Staplecross

WILD WOODLAND WEEKEND CLUB: Two more of the monthly fun events arranged in the woods for the ‘Wild Ones’ - aged between 6 and 11 years old. No parents are allowed, so the young ones can really let off steam and ‘go wild’. Activities include building their own dens; cooking on an open campfire; playing in the mud; learning some woodcraft and playing games. Each month is a little different but guaranteed a lot of fun. Held nearby on private woodland in Beckley The 1st ‘Wild Woodland’ is for Saturday March 28th from 10.0am until 1.0pm. Meet at Swallowtail Hill Farm, Hobbs Lane, Beckley TN31 6TT and the cost is £10:00 per child.(£8:50 for members of the Sussex Wildlife Trust) and booking is essential. For more information please contact Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre on: 01797~227784 or email: [email protected] The 2nd of these ‘Wild Woodland’ events held at the same venue, is for Monday March 30th between 10.0am and 3.0pm This is an Easter themed fun time with the annual egg-rolling competition; egg hunt; woodland crafts; and lots, lots more. Again suitable for 6 ~11year olds and parents/carers do not accompany the children. Costs for this activity is £20:00 per child-non-Members, £17:00 per child SWT Members and booking your place is again essential. All information is as for previous event.

EXPLORE THE SHORE: For some fun family time together, why not try exploring the beach, playing games, and enjoying having a go at some arts and crafts. This event is suitable for accompanied children aged 4 - 12 years and is planned for Tuesday March 31st between 1.0pm and 3.30pm.Once more, due to the popularity of these events, booking is essential and costs are £3:00 per child. More information can be obtained from Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre, - where the meeting for this super activity will take place. on 01797~227784 or [email protected] or www.WildRye.info.

The National Trust along with Cadburys have arranged several Easter Egg hunts and trail tracking all around Kent and East Sussex and here are a few that you may find of interest.

BODIAM CASTLE, - Daily, from tomorrow Saturday March 28th until Sunday April 12th and from 11.0am until 4.0pm there is the ‘Great Cadbury Easter Egg Trail’. This is a great fun event where you can explore the castle and the grounds whilst hunting for clues to earn your reward. Do you want to be an outlaw or would you rather be a law-abiding citizen trying to protect the kingdom ? . Make your decision and pick a side !. “Heathcliff Heroics” will be on hand to provide the ever popular archery lessons. Normal admission charges apply - but free to National Trust members- with the Easter Egg Trails being an additional £2:50 per person.

BATEMAN’S at BURWASH Have also arranged an ‘egg’ activity for the youngsters inviting them to follow the Bateman’s spring bird ‘Eggsplorer’ trail around the property. Find out how good you are at spotting nests and working out who made them and then laid eggs in them. Have fun discovering more about the garden birds which live and play in and around our own gardens, and see if maybe you can find some more nests in your garden upon returning home. There’s a Cadbury Egghead at the end for those who take part in the challenge and complete the quest. Normal admission charges to the house & gardens apply,but free to National Trust members + trails are £2:50 per person.From Friday 27th March ‘til Sunday 12th April 10am-4pm

SCOTNEY CASTLE: Daily from Friday April 3rd until Monday April 6th from 10.0 until 5.0pm. Normal admission charges apply + additional £2:50 per person for the Easter Egg Trail.

SISSINGHURST CASTLE: A ‘Wind in the Willows’ theme is the order of the day here for this Easter Egg Trail. Follow Mole, Ratty and Badger on an adventure around the wild woods. Plus play wildlife bingo and giant games on the plain. Normal admission charges apply + trails are £2:50 per person. These trails take place every day Friday April 3rd to Monday April 6th from 11.0am until 4.0pm.

SMALLHYTHE PLACE: Daily from 11.0am to 4.0pm from Friday April 3rd to Monday April 6th You and whoever you wish to join you can follow the white rabbit around the garden, find all the clues and work out the secret code at the end of the Cadbury Easter Egg trail to claim a yummy chocolate prize. Normal admission charges apply plus £2:50 per person for the Easter trail.

CONSERVATIVE OPEN MEETING: Bringing his successful open meetings to a close with the last two dates of his sessions, - Huw Merriman, the newly selected Conservative Parliamentary candidate would like to welcome all and sundry to come along and meet him and his fellow party members, East Sussex County Councillor, Angharad Davies and Rother District Councillor Tony Ganly on Monday March 30th, at 7.30pm at The Almonry, High Street, Battle and on the following night to his final venue of Northiam Village Hall, on Tuesday March 31st at 7.30pm. Come along and talk to Huw. Ask him and his colleagues any questions on subjects that may be giving you concern, discuss any matter with them. Light refreshments will be served and all will be warmly welcomed. You may contact Huw either via his email: [email protected] or you may telephone him on: 01424~219117.

MOBILE LIBRARY: Once more that little van with it’s cheerful staff on board, will be arriving at Ewhurst Green on Thursday April 2nd.in the morning. arriving approximately 11.10am and departing at 11.40am. This will be a great opportunity to select a store of books and more- to set yourself up for the Easter holiday- in case of inclement weather!. Armchair shopping is a bit of a ‘hit & miss affair’, rather like window shopping, but with a ‘darn good book’ - a comfy armchair to cosy up in can be your own seat to your new adventure. - wherever you want to go. Through the pages of your latest book, you could solve the latest intricate crime puzzle or you could become a secret action hero or maybe a life-saving medic changing the world. It’s more likely you’ll become a better cook or handyman from reading the cookery or hobby craft books. Perusing the gardening or holiday destination catalogues takes on a whole new outlook, as does new hobbies, pastimes and crafts. So when it arrives, pop up the steps, - there are wheelchair accesses, - fill your arms and carriers with as many books as you can and settle in at home and enjoy Easter in your own way.

ROTHER RAMBLERS: Only two walks are planned for over this Easter Weekend. The first is for Friday April 3rd. (Good Friday.) and is an 8.5 circular walk ‘To the North of Hawkhurst’. All those who would like to take part in this stroll, please meet at 10.0am at the car park near Tesco on the A268.Hawkhurst. OS EXP.136. TQ764304.(SatNav TN18 4HZ.) A picnic lunch is again suggested and as it’s a Good Friday walk, --- don’t forget to include that Easter treat - Hot Cross Buns !. Rita and Lionel are your ‘Walk Leaders’ for this walk, so please contact them on : 01424~752452 for all further details. Last, but certainly not least, Walk No: 2 is again an 8.5 mile circular meander of Danehill - Hindleap Warren. Those who would like to join in this walk, please meet up at 10.0am on Sunday April 5th (Easter Sunday) at the Junction of Freshfield Lane and Church Lane. Park in Church Lane.

OS. EXP.135.TQ402276. (SatNavRH177HE) A picnic lunch is once more suggested and for all further information please contact Adrian on: 01273~514336 or mobile: 07729~861854, as he will be the ‘Walk Leader’ on this occasion.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES: ADVANCE NOTICES - The interior of the STAPLECROSS STOOLBALL Pavilion has had a nice new lick of paint, to smarten up it’s inside look in readiness to welcome the opposing teams when the matches begin in earnest in April. Please come along and watch your local team and cheer them on as they begin their new season. New players are always welcome , as are new members of the club. To find out about either playing or just supporting this friendly and welcoming Stoolball Club, please contact Pauline or Brian on 01580~ 830570 for all further details.

STAPLECROSS BOWLS CLUB: Yet another very full and very busy calendar for the season ahead is in store for the members, both players and supporters alike of this dedicated bowls club. A busy ‘Work day’ is arranged for Saturday April 4th, at 9.0am, - followed by a ‘Coffee morning’ on the following Saturday April 11th. at 10.30am. All this is in preparation for the Opening Day Bowls Drive on Saturday April 18th. 2.0pm - for 2.20pm. In line with many other sporting societies, the Staplecross Bowls club would love to welcome new members, whether as players or as supporters fulfilling the many roles that always accompany a popular activity, such as outdoor bowls. Please contact either Eve at [email protected] or Margaret at: [email protected] or [email protected] who would be pleased to answer all your questions and encourage you to come along & meet them

THE HERDMAN ASSOCIATION: Another exciting event is lined up for your enjoyment - but with a difference ! This promises to be another thought provoking evening entitled “The Pirates of the Puntland” ~ An Encounter with Somali Pirates in the Indian Ocean. This talk is by Brigadier Hugh Willing and will take place in the superb pavilion in Ewhurst Green. TN32 5TB on Wednesday April 29th at 6.30pm. Bookings only are for the seating capacity as all the kind and generous donations received, will go to the “Walking with the Wounded” charity, a very worthwhile charity set up by H.R.H Prince Harry and which is also close to Hugh’s heart. Please contact Glenys Griffiths on 01580~ 830491 for all further information and of course, to reserve your seat.

BRITISH SUMMER-TIME BEGINS: As we all know, and it’s been proved time & time again, - we all feel better when the sun shines and with the beckoning of the long summer evenings and the promise (hopefully) of blue skies and hours and hours of warm summer sun, to look forward to,- how can we not feel happier?. Well, as we now (officially) move into our British summer-time, the clocks will go FORWARD ONE HOUR on Sunday March 29th during the night-time and will nudge us into summer and I’m sure we all agree there’s nowhere better to be than in England in the Summer ! ---Just don’t forget to alter all of your time pieces and remember we’ll lose an hour of sleep !

CHURCH SERVICES: Palm Sunday, the final Sunday before Easter, marks the beginning of Holy Week, and as such is a very important date in the Christian Church calendar. Christian churches throughout the land, distribute palms, (normally formed in a shape of a cross) and sometimes, pussy willows, on Palm Sunday, to commemorate the rushes placed on Christ’s path upon his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Church services for the parish of Ewhurst will commence at St. James the Great, Ewhurst Green on Sunday March 29th (Palm Sunday) at 9.30am. This service will include Holy Communion. An Evening Praise service at St. Mark’s church, Northiam Road, Staplecross will commence at 6pm. There will again be NO SERVICE at St.Giles church, Bodiam, on this day. There will also be church services at St. James the Great, Ewhurst Green on Sunday April 3rd.(Good Friday) at 9.30am.This will be a Good Friday Service. A service at St. Giles, Bodiam, will follow directly afterwards at 11.16am. This will also be a Good Friday Service. There will be NO SERVICE at St. Mark’s church, Northiam Road, Staplecross on this day.

All of these services will be conducted by Reverend Gordon and if he can help you, in any church matter, please contact him either at The Rectory, or by telephoning 01580~830268 or by contacting him via his email which is: [email protected] . If he’s out -and he frequently is- please leave a number & a short message and he’ll return your call as soon as possible. He’ll be very glad to help you in any way he can, so give him a call.

PLEASE CONTACT ME: If your Group, Club, Society or Charity is holding an event, however small or large it may be, and you’d like extra promotion or publicity, then please get in touch with me and let me help ‘spread the news’. However you plan to spend this Easter Holiday break, I hope the weather is kind to you, that your journeys are clear and straightforward and your days are filled with much happiness and happy memories of this special time.

I look forward to hearing from you Thank You.

Anne Reed

[email protected]