Arlington Bluebell Walk & Farm Shop open to public

Hailsham Town Crier Geoff Rowe formally kicked off the opening ceremony for Arlington Bluebell Walk for its 42^nd year of opening to the public to raise funds for local charities, reading Emily Bronte’s bluebell poem and leading a toast to spring 2014.

John McCutchan, Farmer at Bates Green Farm near Hailsham, who created the walks and looks after the wood, cut a ribbon to open the woods early this year, as they are already a sea of white wood anemones and the bluebells have started to open already.

He said, “I believe we may see one of the most spectacular bluebell displays ever this year.”

The Arlington Bluebell Walk, which takes in three working farms, has been delighting countryside lovers and raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for Sussex charities since it first opened in 1972. There are seven different walks to try in the 23 acre wood, including the graveled Blue Walk, which gives access to mobility scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs. Mobility scooters are also available to borrow free of charge.

Seventeen charities will take part in the 2014 event, with Demelza Children’s Hospice in East Sussex first in line, fundraising by providing food and drink to walkers. To date, the Arlington Bluebell Walk has raised more than £500,000 (todays value) for 60 local causes since the attraction opened to the public 42 years ago.

John McCutchan, who farms the land where the Bluebell Wood is and created the Bluebell Walk, said: “Bluebells signify that spring has well and truly arrived and warmer weather is on its way.  A woodland walk among a carpet of bluebells is an experience to delight all the senses – from the scent of the native bluebell to the crunch underfoot of old autumn leaves and birdsong up above. The Arlington Bluebell Walk has walks and activities which allow people of all ages and physical abilities to experience this stunning natural phenomenon.”

The fleeting beauty of the spring bluebells has inspired writers, such as the Bronte sisters, and artists for generations. Photographers are encouraged to capture the sea of blue in the annual Arlington Bluebell Walk Photographic Competition. The winner entry will be featured on the front of the 2015 attraction leaflet and entries from 2013 will be on display.

Artists can take part in the Paint Me a Bluebell competition and there is also a children’s quiz with prizes awarded by the National Farmers Union. The quizzes are based on the different colour coded walks.

Visitors can also learn more about dairy farming and get up close to farm animals with pens of pigs, angora goats, sheep and baby chicks. At neighbouring Parkwood Farm, the milking of the large herd can be seen from a special viewing gallery every afternoon between 3pm and 5pm.

The Bluebell Farm Shop which is normally open Fridays and Saturdays from 9.30pm to 5pm will be open every day the Bluebell Walk is open from 11.00am and is the main outlet for locally produced beef, lamb, chicken and fresh turkeys at Christmas all reared by John McCutchan’s son in law Michael Vine (formally from Ersham Farm in Hailsham)

The Farm Shop is a foodies’ paradise, stocked with a tastebud-tantalising selection of ingredients for a spectacular dish prepared with the minimum of food miles. Farmer’s wife Philippa Vine is a professional cook and food writer and has a passion for locally sourced quality ingredients. The shop will stock a mouthwatering range of homemade sausages, pies, tarts and delicious cakes. Quality essentials such as olive and flavoured oils, vinegars, spices, herbs, coffee, rice, pasta, pulses, flour and local free range eggs will also be available.

For those wanting the ultimate takeaway after their walk, Philippa offers a pre-order service, where countryside lovers can pick up tarts, cakes, casseroles, and pies after their visit.  Philippa also offers cookery tuition in her farmhouse kitchen on a one to one basis, or with a friend.

orders@bluebellfarmshop.co.uk  or telephone 07896742454

Arlington Bluebell Walk

Thursday 10 April – Sunday 18 May 2014

Bates Green Farm, Tye Hill Road, Arlington, Polegate, East Sussex, BN26 6SH

(Signs off A22 and A27)

Open 10am daily   Close: 5pm daily

Adults £5.00. children £2.00 or family of up to 6 is £12.00.  Seniors £4.50

www.bluebellwalk.co.uk

Circus Street Market brings urban playground to Brighton

Crowds were thrilled by a spectacular Parkour dance performance  at Circus Street Market by Brighton troupe Urban Playground, funded by Cathedral Group and McLaren and organised by South East Dance.

Urban Playground also managed workshops over the past two days with over 50 local people, including adults and children from the neighbouring Tarner community, learning exciting dance moves in the extraordinary ‘urban decay’ setting of the old market building.

“We are delighted to help South East Dance bring such special and unique dance opportunities to local people right on the site where we aim to build their future Dance Space,” said Martyn Evans, Creative Director at Cathedral Group.

The event was part of an ongoing programme of activity by South East Dance aiming to bring world-class dance artists together with local communities.

Cathedral Group in partnership with McLaren Property submitted a planning application back in December for a development on the site estimated to bring over £200million into Brighton & Hove over the next ten years, create over 600 jobs, deliver two landmark public buildings: The Dance Space, a new home for dance, and a library and teaching building for the University of Brighton, as well as much needed new homes and student accommodation.

www.circusstreetbrighton.com

The Princess Royal to visit South of England Show

The Princess Royal will visit this year's South of England Show, celebrating British country life at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, on 5th June, it was announced on the official website of the British Monarchy this week [9th April]. 

Her Royal Highness will visit some of the highlights of the Show, which is this year celebrating horticulture, before she attends the AGM of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth, to be hosted at the Showground on the same day, in her role as President.

Said Michael Lambert, Chairman of the South of England Agricultural Society, who is also Secretary of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth, “We are very much looking forward to hosting Her Royal Highness at the South of England Show, which will showcase the best of British agriculture, equestrianism, food and drink and rural crafts and skills.

“Horticulture is a central feature of this year’s show and we hope that she will enjoy some spectacular displays from the region’s specialists and schools, as well as seeing some of the superb equestrian events that we hold here.”

The Princess Royal last visited the South of England Show when she was President of the South of England Agricultural Society in 2004.

With fun for all the family, highlights at the Show this year include the micro-sized Shetland Pony Grand National, heavy horse turnouts, show jumping, Fur & Feather displays with dozens of breeds of chickens and rabbits and the famous livestock display where hundreds of animals have their moment of glory.

Last year children and parents enjoyed mingling with the hounds and huntsmen during the cavalcade of hounds in the Ardingly Ring; and for the three days of the show, the 150-acre showground comes alive with hundreds of competitions, from best cattle, sheep, pig and goat breeds, to countryside skills, including the Young Craftsman of the Year and the farriers’ horse shoeing competitions.

World class showjumping and equestrian events also feature throughout the show, as well as entertainment and music, shopping galore and for foodies there is one of the most impressive food halls in the South East.

FREE entry for children under 6 yrs.  FREE parking and a regular bus shuttle service from Haywards Heath train station to the showground.

For further information and for advance ticket discounts visit www.seas.org.uk

or telephone 01444 892700

You can also follow us on Facebook: ‘SouthofEnglandShowground’, Twitter @ sofeshowground and read the Blog at SouthofEnglandShowground

SOUTH OF ENGLAND SHOW

South of England Centre, Ardingly, West Sussex.

(Near Haywards Heath. Junction 10 off M23)

Open: 9am daily. Close: 6.30pm daily.

First class hospitality on the sea at the Amex Stadium

New General Manager at the Amex Stadium near Brighton, Tony Crosbie of Sodexo Prestige, is already making his mark with his team successfully managing hospitality for just under 300,000 guests in the first three months of this year.

The stunning venue is still brand new, with state of the art conferencing and events rooms, each with their own special style, with downs or pitch views and free parking with easy access from the A23 and A27, as well as great rail links from London, Surrey, Sussex and beyond.

Said Tony: “On non-match days, conference goers can forget that they are in a sports stadium, because it really is smart, modern, in a lovely countryside setting, just outside Brighton by the sea, and we pride ourselves on offering fantastic catering and service.”

“We are also planning our first ‘Christmas on the Sea’ parties in December this year – which are a fun and memorable opportunity for businesses to bring their company or team parties to step on board for a really special night – and we are offering discounts for early bookings.”

The whole venue will be dressed as a high class cruise liner, with the captain and his staff welcoming guests on board for a red carpet arrival, cocktail reception and three-course dinner dance, reminiscent of a first-class cruise experience, from £39 including VAT.

Continued Tony Crosbie: “I want us to be the best in the country for hospitality and ensure that every guest who comes to the Stadium for whatever event - be it match day, a small meeting, a large dinner, an exhibition or Christmas party - has a great experience and wants to return again and again.”

Contact the Amex Stadium events team on 01273 878 272 or email events@bhafc.co.uk

www.amexstadium.co.uk