Staplecross

LOCAL DIABETES PRESENTATION: Just to reminder residents, that a presentation from the Doctors at the Northiam and Broad Oak Surgeries has been arranged to discuss this illness. As many of you may know, Diabetes is rapidly become a increasing cause for concern in this day and age, as more of us are being diagnosed with this illness. It can effect anyone regardless of age, gender, race, colour or creed. To help allay any fears you may have, either for yourself or a family member or maybe a friend, the Doctors at these surgeries have arranged a presentation to the public to hear the facts - and the fiction - surrounding it and to have your questions answered simply, honestly and fully. There are many myths surrounding Diabetes, some rather disturbing,- but completely untrue and some just nonsense. To make sure you fully understand what is real and what isn’t and to find out more about this debilitating illness, please make sure you come along to this event. This presentation is entitled “ Diabetes - an Epidemic “, and is to be held at the Northiam Village Hall - 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start and the date is Wednesday June 1st. 2016. Many of our residents within Ewhurst Parish are patients at these surgeries and hopefully, may find this little presentation of help & benefit to them, but this meeting is also open to anyone who would like more information about Diabetes in any form. All will be very welcome.

STAPLECROSS BOWLS CLUB: Keeping busy, as always, are the teams from our popular and dedicated outdoor bowls group as they prepare for several fixtures in close proximity to each other. Four (4) more matches are planned for this week and Saturday May 21st is the date of the first fixture. This will be a Home Game, is part of the ‘Mermaid League’ and will be played on their superb grounds on Northiam Road, Staplecross, TN32 5QH. The opposition team this day is from Rye. The following day, Sunday May 22nd. sees the teams return again to their Home Ground, for another fixture. This time, the opponents are from Westfield, but this game is part of the ‘Rother League’. Both these matches have a commencing match start-time of 2.30pm. Match No: 3 will be played on Wednesday May 25, but this an away game in Battle, this match is also part of the ‘Rother League’. Our local team are back home in the village for another game, to be played on Thursday May 26th and is also part of the ‘Mermaid League’ with the opposing team this time hailing from Pett. Don’t forget, if you do get the opportunity to stroll along and watch these matches, please do so. Your support is always very welcome and appreciated. Afternoon matches are (generally) 2.00pm for a 2.30pm start and evening matches are from 6.00pm for a 6.15pm start. For further information on how to get more involved, either by playing the game, or by being a supporter, then please contact Brian on 01580~830570.

ROTHER RAMBLERS: Despite our often changing English weather patterns, - or perhaps in spite of it, those ‘fellows of the footpaths’, the members of the popular walking group, the Rother Ramblers, have arranged two (2) more walks for our enjoyment. The first walk is very close to our parish and is an 8 mile Battle circular stroll via Sedlescombe. Arranged to take place on Sunday May 22nd. the meeting place is Battle Railway Station. OS EXP124. TQ755156. (SatNavTN33 0DE) at 10.00am. Parking is at the railway station (£1:00) or on nearby streets. Trains from Hastings and London will be arriving in time to connect with this meeting, but please check for any engineering works or other expected delays. The walk will be covering mostly flat and level surfaces but there will be some stiles to cross. As per usual, a picnic lunch is suggested. Mary is to be your ‘walk leader’ for this treat, and you may ring her on 01424~753730 for all further details. Walk no 2 is planned for Thursday May 26th and is another of those splendid Evening Walks. This a more of a super little stroll, rather than a walk ! and is a mere 6 circular mile meander of Pevensey, - just lovely at this time of the year. The meeting point is near to the cannon, to the west of Pevensey Castle. OS EXP124. TQ642046. (SatNavBN24 5LJ) at 6.30pm. On street car parking is available near to the meeting place, but please be considerate, - park pretty & respect the residents. A picnic lunch is not required for this outing, but the option is available of a pub stop at the end of the walk for refreshments and reviewing. Jane & Peter are to be your ‘walk leaders’ for this event and you may contact them on 01424~733300 or mobile no: 07732~366090 for any further information you may require.

MOBILE LIBRARY SERVICE: That brilliant little Mobile Library van will be back trundling along our country lanes once more, as it continues with it’s busy schedule. This time the white van will be visiting Ewhurst Green on Thursday May 26th. It is due to arrive at 10.40am and departing at 11.10am. This is the last visit for this month, so please ensure that you don’t miss it. There are many things of interest within the portals of this wonderful, free, Mobile Library Service vehicle, so please come along and find out for yourself.

ST. MICHAEL’S HOSPICE - OPEN GARDENS: Five (5) more delightful gardens are open to view in aid of the amazing St. Michael’s Hospice care unit over the next few days. Garden No: 1 is “King John’s Lodge” in Sheepstreet Lane, Etchingham, TN19 7AZ. This garden is beautifully maintained and is a romantic 8 acre plot which are as beautiful as they are tranquil. Many garden writers and photographers have enthralled over these gardens and deservedly so. The house makes a stunning backdrop to the wonderful grounds as visitors meander from ‘room’ to ‘room’ with something for everyone to delight over. There are formal lawns, a large fountain, a lovely lily pond as well as a wild garden with ancient apple trees. This garden is open on Tuesday May 24th between 10.30am and 4.00pm and the admission is £4:00 per person. Guide dogs only are welcomed on this open day and sadly, wheelchair access is limited. There will be delicious refreshments available as well as parking. How to get there: (From Hastings) take the A21 to Hurst Green, then the A265 to Lewes, bear slight right onto Burgh Hill, then right into Fysie Lane. Take the next right onto Sheepstreet Lane and follow the ‘Open Gardens’ signage. The next gardens form a ‘party of 4’ of the Broad Oak & Brede open gardens selection and are all open on Saturday May 28th. “Little Chitcombe” in Little Chitcombe Road, TN31 6EX. This one acre garden has a large duck pond and you may listen to the sounds from ‘Sussex Brass’ whilst enjoying the delightful views of grazing sheep and ancient woodland from the beautiful surroundings. The property was originally a pair of 17th century workers cottages, from within the former Chitcombe Estate and nestles in a secluded south east facing location. Garden No: 2 is “Sculdown”, Chitcombe Road,TN31 6EX. This garden has a very large wildlife pond which dominates it, but not detrimentally so and was formed as a result of the iron-ore mining of more than 100 years ago. The stunning traditional cottage provides a superb backdrop for several colourful herbaceous borders and poplar trees. This is where you can partake of delicious refreshments to help revive you,- should you need it, - ready for the following two gardens. Garden No: 3 is “Woodlands”, also in Chitcombe Road, TN31 6EU. This professionally designed garden has three sections, ~ mixed borders, bleached Hornbeam hedge and lawn. The quartered box edged garden with filigree gazebo, spiral topiary and vibrant planting for year round interest. There is also a fantastic framed view to the perennial wildflower meadow and statue beyond. Last garden, - but certainly NOT least is 4, Waterworks Cottages, this is another professionally designed wildlife friendly garden, comprising of front, side and back gardens. It has a superb mixture of delightful perennial wildflower meadow, a pond, wisteria covered pergola and mixed borders jam packed full of unusual specimens to provide year round interest and colour. There are Mediterranean inspired terraced flower beds, wonderful woodland plants and a fabulous bonus of a vegetable and fruit garden. The ‘open gardens’ in this section are from 10.30am until 4.00pm and the admission price is £5:00 per person and you may pay at any garden. Again guide dogs are welcome but there is limited wheelchair access and parking is signposted. How to get there: (From Hastings;) Take the A28 to Ashford, - shortly before you reach the village of Brede, there is a narrow lane - on the left- signposted Waterworks - Look out for & follow the yellow ‘Open Gardens’ signs. For the Broad Oak Gardens, continue on the A28 to the crossroads at Brede, turn left onto the Chitcombe Road (B2089 to Battle) and the gardens will be signposted along the way. Do try to visit as many of these glorious gardens as you can, as not only does your entrance fee go a long way to helping such a worthy cause but you’ll be surprised at just how much pleasure can be achieved by strolling through other peoples gardens and admiring the results of their passions, their visions and hard work and then also enjoying the lovely refreshments available. Look out for more ‘Open Gardens’ to come.

CHURCH SERVICES: Church services for the parish of Ewhurst will commence at St. James the Great, Ewhurst Green, on Sunday May 22nd. Trinity Sunday. at 9.30am. This service will also include Holy Communion (BCP). There will be NO SERVICE today at St. Giles church, Bodiam, but a service will follow directly afterwards at 11.15am. at St. Mark’s church, Northiam Road, Staplecross. This service will also include Holy Communion (BCP) Once more we welcome the return of Canon Richard Orchard, who will officiate at the service and we thank him for kindly continuing to do so. If there is any church matter on which you feel you may need further assistance, then do please get in touch. You may contact either of the churchwardens ~ Graham Peters -on [email protected] and telephone no: 01580~830203 for Bodiam church matters and for Ewhurst Parish church matters, please contact Jo Goodwin-on [email protected] and telephone no: 01580~830601. Help in some form or another, is always at hand, and so generously given, so do please contact them

PLEASE CONTACT ME: If you are arranging an event in the near future, --- however large or small and you’d like some extra coverage for it, then please get in touch. If it’s of interest to you, - it’s of interest to us. It’s never too early to send in your details and to tell us what you are planning, so please do contact me, as I’d love to hear from you and to help ‘spread the word’ on your behalf.........Thank You

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