Beckley

Special bird day: Allan, the Beckley bird boy has a special day at Feathers, his bird shop in Salehurst. On Saturday 30th August at Parsonage Farm, Salehurst, TN32 3PJ from 10am onwards Feathers Wild Bird Care and Busters Farm Shop are holding a BBQ, Beer and Birds day. Offering an Owl display - giving you the opportunity to get close, maybe even hold and photograph these beautiful birds of the night. A superb barbecue if you get a bit peckish washed down with a refreshing glass of beer or perhaps a posh Pimms for the ladies. For the children they have a Bouncy Castle, Tombola and other “kiddy” things. You can chat to the RSPB who will have a stand alongside the immaculately dressed David from Rye Harbour Nature Reserve who will be able to give you all the in’s and out’s about this remarkable reserve. With tea, coffee and a variety of cakes for the sweet toothed this will be an enjoyable, educational and fun day out. Follow the “Feathers” signs from the Robertsbridge rounder bout on the A21 or just head for Salehurst and find Parsonage Farm behind the church. Allan, Joe and Roger look forward to seeing you. Feathers...01580 880803. Busters....01580 882020

Better Beckley Project: update for you may have wondered where the Better Beckley Project went just lately. Well, it is alive and well and merely suffering from an onset of summer holidays. However, things have been happening, and are planned for the future. First, there will be a big open day for the whole village from 2 - 5pm on Saturday 27th September – we have planned a marquee, a bouncy castle, other entertainments, a guided walk around the Frog Field and, most importantly, a series of images of what an improved amenity might look like. This is the same day as the Horticultural Society’s Annual Show; opposite in the Village Hall, so we hope those of you going to one will also visit the other. Your views on this are paramount. And your ideas as to what more (or less) is needed are also very important. We will also be distributing a questionnaire before this event by door to door delivery, and by leaving them at the garage, the Village Hall, and the Rose and Crown. This questionnaire is designed to get more detail on what villagers want and don’t want by way of improvements. Once again, we must stress that whatever eventually happens will be by consensus. So your response to this is really important. We have also begun drawing up a long list of potential funders. These will be approached to help with various stages and components of the overall plan once we have agreement from the village as a whole, and a more detailed plan. Both these factors will emerge from the consultation event on September 27th, and the questionnaire – so do please try to get to one and fill in the other! As ever if you have questions to ask, or comments to make, you can do so through the Better Beckley Facebook page, or by contacting one of the team listed on the original leaflet. The parking of cars and work vans on the pavements in Beckley Main Street, especially by the Old Post office, when there is an event on at the village centre. It has been an ongoing pet hate for local people. This problem has been reported to the local police. Please make people aware that parking on pavements you can be reported and find will be given. It just takes a minute to check if you have left enough room for a mother and push chair to get through! They shouldn’t have to go on the main road to pass your car or van. So that residents are aware they can contact our District Councillor Ian Jenkins via e mail. This will help the parish by giving you more immediate responses to questions or concerns. cllr.ian.jenkins@rother.gov.uk.

Dog mess: If you have a dog don’t let it do its business on the pavements in Beckley. There are dog fouling bins in the village so use them. If you see any owners not picking up their dogs mess, they can be reported with £75 find. If you would like to make a dog fouling complaint please phone 01424 787000 or complete an on-line complaint forms via Rother website site. Why not check out Rother’s new updated website you can search information by entering your postcodes which then gives you links to dog fouling, news on your bin collections etc. www.rother.gov.uk

Hall hire: Beckley Village Centre is available to hire. By people hiring and supporting fund raising events put on by the hall committee it will keep the hiring costs down. Why not book a Children’s party, wedding reception or conference. For further information on charges and hall bookings call Margaret Lenton 01797260420

Clubs and societies:, Clubs, societies, classes and groups held in the village hall. Why not join one today? Regular monthly Council Meetings held in the Village Centre’s small hall down stairs. Every 2nd Wednesday at 730. Visit the website for updates. www.beckleyparishcouncil.co.uk. Beckley computer club 07904 837 751. Beckley Park Cricket Club 01580 830245. Beckley Baby Club every Wednesday £2 (term time only) 9.15-11.15 free tea, coffee for parents. Free snacks for the children. AEROBA-FUNK High/Lo Impact Aerobics with an Old Skool Style and Mix’d Sounds (70’s, 80’s, 90’s plus) Every Tuesday 6.30pm-7.30pm Beckley Village Hall Emma 07809 887471. Pilates every Wednesdays 1.30pm Sarah Lush 07769651899. Taekwondo every Wednesdays 4.30pm contact Petra Darvill 01233 330128. Beckley Trefoil Guild meets Third Monday of the month in the Small Hall at 7.30. Brownies Thursday 6.30pm. Table Tennis every Thursday mornings old & new members welcome Carol Cobby 01797 252382. Yoga every Friday mornings contact Evelyn Lamb 260569. Friends of Beckley Church Coffee Morning 1st Tuesday 10.30am. WI 2nd Monday 7.30pm contact Ann Jones 260527. Village Lunch 2nd Thursday 12.30pm bookings Tony Bryant 260518. History Society Friday evenings contact Dennis Ward 260313. Beckley horticultural society 01797 260232. Beckley players 01797 230572. Beckley bowls club 01797 252129. Beckley Rangers club chairman Phil Brain on 01797 260513 or secretary Peter Sands on 01424 882579.

Contact me: If you want me to put something is this column, please email it’s here from you! Whether it’s an upcoming event, information on a society anything Beckley this is your column beckleyvillagevoice@live.co.uk

Mrs Deborah Ongley

Beckley Main Street