Mountfield

We have to start this week with Kent Lane which is transformed. So great is the transformation that it would be churlish to nitpick about details. The guys from the two main contractors were brilliant with residents, visitors, deliveries and tradesfolk. In particular, Rick, the gateman for the first week, together with his border/russell cross, made a lot of friends locally. There should be no more damaged vehicles. And, above all, the lane is safe; it’s safe for pedestrians — and a few of ours are not as sprightly as they once were, it’s safe for all our visiting cyclists (though whether we are safe from them is a different question) and it’s safe for ambulances, fire engines, doctors and all the other people we rely on.

We can’t be bothered to look it up but we reckon that Mountfield Parish Council first got on the case seriously about two years ago when the situation went past the tipping point between the responsibility being that of the users to drive and cycle according to the conditions and the conditions just becoming a menace to even careful and responsible users. Credit to MPC and to their long-suffering clerk, Irene Marchant, who wrote, emailed, phoned, badgered and cajoled for so long.

With the work completed — and with a very good highways steward in Jon Copp to keep an eye on our other lanes and roads, we hope that will be a very, very long time before the subject ever appears in the Village Voice again.

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A few weeks back, we reported that Pete had led a couple of woodland walks for DACS members which were very enthusiastically received by everyone. Numbers were limited so several people had to be turned away. He has been asked to repeat these walks in aid of church funds so…

On June 8th, and again on June 22nd, there will be a Church Woodland Walk in aid of All Saints, Mountfield. This is a rare opportunity to explore an area of our special part of the AONB which is off any public paths and normally inaccessible. This has been made possible by kind permission of Lucinda and Simon Fraser and also British Gypsum. The walks will be led by Peter Miles and will not be repeated this year.

Each walk will include mines ancient and modern, mine pits, quarries and other industrial archeology; the remains of a 13thC fortified manor and other medieval earthworks; Roman and medieval trackways; the botany of ancient woodland including a rare plant population; tree lore and meetings with some remarkable trees including the Yeti Tree; practical foraging; and much more.

Please note: numbers are strictly limited for both dates so first come, first served. The cost is £7.50 per person. Children (under 16) are welcome and go free but it is probably better suited to ten year olds as a minimum. Well socialised dogs are welcome but must be on leads at all times.

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Each walk is only about two miles, and the walking is generally not difficult, but is variously brambly, muddy and slippery so it is not suitable for the newly hipped or kneed and walkers will need to dress accordingly. Remember that spaces are strictly limited. To book, please call Jackie Spriggs (01580 880261) or email her on [email protected] (please do not use joined up writing).

Lucinda has written to say that the Court gardens were open for the National Gardens Scheme on Sunday (May 11) and the teas were in aid of the church. Although it was dry it was unseasonably windy and not that warm so, sadly, there were only 47 visitors . (However, a glance at the NGS yellow book showed that there were no fewer than nine other gardens open in Sussex that afternoon — so a lot of competition.)

Much more encouragingly, the garden was also open the previous Tuesday (May 6) for St Michaels Hospice. The day was windy but dry, sunny day. That elicited a cool 250 visitors and raised a stunning £2234. Fantastic!

The signs have gone up round the village so it must be true. June 1st, 1.00 – 4.00 pm, in and around the village hall: local produce, community stalls, tea and cakes, open invite to the Mountfield Club (fully licensed, full-size snooker table, mega flat screen tele, Glen’s good looks, and Fred as a complete bar steward), open mic, art exhibition, portraits of pets and their people, games and activities for kids and more. The message is: Something for Everyone.

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Talking of the Club, a reminder that the Mountfield Club is laying on a disco this coming Saturday, May 17 at the club. Tickets are £5.00 per person and £2.00 for under-16s.

Non members are welcome.

In the Snooker Summer League, Mountfield travelled to Hawkhurst and lost 1-4 despite Pete Last making a 31 break, the highest for Mountfield in a competitive match and beating Steve Smith’s previous record of 24.

Still no cuckoos, and we’ve lost the love-lorn note of the reversing tarmac lorries but, hey, we’ve got a few (only a very few) East Sussex Highways Access Permits left. Any serious offers accepted. Please call 880614 (evenings) or [email protected].

Peter and Valerie Miles

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