Mountfield

First of all, a date for your diaries. The Darwell Area Conservation Society (DACS) invites you to their grand, inaugural meeting on Sunday 7th July, 4.00pm, in Mountfield Village Hall. At this launch, there will be presentations on how DACS intends to celebrate, contribute to, and conserve this special part of the Sussex Weald. In addition, there will be tea and cake (of course!), an exhibition of old photographs of the Darwell valley area from the local archives, a display of local archaeological finds from Roman times to WWII, a sale of books of local interest (including a history of Darwell Reservoir), and a mystery celebrity guest. Watch this space for updates or check their website: http://savedarwell.wordpress.com.

Another piece of recent local news you may have missed is that our local farmshop, Poppinghole Farm Shop on the A21, has been bought by Sarah Geldard. A lot of you will already know Sarah, who lives in Robertsbridge, as she has worked in the shop for several years. Sarah says that, for the most part, the shop will continue on the same lines as before but she is looking to introduce produce from new suppliers, such as the recently introduced lines of butcher-sourced meats.

The Parish Council continues to plug away at the question of potholes and Highways are certainly plugging away at the potholes themselves. In particular, they have now fixed the most dangerous potholes and collapsed gullies (drains) between New Cut and the roundabout. Apparently, the outstanding problem just south of the level crossing is so close to the railway line that it has to be a RailTrack solution. Otherwise, they are getting there but, after the last thirteen months of rain, it’s going to take some catching up. There’s a good explanation of how Highways are tackling the problem on the website: look for “Potholes Q&A” on http://mountfield.org.uk.

Talking of the Biblical rains of the last year, have you noticed how late so many things are? Roses, swallows, leaves, bluebells (in June?) and much more. And this is the first year that I have never seen a single doodlebug. And the fields on the estate were finally drilled in the last three days in April. And it’s virtually all rape. Strange times.

Now — do you have any news for us? If so, contact [email protected] or call 880614 (evenings please).