noticeboards throughout the villages. Do come along and see what we are doing, in your name, and tell us if we are doing it right. Please contact our parish clerk: Richard Farhall at [email protected] for information.

A few advance ‘Dates for your Diaries’ to prohibit you from missing these treats in store.

Wednesday February 19th is the next Staplecross & District Luncheon Club meeting, where as always, a really delicious, home cooked to perfection, 2 course lunch is served. Beginning at 12.30pm in the Village Hall at Staplecross. Entrance £5:50 per person (Aged over 50). Don’t Miss It.!

I have mentioned this previously, but this is to remind you not to forget to go and purchase your tickets for a lovely evenings entertainment on Saturday February 22nd. Our friendly and very charitable social group, -Staplecross Bonfire Society (part of E.S.B.S.) are holding their annual Dinner Dance. 7pm in the Village Hall, at Staplecross. Live music together with a veritable feast and congenial company all promise to make this a wonderful night out. The man to contact for details - John on 01580~830744

The Staplecross Village Hall Committee who ably and commendably look after this village assembly room on your behalf are holding their Annual General Meeting at the said Village Hall and will take place on Tuesday February 25th at 7.30pm. This is your chance to tell the committee how you’d like the Hall to progress in the future and what other facilities you’d like to see made available. All comments and suggestions will be most gratefully received as this hall is run for the benefit of the whole of the Community. All residents of Ewhurst Parish are invited to attend and will be made most welcome. For any further information please contact the Chairman ~ Hilary 01580~830704.

The church services for Ewhurst parish will commence on Sunday February 9th.5th after Epiphany at 9.30am Holy Communion (BCP) at St. James the Great in Ewhurst Green. There being NO SERVICE at St. Giles in Bodiam, Reverend Gordon Winchester will follow on with a Morning Praise service at St. Marks church, in Northiam Road, Staplecross at 11.15am. Both services will be conducted by Gordon and if there is any church matter that you’d like to discuss with him please do telephone him at the Rectory 01580~830268 or email: [email protected] He’s there to help and he will.

Please also remember if you have an event coming up and would like additional promotion or coverage for it, or would like to gain more members to your society, or sports or social group, just send me the details, telling me what you do and what you’re aiming for, and I’ll do my best to help. I look forward to hearing from you and it’s never too soon to go in my ‘Dates for your Diaries’ section.

Thank You.