Chailey

QUIZ NIGHT: In aid of Chailey Heritage Foundation, takes place at the Foundation on Saturday October 8. Teams of up to 10 people accepted. Tickets £10, including food, are available from [email protected].

FIND OUT MORE DAY: There is a Find Out More Day on Sunday October 9 and anyone, skilled or unskilled, who can offer a day a month or more to the Bluebell Railway are invited to find out more about volunteering in our various departments. Book your place on an orientation tour, and get more information about the opportunities at the Railway, by phoning 01825 720800 or emailing [email protected].

BADGE NIGHT: The bonfire society’s badge night will be slightly different from past years in that they will be holding two evenings the first at the Horns Lodge on Friday October 14 and the second at The Five Bells on Friday October 21, both from at 6.30pm. You will be able to renew your membership at either evening. Membership costs just £5 per adult or £10 for a family of two adults and children. For your membership you will receive a members badge and details of how to get a bonfire jumper. Being a member of Chailey Bonfire Society also enables you to march at other society bonfire celebrations throughout the bonfire season. If you are new to the village or interested in finding out more about your local bonfire society please come along and have a chat with committee members who will be available all evening. We will be running a raffle on both evenings, which will be drawn at the Five Bells on October 21. Tickets are £1 each. Please go along and support your bonfire society.

LUNCH CLUB: At St Peter’s Church is held monthly at 12.30pm in the church on Chailey Green and the next lunch club is on Thursday October 20. All are welcome to go along for a delicious meal, meet new people and chat and relax. The food is all freshly prepared and home-cooked with a main course, choice of puddings and tea/coffee for £5 per person. There is easy access and disabled toilet facilities. If you require transport or further information please contact Julia Guerard on 01825 722967.

AGM: It is important that small village societies keep going so please support the horticultural society in 2017. Their AGM is on the Thursday October 20 in the Reading Room at 8pm. A few nibbles and drinks will be provided. Everyone is welcome and new ideas are especially welcome. For more details call Peter Estcourt 01273 400791or email [email protected].

VOLUNTEERS: Would be much appreciated to help with Chailey Heritage Foundation’s bucket collections on Saturday October 29, at Newick Bonfire Night, and Thursday December 8 and Wednesday December 21 at Tesco, Burgess Hill. If you are able to assist please email [email protected]

GIANTS OF STEAM: Are at the Bluebell Railway on Friday to Sunday, October 28 to 30. An intensive timetable will operate and, along with a visiting engine--LNER Society B12 from North Norfolk Railway and the Bluebell Railway’s own No. 73082 Camelot, Q class No. 30541, and S class No. 847 will be on duty. The Atlantic House will be open both days; this is usually closed to the public so this is an opportunity to have a look at the building of the Railway’s brand new locomotive; Atlantic Class Beachy Head. Also a free vintage bus service is planned from Brighton and Lewes to Sheffield Park on Sunday October 30. For more information visit www.bluebell-railway.com/event/giants-of-steam/.

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION: Make It Snappy. For amateur photographers, runs until October 31 at the Bluebell Railway. Photographs taken from September 1 until October 31, of anything or anyone around the Railway, can be entered into the competition to win a pair of Afternoon Tea vouchers that can be used to book a trip on the Wealden Rambler Afternoon Tea train. Under 16s can enter too and win £50 of Bluebell Railway Gift Tokens that can be spent in the shop or restaurant or used for a trip on the train. Pick up an entry form from the Sales and Information Office at Sheffield Park Station or the Travel Centre at East Grinstead and return it with your photograph to either office with your name clearly marked on the reverse of the photograph. You will need to have proof that you have either purchased an admission ticket or travel ticket.

BONFIRE NIGHT: Preparations are well under way for bonfire night in the village on Saturday November 12. Would you or your society like to have a float in the procession? If so float registration forms are available from Diane on 01273 401900 or [email protected].

TRACK TREK 2016: This year is the Bluebell Railways fourth Track Trek event which takes place on November 12. This year’s Trek is the longest covering the entire line from East Grinstead to Sheffield Park, offering a unique opportunity to see the whole railway from a different perspective. It is not every day that you can walk along the track without any steam trains running. The money raised will benefit two very different projects at the Railway. To register for the Track Trek the sponsorship form can be downloaded at http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/funding/fftf/ and it provides a tear-off registration form. Plus you can create your own fundraising page on BT MyDonate or an Organised Event fundraising page on JustGiving.

GARDENING NEWS: Every month in the Chailey News there is some helpful advice from our horticultural society. This month it explains that now is the time to plant over wintering onions which can survive the hardest frost and will be ready at the end of June. Recommended varieties are Radar a good white onion and Electra a mild sweet slightly red onion. It is also time to plant garlic and the Early Purple and Provence Wight varieties are suggested and even Elephant Garlic, which apparently strictly speaking is a leek. It produces large mild and moist cloves excellent for roasting or general use. It sounds easy to grow as it’s almost completely trouble free and as the bulb ripens it produces a lovely allium flower which can be used in flower arranging and tells you the bulb is ripe. The final advantage is that it stores exceptionally well. I’ve only summarised their advice here so do read it all in the parish magazine.

PATCHWORK FARM APPEAL: Chailey Heritage Foundation is setting up a Care Farm on their site providing many opportunities for the young people to interact with animals and learn in an engaging outdoor setting. Patchwork Farm will provide a truly multi-sensory learning environment with new sights, sounds, textures and smells to experience. The area will be designed specifically to meet the needs of the young people, with fully accessible wheelchair friendly walkways and a covered Outdoor Education Centre. It will initially house goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and ducks. Within this area, groups of young people will be able to participate in activities such as feeding and animal care sessions. This would be a regular part of the timetable for those pupils and young adults accessing our services and in the longer term we aim to open it up to the wider community. To donate to this appeal please contact the fundraising team at the Foundation on 01825 724444 (ext.718) or email [email protected] or visit https://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/chs/carefarm.

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