Santa Sunday in Hurstpierpoint

Welcome to Hurst Life’s Santa Sunday event page. Here you will find our most recent information for everything about the event.

A magical Christmas Market in the heart of Hurstpierpoint! Join us for a festive celebration filled with live music, delicious treats, and plenty of Christmas shopping. Bring the family along for fun kids’ activities, exciting fairground rides, and a chance to meet Father Christmas himself! Get into the holiday spirit with us and make unforgettable memories.

See also, Hurst’s Secret Santa


Santa’s Fun Sunday

By Rob Fisher

The fun-packed Hurst Santa Sunday is now just around the corner, and there’s something for everyone this year! We’ve got Santa himself in his grotto, Santa paws (for our furry friends), snow machines, face painting, teacup rides, a magician, hook a duck and wood-turning demonstrations. There’s an amazing variety of stall holders including: AbiliTea, Garden Sage, Enchanted Bookcase, Generation Distillers, Melt my Heart, Optimize Nutrition, Southdown Woodturners to name but a few. You can expect some fabulous musical entertainment all along the High Street including a rock choir, brass band, as well as singer Tobias back by popular demand. Enjoy great food including festive treats from the likes of Marples Cakery, Krishna Cuisine, Oui Crêperie and Whambam Pakora. There’s also Fudge Delights and Lozza’s Bakes.

It’s all happening on December 1st 12.30-4.30pm on the High Street that will be closed to traffic. Special thanks once again to all our wonderful sponsors – Fabulous Floors, the Parish Council, Hurst Charity Shop as well as Hurst College who help make it all possible. www.hurstsecretsanta.co.uk and for the latest info Instagram: @santa_sunda

Churches of Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Christmas services

Welcome to Hurst Life’s churches of Hurspierpoint & Sayers Common Christmas services event page. Here you will find our most recent information for everything Christmas in our churches.

See also, Holy Trinity Hurstpierpoint, The parish of Albourne, Sayers Common and Twineham, Good News Church Hurstpierpoint

Holy Trinity Parish Church


High Street, Hurstpierpoint, BN6 9TS
www.holytrinityhpp.org

Wednesday 4th December
7.30pm Mothers’ Union Advent Evening with carols, readings, mulled wine and mince pies Tickets available from Judy Leech 01273 833954

Sunday 8th December
3-4.30pm - Family Christmas Crafts. Crafts and activities for pre-school & primary aged children

Sunday 22nd December
6pm - Candlelit Carol Service followed by mulled wine and mince pies

Christmas Eve
3-4.30pm Crib Services. A lively services for all ages. Children are invited to dress as a favourite nativity character
11.30pm Midnight Mass

Christmas Day
8am - Christmas Communion – a simple said service
10am - Christmas Family Communion. A service for all the family


Good News Church


149 High Street, Hurstpierpoint, BN6 9PU www.goodnewshurst.co.uk

Sunday 22nd December
3.30pm - Carols and Cakes – an informal carol service

Christmas Day
10am - Christmas Day Service - Come and celebrate with us our Saviour’s birth


The Parish of Albourne, Sayers Common and Twineham


ascat.ad@yahoo.com – You can also find us on www.achurchnearyou.com

Sunday 15th December
6pm - Nine Lessons and Carols at St Bartholomew’s, Albourne

Friday 20th December
6pm - Carol Service at Christ Church, Sayers Common

Christmas Eve
4pm - Crib Service (with live animals) at St Peter’s, Twineham
8pm - Midnight Mass at St Bartholomew’s, Albourne

Christmas Day
10am - Parish Eucharist at Christ Church, Sayers Common

Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Parish Council news - December 2024

A Winter Walk through Hurst Meadows

Are you looking for a very short accessible circular walk with impressive views, beautiful trees, rolling fields, the sound of birdsong and benches to sit and rest and take all this in? The new cyclepath through Hurst Meadows from the eastern end of Trinity Road makes the countryside accessible for everyone. It is all-weather and suitable for buggies, wheelchairs and those with limited mobility.

Combining a walk along the cyclepath with a return along the Millennium Garden path makes for a varied and interesting short ramble. There really is so much to see and enjoy in just a very small area. Things to look out for include the kestrel which has taken to hovering over the part of Fifteen Acres field adjacent to the cyclepath, the old apple trees which were once part of the orchard of St. Georges House and the animals and birds carved from the Monterey pine tree which once stood in the House gardens. You will be able to see nature recovery taking place in the ex-arable fields and hear the green woodpeckers calling from the trees that surround them. Last year we heard skylarks above Hurst Meadows in January so if you are very lucky you may also be rewarded by hearing their beautiful song.

We have had so many positive comments about the cyclepath and it really has been heartening to see just how many people of all ages are using it.

To read the full newsletter, click the images to enlarge them or pick up your copy of December’s Hurst Life today.

Hurstpierpoint's Remembrance Sunday

Welcome to Hurst Life’s Remembrance information page. Here you will find our most recent information for all things Remembrance Sunday.

See also, Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Parish Council
and Holy Trinity Church, Hurst


Remembrance Sunday 10th November 2024

On Sunday 10th November, Hurstpierpoint will once again come to a standstill to remember those who gave their lives for our freedoms.

In preparation for the event this year, we have had the village war memorial professionally cleaned by stonemasons.

The morning will include the parade from South Avenue to the war memorial for the outdoor service, followed by in indoor service at Holy Trinity Church on the High Street. Please note that road closures will be in place from 10am until 1pm to facilitate the parade and service.

HURSTfolk

Welcome to Hurst Life’s HURSTfolk event page. Here you will find our most recent information for everything regarding the festival.

HURSTfolk is the brainchild of Hurstpierpoint resident, Debbie Clare. Debbie is drawing upon her extensive live music career to weave together this community-focused weekend of live music performances.

See also, HURSTfolk


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HURSTfolk 2024 presents...
In conversation with:

David Courtney & Dan Whaley
Players Theatre Saturday 23rd November, 3pm £5
David Courtney, a Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer, will be giving a rare, intimate interview in his home village of Hurstpierpoint to discuss his autobiography, Giving It All Away.

Greta Scacchi & Peter Guttridge
Players Theatre Saturday 23rd November, 7pm £5
In conversation with Peter Guttridge – novelist and former journalist who regularly interviews at book festivals across the country – this event promises to be a highlight of the festival, offering a chance to hear behind-the-scenes stories and career highlights from this highly accomplished actress.

Bryony Hill & Daryn Buckley - Robins in my Kitchen book launch
Danny House Sunday 24th November 12.30pm £5
Join us for an exclusive book launch event featuring the acclaimed artist and author Bryony Hill, who will be interviewed by beloved local radio DJ Daryn Buckley.

Tickets and more information visit www.hurstfolk.org

Hurst Festival

Welcome to Hurst Life’s Hurst Festival event page. Here you will find our most recent information for the two week September festival.

A registered charity, Hurst Festival was conceived in 2004 by a merry band of friends over dinner, impressed by the wealth of talent in our village. It has one aim; to provide people with two weeks of enjoyment in September during which we can meet each other, experience something new and feel connected to our community.

See also, Hurst Festival

2025 information coming mid 2025!


Hurst Festival 2024 round-up

By Katherine Jackman

What a fabulous success Hurst Festival 2024 was – the 20th year! To celebrate this milestone, we brought back all your favourite performers in a ‘Best of Hurst Festival’ including Richard Durrant, Stephen Grant and Anckorn & Dolavich.

The ever-popular Hurst Open Studios, live band nights, jazz, opera, poetry, soirees, children and family shows, cinema, Hurst Players, talks, wellbeing, walks and tours were mostly sold out with the Elton John Experience providing a fabulous last Saturday night party in the church.

‘Super Sunday’ filled South Avenue recreation ground with stalls, theatre, a fully stocked bar, live music and family entertainment. With free workshops from Create Space and Poponin and free inflatables for the children there was something for everyone. The live entertainment included the amazing Silly Science with free workshops after the show plus live music from local band Breeze In. Burgess Hill Youth Marching Band started off the proceedings plus a gymnastics display from the Hurstpierpoint Gymnastics Club.

Added to these locals was a smorgasbord of independent traders of all kinds including food, charity stalls and craft, clothes and book stalls and thanks to everyone who supported our Hurst Festival bar on the Recreation Ground, which helps pay for all the free entertainment on the day.

As a registered Charity, Hurst Festival relies on our brilliant team of volunteers, and we thank them heartily as it wouldn’t happen without you! If you wish to help out during Hurst Festival 2025 or before, please contact us at admin@hurstfestival.org.

Mid Sussex District Council news - November 2024

Urban Events mark the first steps taken in new partnership for Burgess Hill

Following the Council’s recent decision to progress the formation of a Joint Venture with NewRiver REIT plc (NewRiver), which aims to deliver the redevelopment of Martlets Shopping Centre in Burgess Hill, both parties are jointly delivering a series of activities to mark their commitment to the partnership and help enliven the school holiday and festive periods for the local community. ‘Urban Events’ is a series of free activities during October half-term and in the run up to Christmas, aimed at young people aged 8-16 to bring local people together and drive activity into the town centre. Details of the events can be found on Mid Sussex District Council’s website and on social media. Search Urban Events on www.midsussex.gov.uk

Mid Sussex libraries host free events to support Positive Ageing

This month is the first West Sussex Positive Ageing Month with a series of free events for residents offering information and advice on healthy ageing. As a joint initiative between West Sussex County Council’s Library Service and Public Health, all libraries in Mid Sussex will offer information and book displays on healthy ageing while selected libraries, including Haywards Heath and East Grinstead, will hold events. Depending on venue, these will include health and wellbeing checks, hearing tests, physical movement assessments and expert talks on maintaining wellbeing as you grow older. For more information visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/positiveageing

To read the full newsletter, click the images to enlarge them or pick up November’s copy of Hurst Life.

Hurst Parish Council news - November 2024

Speed Indicator Display

The Parish Council owns and operates a Speed Indicator Display (SID) which is placed at different locations throughout the parish, and the data is collected for analysis. Between 26th April and 21st May 2024, the device was located on Cuckfield Road, Hurstpierpoint, recording 52,800 recorded vehicles, 3598 of which exceeding the speed limit, 332 of those by more than 10mph. One vehicle was recorded at 74MPH! Between 4th July and 1st August 2024, the SID was positioned on Reeds Lane in Sayers Common, where of the the 37,329 vehicles recorded, 6,490 were speeding, with 163 of those travelling more than 10mph over the limit.

According to www.think.gov.uk/themes/speed, speed contributes to around one in four fatal collisions on our roads and kills or injures 58 young people every week. We urge everyone to be mindful of their speed when travelling through our villages.

South Avenue Recreation Ground

The hammock in the play area has been repaired, and with the help of Section 106 money two new larger waste bins have been installed. We have also received confirmation of additional section 106 money and generous funding from the Hurst Society to plant the new avenue of lime trees.

To read the full newsletter, please pick up your copy of November’s Hurst Life or click the images to enlarge them.

Danny House Bonfire & Fireworks

Welcome to Hurst Life’s Hurstpierpoint Bonfire Night event page. Here you will find our most recent information for everything bonfire and fireworks at Danny House.

See also, Danny House Bonfire & Fireworks


Danny Bonfire and Fireworks – 3rd November 2024

By Andrew Hair

Danny Family Bonfire and Fireworks returns for its 27th evening and will be celebrated with a spectacular display of fireworks from our new firework maestros Aurora, on Sunday 3rd November. Please note the earlier times below. Families are again welcome to share the event to be held in Danny Park, New Way Lane, Hurstpierpoint.

The event is organised by Hurstpierpoint Gymnastics Club with assistance from Oldland Mill Trust and Friends of Hassocks Infant School. They, and Albourne, Birchwood Grove, London Meed and Southway Schools will benefit from your support. The Hassocks will be running their ever-popular BBQ, so come and enjoy the evening.

Take a ‘Guy’ to the Best Guy Competition before 4.50pm and one child will be given free admission. For safety reasons - no private fireworks or sparklers etc. Sorry, but no parking (due to ground conditions). Limited parking will be available for Blue Badge holders – please allow extra time. Food will be available on site.

Timings on the night...
4.30pm Gates open
5pm Best Guy competition judging
5.30pm (approx.) Fireworks Display
5.50pm (approx.) Bonfire lit with all the guys and the Best Guy on top

Ticket prices are unchanged from last year. Children Under 3 or with a Guy are free (one Guy gives admittance to one child). Children or adults £7. Families including up to two adults and three children £15. Discounted eTickets available on dannybonfire.co.uk where you can choose which organisation to support. Tickets will also be available from Pierpoint Pets in Hurstpierpoint and from QD Stationery in Hassocks.

In the event of bad weather, please check www.hurstpierpointgym.co.uk for the up-to-date news on postponement.

Hurstpierpoint's St Lawrence Fair

Welcome to Hurst Life’s St Lawrence Fair event page. Here you will find our most recent information for everything regarding the fair.

Since the 14th century, the village of Hurstpierpoint has celebrated the Feast of St Lawrence with a village fair. The fair is one of the oldest in the United Kingdom.

See also, St Lawrence Fair

Next year’s fair information coming early 2025


2024: Additional last minute details By Lona McDonald…

St. Lawrence Fair is almost upon us…we look forward to seeing you over the weekend on South Avenue recreation ground.

Friday 5th July

Teddy Bears Picnic – 12.30-2.30pm; come along to enjoy a magic show, cake decorating and a craft activity, a carousel ride and an ice lolly - £2 contribution.
Junior Disco – 6pm – 7.15pm; pre-book tickets from Fabulous Floors: £4 in advance, £5 on the door - includes a snack and unlimited water/squash.
Hurst Band Night – 6pm -10.30pm; live music, Hurst’BAR’point and food by Village Pizza Kitchen and Hurst Butchers - a great evening’s entertainment.

Saturday 6th July

Come along, support the procession, cheer on the fun run, visit the stalls and street food market (lots of good food to sample), have a drink from Hurst’BAR’point or tea tent, watch the arena performances, enjoy Harris’ Funfair and take part in the competitions:
• Party games in the arena for younger children
• Trolley dash
• Tug of War
• Chuck the Re-Usable Welly

Finally, if you’re able to support the fair financially in any way, it’s easy - simply scan the QR code on any of the fair posters or the front of the programme to be taken directly to Paypal to make a donation. There will be road closures from 12.30pm on the day, so check our website for details - www.stlawrencefair.co.uk Thank you so much in advance - here’s to a great Fair weekend - we look forward to seeing you there!


Win a cosy Higgidy blanket and £30 vouchers

READER COMPETITION

When it comes to pies - no one does it better than delicious everyday food experts, Higgidy. Packed with top quality ingredients and delivering a burst of irresistible flavour, Higgidy’s six new and improved premium pies include all the top selling favourites, with even tastier recipes, making them even more tempting.

To celebrate the launch of these delicious new pie recipes, we have teamed with Higgidy to offer three lucky readers the chance to win a beautiful tartan blanket to cosy up with this winter, together with £30 vouchers to spend on any Higgidy product.

Higgidy’s mouth-watering individual pie range includes: Creamy Chicken & Sauteed Leek Pie with white wine, Slow-Braised Steak & Craft Ale Pie with carrots, Slow-Cooked Steak, Red Wine & Bacon Pie with chestnut mushrooms, Greek Feta & Pine Nut Pie with roasted red peppers, Roasted Sweet Potato, Spinach & Feta Pie with Aleppo chilli and Three Cheese, Cauliflower & Broccoli Pie with garlic and thyme crumb.

Each pie is encased in Higgidy’s signature all-butter shortcrust pastry and all the Beef in Higgidy’s meat pies is 100% British, Red Tractor Farm Assured, the Chicken is 100% British free range chicken breast, and all three veggie pie options now include added regenerative flour, with no palm oil in any Higgidy recipes.

Higgidy pies are all available in Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Ocado - RRP £3.75 - Why not dig Into a Higgidy this autumn?

To be in with a chance of winning this prize, simply answer the following question and send your answer to competition@hassockslife.co.uk before 22nd October 2024. Three correct answers will be picked at random and will be notified by email. The question to answer is: How many pies are there in Higgidy’s autumn pie range?

Pete the Pond to give talk for Hurst ReThink

By the Hurst Rethink team

The inspirational wetland and wildlife landscaper Pete the Pond is to give a talk at the Scout Headquarters on October 2nd at 7.30pm. Pete the Pond will talk us through the why, what and how to have a wildlife-friendly pond in your garden, having worked tirelessly for over twenty years helping to sustain and restore many local aquatic ecosystems.

Of all the features you can add to your garden, a wildlife pond is the number one all-star addition. The water reflects light, plant fronds and clouds, and the life it attracts adds movement and year-round interest. Putting in a pond is a generous act as it’s such a valuable resource for all kinds of creatures. As chemically-supported farming around Hurst drives creatures out of the fields and into our garden world, having a pond is a powerfully eco-friendly gesture. Also, a pond for frogs and toads might just help your slug problem.

There are some clever moves to be had, and Hurst Rethink has joined forces with Pete the Pond for an evening of information designed to give you a head-start as a wildlife pond owner. In the interval, browse stalls promoting the cause of local mammals and birds, buy plants from Garden Sage and local honey, and enjoy tea, coffee, and Ukrainian homemade cakes sold to raise money for the Ukraine cause.

Tickets are £3 and available at hurstrethink.org

Hurst Village Cinema's October 2024 showings

By Mike Thatcher

Small changes afoot at Hurst Village Cinema. As I look further over my shoulder at my 50th birthday receding into the distance, I have decided to bring forward the start time of regular films to 7.30pm, so we can be tucked up by 10pm on a more regular basis! It will also give me more flexibility to programme the occasional very long film, such as the incomparable Magnolia, which in the past, I have baulked at.

We kick off the autumn season on Thursday 10 October at 7.30pm with Blackbird, Blackbird, Blueberry (15). In a small traditional Georgian village, Etero has chosen to remain unmarried, making her an easy subject of gossip in the village. Unexpectedly, she finds herself sexually involved with a delivery man and is suddenly faced with the decision of whether to go down the traditional or independent route in pursuit of happiness. Gentle, sardonic and simply presented.

Then, on Friday 25 October at 7.30pm, we screen Rose (12A). On a coach trip to Paris with her sister, Inger reveals her struggles with schizophrenia to the group, receiving both pity and discrimination. A comedy-drama that gives a much more realistic view of the subject matter of neurodivergence, as it is in part based on the director’s experience. It is also brilliantly cast; Sophie Gråbøl is mesmerising and her antagonist on the trip could not be more convincing and unlikeable.

Then, on Sunday 27 October at 3pm, we are very pleased to show Wilding (PG), followed by a Q&A with Laura Vaughan-Hirsch, from the White Stork Project. Based on Isabella Tree’s best-selling book, Wilding tells the story of a young couple that bets on the future of their failing, 400-year-old estate at Knepp, daring to place its fate in the hands of nature. Ripping down the fences, they set the land back to the wild and entrust its recovery to a motley mix of animals both tame and wild. It is the beginning of a grand experiment that will become one of the most significant rewilding experiments in Europe. This is a charming, hopeful and necessary story of ecological regeneration.
We are delighted that Laura will join us to answer questions arising from the film. Please note that the ticket price is £6 with all proceeds going to White Stork.

Mid Sussex District Council newsletter - Oct 2024

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Please be vigilant of fraudulent QR codes!

Fraudulent QR codes have recently been found on payment machines across council-owned car parks. These QR codes, which falsely claim to be for the PaybyPhone service, are designed to trick individuals into handing over their card details. It is important to note that Mid Sussex District Council does not use PaybyPhone for parking payments and uses MiPermit. We’ve also been made aware of a national scam where text messages are being sent with a parking fine and a link for payment. This is a scam. We don’t issue parking f ines via text message. Councillor Chris Hobbs, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Leisure and Customer Services said: “We are asking residents not to scan these QR codes for their own protection. Our enforcement officers, who play a crucial role in ensuring the security of our parking facilities, were the first to spot and highlight this issue. Their quick action has been essential in mitigating the risk posed by these fraudulent QR codes.” For more information or to report any concerns, please contact the council’s parking team at parkinginfo@midsussex. gov.uk or by calling 01444 458166.

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O Type blood stocks are running low!

Mid Sussex District Council is continuing to support the NHS who need your help now more than ever to keep providing lifesaving blood and urgently needs more ‘O’ group blood donors to come forward and help boost stocks. Book an appointment today: visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.

To read the full newsletter, pick up a copy of October’s Hurst Life or click to enlarge the images.

Hurst & Sayers Common Parish Council news - October 2024

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Memory Café Court Bushes Community Hub

We were so pleased that a joint project between the Parish Council, Sussex Vale Rotary Club and the local AgeUK led to the first of the reinstated monthly memory cafes taking place on 3rd September 2024. These are aimed at people who are experiencing memory loss whether they have a diagnosis or not and their families/partners/carers. These get togethers are informal and fun as well as providing support and advice.
We know there are many of you in our villages living with memory loss and that you and your loved ones often feel lonely and cut off from the rest of the community. Please come along to your local Memory Cafes where you will receive a warm welcome. These take place at Court Bushes Community Hub, Hurstpierpoint, BN6 9TH on the 1st Tuesday of the month and at Adastra Hall, Hassocks, BN6 8AG on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. To find out more please call 01444 450248, email midsussex@ageukwsbh.org.uk or ask in the Parish Office.

Community Grants

A reminder that the Parish Council awards small grants to local voluntary groups and charities who need f inancial assistance and who provide services which directly aim to improve the quality of life of residents in our Parish. Grant applications are considered at our regular Community Engagement Committee Meetings. The next deadline for submitting a grant application is 31 October 2024. Further information and guidance on applying for a grant is available on our website www.hurstpierpoint- pc.gov.uk/services-information/grants or ask in the Parish Office.

To read the full newsletter please pick up a copy of October’s Hurst Life today or click the images to enlarge them.

Local Hurst parents join smartphone campaign

By Dan Sokell

A local Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) community has formed, comprised of 300+ parents of children at St Lawrence and Downlands schools. In this nonjudgemental space, parents and carers can discuss the issues, share information and form strategies to delay and manage the use of smartphones by children.
To reduce peer pressure and reach a point where children using smartphones is no longer considered the ‘norm’, we need more parents to consider delaying the use of smartphones. SFC WhatsApp communities have been set up for both St Lawrence and Downlands schools and we have already engaged with the head teachers of both. Please use the QR codes to request access if you are interested in joining.

A representative of the group said: “The evidence is becoming clear – smartphones are damaging to our children’s wellbeing. Laws help to protect our children from things like alcohol and tobacco but regulation on smartphones is well behind the curve. SFC helps parents to understand the risks and take back control.” Anna, a local parent added: “We’re already in contact with headteachers at St Lawrence and Downlands, who have both been supportive. We are working with both schools to build and implement strategies that will help to denormalise the use of smartphones both in and out of school. We’re also liaising with the SFC parent groups of other schools which feed into Downlands, like Ditchling, Albourne and Windmills.”

When children first started getting smartphones a decade ago, there was no research about their impact. Now there is, and it’s overwhelming. Exposing children to things their brains aren’t yet developed enough to deal with can cause a host of problems including anxiety and cyberbullying, according to the latest research.

New Befriended choir and tea party in Hurst

By Gail Millar

Befriended have launched a choir and tea party in Hurstpierpoint, starting in September. Singing is proven to be good for you physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and cognitively. At our choir we have lots of fun singing together songs from the musicals, old time songs and well-known hymns. Our wonderful choirmaster, Ira, encourages everyone to sing with joy, gusto and enthusiasm. Our choir is inclusive and accessible to all.

As with all Befriended activities, we enjoy tea and cake whilst building friendships. The choir will take place on three Tuesday afternoons each month at the village centre 2-4pm starting on the 17th September. Come and let’s make music together.

Befriended, in partnership with Holy Trinity Church, are delighted to launch a new monthly tea party on the third Sunday of each month, 3-5pm at Court Bushes, Willow Way. The tea parties will include quizzes, useful information, birthday celebrations, a scrumptious afternoon tea, a variety of entertainment and most of all the opportunity to meet and make new friends. Our tea parties are renowned for being places of joy, happiness, fun, enjoyment and connection. Befriended is committed to ending loneliness and isolation amongst older people living in our community. We will do this through addressing the causes of loneliness and isolation, bringing people together, having fun and making meaningful friendships.

We launch our first tea party on 15th September. We look forward to seeing you there. If you want to know any more information email office@befriended or call 0300 7727703.

Mid Sussex District Council September newsletter - 2024

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Four Mid Sussex District Council parks receive coveted Green Flag Award


Mid Sussex District Council is delighted to announce that four parks in the District have received Green Flag Awards after achieving an international quality mark for parks and green spaces. Beech Hurst Gardens and Victoria Park in Haywards Heath, St. John’s Park in Burgess Hill, and East Court and Ashplats Park in East Grinstead, in collaboration with East Grinstead Town Council and East Grinstead Memorial Estates, have been officially recognised as some of the country’s finest parks.

The news is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green spaces in the District so that visitors and residents alike can enjoy them. Councillor Chris Hobbs, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Customer Services, said: “We are thrilled that four of our parks have received the Green Flag Award. This award highlights the hard work and dedication of our team who ensure our parks are well-maintained and enjoyable for everyone.
“It is wonderful to see our green spaces recognised as some of the best in the country and we are committed to keeping these parks beautiful for our residents and visitors to enjoy.”

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The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

To read the full newsletter, pick up your copy of September’s Hurst Life today or click the images to enlarge them.

Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Parish Council news - September 2024

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Update on proposed Traffic Regulation Orders

The Parish Council currently have 4 applications for Traffic Regulation Orders/Community Highway Schemes with WSCC. We have been advised that the request to limit Reeds Lane to 7.5 tonnes except for access, and junction protection for Willow Way, Talbot Mead and Chalkers Lane with the Cuckfield Road did not pass the threshold test for taking forward. The Parish Council intends to revisit both with WSCC. The applications for an extension to the current 20mph limit on the High Street, and harmonising speed limits on all the approaches to Hurstpierpoint College are still proceeding. Updates will follow when received.




Keeping hedges clear of footpaths – whose responsibility?

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The Parish Council often receives reports of footpaths and pavements becoming difficult to access due to overhanging greenery, branches etc. It is the responsibility of the landowner to maintain their hedges, trees and shrubs so that they don’t cause an obstruction or a danger to pedestrians. Problems of this nature should be reported to West Sussex County Council as the Highways authority, either online via their website or by ringing 01243 642105. Prior to doing this however, if the landowner is a neighbour, then a polite and friendly request is probably the most appropriate initial action.



To read the full newsletter please pick up your copy of September’s Hurst Life today or click the images to enlarge them.