Chichester Local - March 2019

March 2019

CHICHESTER LOCAL Local news & events through the door to over 7,800 homes in this area every month

COURT CLOSURES A setback for justice in Sussex?

WIN!

Tickets to Fishers Farm History of Trees - Book

GARDENS

NEWS

Leonardslee

Community Council, Charity

HISTORY

HEALTH

East Street’s Beast Market, 1808

PLUS

Shoulder Pain

What’s On, Local Walks, Recipe, Prize Crossword, Charity, Local Groups, Young Readers Puzzles, Business Directory

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March 2019 Cover image “Kingfisher” on the Chichester Canal by Geoffrey Radcliffe

Welcome...

I love March, the lighter evenings and (hopefully!) warmer weather, not to mention Mother’s Day and my birthday! This month you can win tickets to family favourite Fishers Farm Adventure Park - see page 12.

You can also win the book ‘A History of Trees’ - unusual and little-known facts about trees with a Sussex section - see page 17.

Our main article this month is on the Closure of Magistrates’ courts in Sussex.

Journalist Veronica Cowan investigates see page 26.

Leonardslee Gardens in Lower Beeding is due to reopen at the end of this month.

With spectacular displays of Azaleas and Rhododendrons, Leonardslee is world famous. Andrew Staib goes on a tour of the gardens with Head Gardener, Ray Abrahams plus the main gardening tasks for March (In Your Garden page 36).

We recently visited the Park House Hotel & Spa just outside Midhurst - read our review on page 13.

We also have our regular history article by local historian Andrew Berriman this month on East Street’s Beast Market of 1808 see page 14.

As usual we have the What’s On guide (starting on page 4) and our regular local news. Please get in touch with anything you’d like published, community news is always free please email: info@sussexlocal.net

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.........................................................................What’s On .................Win! Tickets to Fishers Farm Adventure Park ......................................Park House Hotel & Spa Review .............................................................Chichester History .......................................Win! The History of Trees - book .......................................................................Local Walks ........................................................Charity & Community ......................Local issues - Magistrates’ court closures .................................................................Prize Crossword ................................................................................Recipe ....................................................................In Your Garden ......................................Property Doctor - home security ...........................................................Health & Wellbeing ............................................Young Readers’ Puzzle Page ............................................................Local Council News .............................................................Business Directory ...........................................................Index of Advertisers Kay Publishing Ltd PO Box 2237 Pulborough RH20 9AH info@sussexlocal.net www.sussexlocal.net

01903 868474

Established in 2007, we publish and hand-deliver seven editions free of charge to over 42,000 homes and businesses every month.

Display advertising starts at just £24 a month per edition (1/8th).

Business Directory £10 per month per edition. We welcome reader letters and community notices which we publish free of charge.

Kris & Jeff

Quote of the month “Everybody is a genius.

But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid” - ALBERT EINSTEIN Disclaimer - Whilst advertisements are printed in good faith, Sussex Local (Kay Publishing Ltd) is an independent company and does not endorse products or services that appear in this magazine. Sussex Local cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions or claims made by contributors. Views and opinions of contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Seven editions across West Sussex Arundel - Arundel, Amberley, Burpham, Climping, Fontwell, Ford, Slindon, Walberton & Yapton Total addresses - 6,400 Barnham - Barnham, Eastergate, Westergate, Aldingbourne, Oving, & Tangmere Total addresses - 5,400 Chichester - Chichester centre & suburbs Total addresses - 7,800 Findon - Findon Valley, Findon Village, Nepcote, High Salvington, Clapham & Patching plus Salvington/Selden (south of A27) Total addresses - 6,200 Midhurst & Petworth - Midhurst, Petworth, Easebourne Total addresses - 4,750 rising to 7,600 from April 2019 Pulborough - Pulborough, Bury, Coldwaltham, Fittleworth, Marehill, Nutbourne, Stopham, West Chiltington village and Common.

Total addresses - 5,500 Storrington - Storrington, Ashington, Cootham Thakeham, Sullington & Washington. Total addresses - 6,400

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10 What’s On

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12 Competition

Win a family ticket to Fishers Farm Animal adventures & thrilling play activities The multi-award winning Fishers Adventure Farm Park is the much-loved family day out in the heart of the lovely West Sussex countryside. Fishers offers a unique mixture of animal adventures, exhilarating indoor play and thrilling outdoor activities the whole family can experience – it’s no wonder that Fishers is still “Where the Family Comes First”.

Fishers Farm (Newpound Lane, Wisborough Green, RH14 0EG) has over 50 rides and attractions on offer for a jam-packed family day out. The Animal Encounters Barn is an animal-lovers dream, home to horses, cows, goats, rabbits, pigs and so much more.

Their Saddle Rooms Restaurant is a popular choice for lunch with home-grown food on their menu. Catch up with your friends or watch the kids play whilst you relax with a coffee and a cake in their comfy indoor seating areas. Fishers Adventure Farm Park is undoubtedly the ultimate, great-value, jam-packed family day out all-year round, come rain or shine! Lucky winners will receive a family ticket which is valid for a year www.fishersfarmpark.co.uk

Win a family ticket to Fisher Farm To enter the competition answer the question below: Q: How many attractions & rides does Fishers Farm have? a) 30 b) 50 c) 20 Send your answer and contact details to: Fishers Farm Competition, PO Box 2237, Pulborough, RH20 9AH or enter online at www.sussexlocal.net/ features/competitions Winner drawn after 31st March 2019. Please indicate if you wish to remain on our mailing list.

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Park House

Leisure 13 The Ivy, Ship Street, Brighton

Hotel & Spa review by editor Kris Thomas Owned by the O’Brien family for three generations, Park House was opened as a hotel in the late 1940s by “raconteur” Ioné O’Brien and quickly became a “best kept secret” among celebrities of the day. Located down a long, country lane, Park Hotel consists of an attractive main building with other offshoot annexes housing the Spa, function and conference room and additional accommodation. The hotel is still owned by the O’Brien family and retains the warm feeling of a gracious family home.

We arrived on a cold and rainy February day and after checking in went directly for lunch in the dining area overlooking the manicured lawns. The hotel has two grass tennis courts, a croquet lawn and a golf course as well as a lovely outdoor pool.

After lunch we visited the spa, housed in a gorgeous beamed building with a mezzanine relaxation area overlooking the inviting pool and bubbling hot tub.

There is also a gym and Pilates and Yoga classes are offered in the Barn next door. The Spa, which is also open to day guests, has an excellent selection of treatments from standard pedicures and facials to more elaborate rejuvenating offerings. I tried a detoxifying mud wrap which smelled great and left my skin silky soft. The low-lit treatment room, kindly therapist and heated bed put me instantly at ease and the face and head massage administered by my lovely therapist was sheer bliss. Jeff tired a lava shell massage which he found very relaxing. This treatment is similar to a hot stone massage with the warm shells allowing the therapist to really work on knotted muscles. Extra touches including complimentary shampoos and lotions and hair straighteners in the changing rooms plus key code lockers (that actually work) make for a very pleasurable experience all round.

The hotel has just 21 individually decorated rooms, split between the main building and three adjacent cottages. We were given a delightful and very spacious double-aspect room in the South Down cottage a few steps from the Spa. The room had a separate sitting area and a huge bathroom with under floor heating.

Pre-dinner drinks in the cosy bar (with a very welcome open fire) gave us time to peruse the many photos adorning the walls. Royals and celebrities from past decades including June Whitfield and Alistair McGowan smile down at visitors. The restaurant is also open to non-residents.

The winter menu is certainly interesting and featured seasonal favourites including Hare. Jeff chose pork “pie” and pear as a starter, the seasoned pork was offset by sweet tangy pear. I had the crab and ginger risotto - three diamond shaped filo pastry crab parcels on top of a creamy risotto garnished with tangy, crunchy fresh ginger and samphire. For mains Jeff had tender venison rump with red cabbage and rich jus, I opted for the Supreme of chicken with a butter bean and sweet corn sauce and we shared sides of sprouts with bacon, Dauphinois potatoes and garlic and chilli tenderstem. The desserts were too tempting to resist and we chose; Fine Apple Tart moreish slices of caramelised apple on a thin tart base with vanilla ice cream and; bread and bread pudding - six individual crispy-topped bread bites in a creamy, delicately orange flavoured sauce with a large marble-sized scoop of ice cream in the middle.

After dinner we retired to the comfortable lounge where there is another open fire and candles on the fireplace mantle, Japanese prints on the walls and a choice of several sofas to relax with our coffee.

Park House hotel is far removed from the standard corporate-feel offerings where all decor is grey and “contemporary”. Staying at Park House is like visiting a charming country retreat and the staff really make you feel welcome. We will return.

Tel: 01730 819000 or www.parkhousehotel.com

CHICHESTER LOCAL

14 History

East Street’s Beast Market, 1808 By local historian Andrew Berriman Two poems in January and February’s articles, and now, for March, a painting. I mentioned this painting in January, as just eleven years after it was painted, John Keats walked along East Street. It depicts the Beast Market. It is so full of life. It was certainly popular in its own day, initially painted in oil in 1808 by Joseph Francis Gilbert (1792/1855). He was a local; his father had a watch and clockmaking business in East Street, and he was a Chichester drawing master. He specialised in Sussex landscapes. Seek out his ‘Chichester Cathedral from North Walls’ (1831), or his ‘View of South Harting (1834) in Uppark; both are equally stunning.

So well was this painting received that it obviously made commercial sense, in 1814, to turn it into an engraved print, dedicated to the 4th Duke of Richmond. The only slight criticism of it is that maybe the scene depicted is too clean. Locals often complained at just how filthy and mucky was East Street, for many days after the Beast Market, held on second Wednesdays.

The scene shown is during a winter month, when the wattle pens could be erected on the north side of East Street; if it had been summer, they would have been placed on the shadier southern side. Since 1798 it had been the job of the Gaoler and the Town Crier to put out the wooden pens on Market Days, collect them in again, and keep them in a state of good repair. But in 1808 the Town Crier cried off; maybe he thought it was beneath his dignity, not worth the extra £10 per year, in addition to collecting the market dues. He is shown ringing his handbell, to announce the start of the day’s business.

Not surprisingly, none of the actual identities of the persons shown is known. Just who is that rather portly gentleman in the centre foreground, and does he realise that his pocket is about to be picked by a couple of youths? Is the bow-legged person, standing under the carcasses in the butcher’s window on the corner of St. Martin’s, a victim of rickets, caused by malnourishment? Has the man on horseback chosen

a bad time to trot down East Street, rather like a car driver travelling along the Chichester bypass during the Festival of Speed weekend? At least there is a proper pavement, being used by some well-dressed ladies.

The pens seem well stocked with sheep, with potential purchasers examining them closely. One flock in the foreground is not yet penned, and three of its sheep seem ready to break away and shoot off down North Pallant, despite the best efforts of the shepherds in their smocks. Further up the middle of the street are some untethered cattle, of impressive size. There are records of serious injuries, even fatalities, being caused on Market Days, the victims gored by runaway bulls.

The view looks westward from the junction of East Street with St. Martin’s Street, seen at bottom right.

The Cathedral spire and the Cross stand out clearly, with the rather ghostly presence of the Bell Tower just visible behind the latter. The shops in East Street look very neat, with their bow windows. Even then it was the main shopping street. No doubt the shop owners did not look forward to Market Day, with animal manure being trampled on their floors.

One feature of the East Street scene that is not seen in 1808, whereas it was there in 1715, a century earlier, was the huge sign hanging from the ‘Swan Inn’, on the north side, near the Cross. But the Swan was still there, a leading coaching inn. No doubt many of the Portsmouth butchers, who regularly attended the prestigious Chichester Market Day, had arrived that morning on the ‘Union’ coach, and enjoyed a hearty breakfast before venturing forth to inspect the beasts.

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CHICHESTER LOCAL

16 Nature

Changes on the wing at Pagham Harbour & Medmerry

By Roy Newnham, Visitor Experience Officer, RSPB Pagham Harbour March signals the start of spring and the promise of warmer days to come. Plants start to emerge from their slumber. Slowly, sleepily at first, the sunshine persuades the lesser celandine to emerge in bright yellow splashes, while in the shade primroses reveal themselves with a subtler hue. As the temperature rises, the pace quickens, gathering momentum and urgency. Blackthorn bushes seem to burst alive with white blossom and the air around the pussy willow reverberates with the low hum of bees and other insects taking advantage of this early offering of pollen and nectar. Yellow brimstone and ragged orange comma butterflies, woken from their hibernation flit along the hedgerows looking for a mate and in the green fields hares start to chase and box.

Having braved the winter, our resident birds that stay with us all year round now reap the benefits by starting early to find a mate and get on with rearing a family.

Robins have been holding territories all winter and are quick to attack any rival entering its patch. If you see two robins happy in each other’s presence it is likely they are a pair. Blue tits and great tits can be seen prospecting nestboxes and cavities for their favoured des-res.

Meanwhile, overhead our winter visitors are leaving, heading north as the ice retreats from their breeding grounds. The constant honking dialogue of brent geese and whistling of wigeon ducks fades and the silence across the saltmarsh is broken by the alarm calls of curlew and redshank. The redshank is a flighty medium-sized wader. It has red legs and a straight red bill with a black tip. Standing still it appears brown but when flying shows a white wedge on its back and on the trailing edge of its wings.

The harbour won’t be quiet for long as summers visitors are on their way in the form of chattering terns. However, there are (c) rspb-images.com others ahead of them. Wheatears are touching down now and can be found along our shingle beaches and in open farmland

across Pagham Harbour and Medmerry. The smart little males have a grey crown and back, black wings and an orange flush to (c) rspb-images.com the breast.

Sporting a black patch through its eye and a white stripe above, it flashes its white rump as it flies ahead.

It is this flash of white that gave rise to its name, the Old English for ‘white’ being ‘wheat’ and ‘arse’ being ‘ear’.

The smallest of our swallows and martins, the sand martin, is close behind and like the wheatear has spent the winter in Africa. Its upperparts are a uniform brown and underparts white, with a distinct brown band across the chest. They zoom through the skies, fast and agile on pointed wings, catching insects over open fields and water. The sand martin gets its name from its nesting habit of digging burrows in steep sandy cliffs usually along rivers and over water courses. They nest in colonies and the tunnels can be up to a metre in length.

Moving into April its cousin will be arriving and on a sunny spring morning I like to sit on the beach at Church Norton, look out to sea and wait. There. Just a dot, but getting bigger as it comes closer. Racing over the waves, before ‘whoosh’ over my head and beyond.

Swallows, arriving before my eyes, back to spend the summer with us. Although they are a similar shape to the martins their long tail-streamers and reddish-brown faces help to distinguish them and their upperparts are an iridescent blue-black. It’s a joy to watch these speedy little rockets coming in off the ocean.

Spring is here and soon the air with be filled with the sound of birdsong, but that is another story…

(c) Chris Gomersall rspb-images.com

Competition

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Win a copy of ‘A History of Trees’ Unusual and little-known facts about trees Have you ever wondered how trees got their names?

What did our ancestors think about trees, and how were they used in the past? This fascinating book will answer many of your questions, but also reveal interesting stories that are not widely known.

For example, the nut from which tree was predicted to pay off the UK’s national debt? Or why is Europe’s most popular pear called the ‘conference’? Simon Wills tells the history of twenty-eight common trees in an engaging and entertaining way, and every chapter is illustrated with his photographs.

Find out why the London plane tree is so frequently planted in our cities, and how our forebears were in awe of the magical properties of hawthorn. Where is Britain’s largest conker tree? Which tree was believed to protect you against both lightning and witchcraft?

The use of bay tree leaves as a sign of victory by athletes in ancient Greece led to them being subsequently adopted by many others – from Roman emperors to the Royal Marines. But why were willow trees associated with Alexander Pope, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Samuel Johnson? Why did Queen Anne pay a large sum for a cutting from a walnut tree in Somerset? Discover the answers to these and

many other intriguing tales within the pages of this highly engrossing book.

Simon Wills is a history journalist and genealogist who writes regularly for magazines such as Family Tree. He advises and has appeared in the TV programme Who Do You Think You Are? and contributes to the magazine of the same name. www.pen-and-sword.co.uk

Win ‘The History of Trees’ To enter the competition answer the question below: Q: Alexander Pope was associated with which tree? a) Oak

b) Willow

c) Ash

Send your answer and contact details to: A History of Trees Competition, PO Box 2237, Pulborough, RH20 9AH or enter online at www.sussexlocal.net/ features/competitions Winner drawn after 31st March 2019. Please indicate if you wish to remain on our mailing list.

CHICHESTER LOCAL

18 Walks

Local Walks - March These walks are supported by Chichester District Council, are led by volunteers and are designed to cater for all ages and abilities. No booking is required but please arrive 10 mins before the walk is due to start. Dogs are welcome unless otherwise stated but must be kept on the lead.

Timings are for guidelines only. If the weather is poor the walk may be cancelled, if unsure check, contact 01243 534589 health@chichester.gov.uk www.chichesterwellbeing.org.uk L = Walk Leader Mon 4th

10:30 am Petworth via Shimmings Valley L: Gerald See "Little Switzerland", as the locals call the beautiful Shimmings Valley (east side of Petworth). Meet in Petworth Library, GU28 0AU

Wed 6th

10:30 am Walderton L: Andrew 2 hrs Slow, flat, easy wander across fields and along quiet lanes.

Meet alongside River Ems at T junction of B2146 at Walderton

2 miles

Wed 6th

10:45 am Littlehampton Seafront Meet at Arun Yacht Club, BN17 5DL

L: Dominic

1 hr 30 mins

2 miles

Thurs 7th

10:30 am Stoughton Down Meet in Stoughton Down Car Park

L: Jane

2 hrs

5.5 miles

Mon 11th

10:30 am Chichester Canal Meet in Chichester Canal, PO19 8DT

L: Helen

30 mins

1 mile

Wed 13th

10:30 am Kingley Vale L: Alison Enjoy a walk around this beautiful Nature Reserve Meet in West Stoke car park, PO18 9BE

2 hrs

2 miles

Thurs 14

10:30 am Springhead Hill L: Peter Downland walk with stunning views all around.

Meet in car park at Springhead Hill

2 hrs

4.5 miles

Fri 15th

10:30 am Compton Meet in Compton Recreation Ground car park

3 hrs

6 miles

Sat 16th

10:30 am Binsted Woods L: Dominic Meet in Walberton Village Hall car park, BN18 0PQ

2 hrs 30 mins

4.2 miles

Mon 18th

10:30 am Lynchmere Common L: Angela 1 hr 30 mins Joins, in places, with the Serpent trail long distance path.

Meet at junction of Linchmere Road & Hammer Hill, GU27 3QZ

2.8 miles

Wed 20th

10:45 am Climping L: Dominic Along dunes and beach to Climping Mill. Meet at Arun Yacht Club Car Park, Rope Walk, Littlehampton, BN17 5DL

1 hr 15 mins

2.5 miles

Thurs 21st

10:30 am Goodwood Country Park L: Peter Meet in free car park on the right after passing Goodwood racecourse

2 hrs

4 miles

Fri 22nd

10:30 am Wisborough Green L: Richard Walk along to the unrestored section of the Wey Arun canal.

Meet on the north side of the green near the cricket pavilion

2 hrs

4 miles

Wed 27th

10:30 am Petworth Park L: Simon A circular walk passing through Petworth Park to Upperton and Tillington. Meet in Sylvia Beaufroy car park, GU28 0HX

2 hrs

4 miles

Thurs 28th

10:30 am Chantry Hill & Blackpatch Hill L: Jane A Downland walk with lovely views towards the coast.

Meet at Chantry Post

2 hrs 45 mins

6.2 miles

Fri 29th

10:30 am Wey Arun Canal Meet in canal visitor centre car park

1 hr 30 mins

3.5 miles

L: Alison

L: Richard

1 hr 30 mins

3 miles

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20 Charity & Community

Sussex Snippets Healthwatch West Sussex aims to make local health and social care services better for people that use them. They record feedback from patients and share this anonymously with the people who make decisions about health and care services. By sharing your experiences they say this can really help influence future improvements. They also offer a helpline on 0300 012 0122 which offers information and advice.

You can also call this number to access free Independent Health Complaints Advocacy if you need guidance on an NHS complaint or practical support. l Email helpdesk@healthwatchwestsussex.co.uk,or visit www.healthwatchwestsussex.co.uk.

The 29th CAMRA Sussex Branches Beer & Cider Festival will be at Brighton Racecourse, Freshfield Road, Brighton BN2 9XZ on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 March 2019. There will be 140+ real ales available plus an excellent selection of real ciders and perries.

Open Friday 11am – 3pm £6, 5pm - 10pm £8; Saturday 11am – 8pm £5.

Applause Rural Touring and the South Downs National Park Authority are delighted to announce an exciting new project to support a creative Writer in Residence. Playwright and community arts practitioner Sara Clifford will work closely with communities

CHICHESTER LOCAL across the National Park in Spring 2019, gathering material on what it means to local residents to live in the South Downs, and exploring the rich cultural heritage of the region. She will shape her research into performances which will be staged in host pubs located in towns and villages as part of Applause Rural Touring’s Inn Crowd Scheme in Autumn 2019. Anyone interested in getting involved in the project in any way (local residents, landlords, community groups, local clubs and schools etc) should contact Sara at inroadsproductions@mac.com www.inncrowd.org.uk/ writers-in-residence/sara-clifford.

Team GB swimming heroes Mark Foster and Duncan Goodhew are encouraging people inSussexto sign up to Swimathon, the world’s biggest annual fundraising swim, to raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie. Taking place from Friday 29th to Sunday 31st March, swimmers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to sign up to take part in the world’s biggest annual swimming fundraising event in pools across Sussex. People of all swimming abilities can participate as there are a variety of distances available as individual challenges. www.Swimathon.org.

Amateur photographers with a passion for wildlife can enter the 2019 Julian Gardner Awards. Entries should capture the UK countryside – be it game, wildlife, habitats or landscape, they will be judged by a panel from organisers the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT). The competition – launched in memory of Sussex farmer Julian Gardner who was tragically killed while defending his property in October 2010 – has an adult and junior section. The closing date is May 31st.. Anyyone wishing to take part can email a maximum of two photographs to the following email address - photocompetition@gwct.org.uk.

The South of England Agricultural Society (SEAC) is delighted to announce that its 2019 Charity of the Year is Jamie’s Farm. Established in 2005 by then school teacher, Jamie Feild, the charity enables disadvantaged young people to thrive through residential experiences on one of their three residential farms. It was the idea of new 2019 Society President, Sir Richard Kleinwort, to support the fourth Jamie’s Farm, which is due to open in Lewes in Spring 2019.

SEAC exists to provide agricultural education and promote countryside learning across Kent, East and West Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Berkshire. Their support of Jamie’s Farm in 2019 will include raising awareness through their network of members and supporters, and providing the charity with an opportunity to fundraise at their various events held throughout the year, including the everpopular South of England Show which takes place on 6,7, and 8 June 2019.

Community notices printed free of charge. Please send yours to info@sussexlocal.net

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22 Charity & Community

Friends of the South Downs

FOSD organise over 200 walks and strolls each year for its members, some of which are open to the broader public as “tasters”. Their volunteers work to stop damaging building developments, to keep open the network of footpaths and bridleways and to extend the areas of access land on the Downs. One example is a joint project with the SDNPA Trust which is now replacing stiles with kissing gates, helping the less mobile walker who still wishes to enjoy the benefits of the great outdoors.

To promote a deeper understanding of the importance of the Park they also arrange talks and events relating to the geology, archaeology, landscape and cultural heritage of the South Downs. For example the next speaker is the Reverend Peter Owen Jones at Pulborough Village Hall on 4th April, entertaining with snippets taken from his recent BBC documentaries. Search YouTube for a film about the FOSD, and for more details call 01798 875073 or visit www.friendsofthesouthdowns.org.uk

Downs Charity Cycle Challenge

Hit the Downs MTB is back with a brand new venue and cycle routes for 2019. Now in its third year, the off-road charity cycling challenge is taking place on Sunday 12 May 2019, with cyclists raising money for children’s hospice, Chestnut Tree House. Registration for Hit the Downs MTB is just £35 per person and closes on 29 April 2019. Sign up to ride for either hospice at www.hitthedowns.org.uk or by calling the Events Team on 01903 706354.

Win Prizes at Free Tourism Show

Visit Chichester, the official Destination Management Organisation responsible for promoting tourism and supporting the visitor economy in the Chichester region, is organising its annual Leaflet Exchange, a show to highlight the range of attractions, events, shops and dining options available to residents and visitors around the region. The event will take place at Chichester Festival Theatre on Wednesday 6th March 2019 between 10am and 1pm and is open to the public to attend free of charge.

Louise Adlam, Destination Marketing Executive, Visit Chichester said: “Representatives of visitor attractions, accommodation providers, shops, restaurants, pubs, events and leisure activity operators will be present to network with each other and talk to members of the public attending. Arundel Castle, Beaulieu, Marwell Zoo and Chichester Ship Canal are just some of the organisations who will be present at the event.

CHICHESTER LOCAL Members of the public attending do not need to register in advance and will have the opportunity of entering a free draw to win a selection of great prizes including tickets to Chichester Festival Theatre, A Chichester City Guided Tour For Two, Marwell Zoo, and season tickets for Sussex Prairies Garden www.visitchichester.org

Charity Supercar Event 2019

Goodwood has been announced as the new venue for The Supercar Event on Saturday 1 June. It will offer once-in-a-lifetime passenger rides in some of the world’s most iconic supercars from just £20, raising money for The Children’s Trust charity, helping children with brain injury. Family ticket (2 adult, 2 children aged 4-16) £30, adult ticket £10.56, child and concession tickets £8. VIP tickets £160 or book a table of 10 for £1,550. Supercar rides must be purchased separately. www.thesupercarevent.com and www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk

Wine tasting for St Wilfrid’s

Chile takes on Argentina in a charity wine-tasting event on 22nd March at Boxgrove Village Hall, PO18 0EE from 7pm-9pm. All funds to the St Wilfrid’s Hospice Dreambuilding Appeal. Tickets £30 to include fizz, supper and a raffle, from Boxgrove Village Stores, or call 07775 697463 for more information.

Notices to info@sussexlocal.net

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24 Charity & Community

Chestnut Tree Lottery

Chestnut Tree House is the children’s hospice for East and West Sussex and South East Hampshire and collectively our Lottery players pay for one in four days of hospice care services.

Mrs B from Chichester has been playing since 2017 and won a £250 prize last November. She said “I support Chestnut Tree House because it is a good cause and playing the lottery is an easy way to do so.

“I was delighted to win and thrilled to bits when I realised it was an actual cheque!”

Join their Lottery and you will help to provide life changing hospice care for local children, week after week. You could also win a top prize of £1,000 every single week. Join today for just £1 a week at www.chestnutlottery.org.uk or call us on 01903 871842. Players must be 16 or over. Promoter: St Barnabas Hospices (Sussex) Ltd. Managers responsible: S Smith and M Caunhye. St Barnabas Hospices (Sussex) Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission. www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk www.begambleaware.org

Pets of the Month

This month allow us to introduce Tommy and Tash, a brother and sister aged 1 year 8 months. Originally they came to The Centre in 2017 when they were found as stray kittens with their Mum. They found a home were unfortunately they didn’t settle. They are

CHICHESTER LOCAL looking for confident owners who would have plenty of time to spend with them while understanding they will take time to trust humans.

They both love to play and will let you stroke their heads but they can be scared and hiss a little.

As they are nervous we feel a home without children would make it easier for them to settle. We have a Viewing Day Saturday 23rd March 2019 12-2pm.

Viewing days are non-appointment days so people thinking of adopting a cat can pop along. Otherwise we re-home 7 days a week by appointment only.

Morris Men donate to St Wilfrid’s

David Asher, Martlet M or r is ba gm an (secretary) and Peter Davey are seen here visiting Alex Burch at the Hospice on Friday 25th January to present them with a cheque for £500. We look forward to showing the Morris every Wednesday outside local pubs in the towns and villages of West Sussex this summer and being able to help St Wilfrid’s Hospice even more. www.martletmorrismen.org.uk

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26 Local Issues

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28 Local Issues

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30 Local Issues / Legal

Legal Lucy Love is (not quite) all you need….

Well it’s goodbye to February for another year. The month of hearts, flowers and St Valentine’s Day. As many a scribe has attested, “Love is All Around”, “Love Lifts Us Up Where We Belong” and the classic Lennon and McCartney offering, “All You Need is Adequate Legal Documentation in Place to Establish Your Rights of Shared Ownership”.

Getting Married Any existing Will, is automatically revoked when you get married or enter into a civil partnership (unless specific wording to the contrary is included). Once married, it is a common misconception that your new spouse automatically inherits everything. Correctly drafted Wills are vital to protect your family and your estate so that the law doesn’t get to dictate who will inherit when you die.

Getting remarried A divorce will not revoke your Will, but any references to your ex-spouse will be treated as if they died on the date of the decree absolute (in some cases, this may feel slightly poetic). If you are planning to remarry following a divorce, your affairs are, inevitably, more

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complicated the second time around. With blended families, the need for clarity of who gets what is more crucial than ever to avoid legal disputes.

Buying a house - Pooling resources into jointly held bricks and mortar is a big step to make. Whether you are contributing differing amounts to the deposit, making unequal contributions to the mortgage or simply looking to leave your share in your Will to someone other than your co-owner, there are specific documents you will need to put in place.

Lucy Thomas, Head of Legal Services. For help and advice, give legalmatters a call on 01243 282826 or email us at info@legalmatters.co.uk

Finance

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Cash Flow Planning

By Mark Lloyd, Financial Planning Consultant, Lucas Fettes Financial Planning, Chichester With the introduction of pension freedoms, people who are approaching retirement age have reduced, or are considering reducing their working days to instead supplement their income by drawing funds from their assets. However, many are unsure if their assets are sufficient to maintain an income throughout their retirement. Cash flow planning and forecasting is key to understanding what you can achieve with your assets. It can help you to make the right decisions about timing your retirement, like calculating your likely income depending on whether you choose to retire earlier or later in life.

Cash flow planning provides:  Peace of mind that you won’t run out of money or

alternatively, a realistic view of what you can afford

 A way to identify where and when shortfalls may

occur to your income in the future

 If you have surplus assets, an understanding of

how much you might be able to afford to give away without running out of money

 An assessment of whether your future income

targets are realistic or not

A cash flow forecast should be regularly revisited to ensure that it reflects your changing situation. It can help you make a range of lifestyle planning decisions, for instance whether it would be financially beneficial to downsize at retirement, or help you assess when and how much you can afford to pass on to your family.

It can also have a valuable role to play in tax planning, reducing the tax you pay in funds drawn and enabling you to make plans to reduce inheritance tax that might otherwise be payable by your estate when you die. Mapping out your future cash flow also means you’re able to plan for later life expenditure, like the cost of residential or nursing care. We can help access your cash flow needs and make the right decisions for your wealth.

Need advice? Lucas Fettes Financial Planning are a national firm of Independent Financial Advisers, providing bespoke and tailored advice to individuals and companies in Chichester for over 20 years. Feel free to contact Angela Carpenter or Mark Lloyd at our Chichester Office. Call us on 01243 530450 or visit www.lffinancialplanning.co.uk IMPORTANT INFORMATION The way in which tax charges (or tax relief, as appropriate) are applied depends upon individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future. ISA and pension eligibility depend upon individual circumstances.

Financial Conduct Authority regulation applies to certain regulated activities, products and services, but does not necessarily apply to all tax planning activities and services. The value of assets invested in can go down as well as up putting your capital at risk. This information is solely for information purposes and is not intended to constitute advice or a recommendation. Lucas Fettes Financial Planning are independent financial advisers authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

CHICHESTER LOCAL

32 Crossword

Prize Crossword

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Chichester March 2019 January 2019 answer below:

Winner: Mrs I Merry from Chichester. Congratulations and thank you to all who entered.

Finish the crossword and fill out the box below with the letters from the shaded squares. Work out the anagram

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Utterly senseless (6) Dry red Spanish wine (5) Plain variety (7) Operated by sound waves (5) Wander (4) Galilee native (7) Unworkable (13) Largest penguin (7) Legal instrument (4) Minor actor in crowd scenes (5) 20 Aardvark (3,4) 21 Sum (5) 22 Israeli currency (6)

Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 12 14 16 18

Paid announcement (13) Tanner's aid (7) Depend (4) Confine (8) Unit of weight (5) Relating to building design (13) Born in early December, perhaps (11) Affliction of cats and other fur-lickers (8) Violently frenzied (7) Small in number (5) Home of Salt Lake City (4)

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Answer from yellow box: .................................................................................

Send the word above to: Sussex Local Crossword, PO Box 2237 Pulborough, RH20 9AH or you can enter it online at our website www.sussexlocal.net/crosswords Closing date: 31st Mar 2019.

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CHICHESTER LOCAL

34 Recipe

Rhubarb Fudge Crumble The tartness of the rhubarb is well contrasted with this crunchy and slightly fudgy topping Ingredients - Serves 5-6 - 700g rhubarb, washed, trimmed and chopped - Grated rind and juice of 1 orange - 75g light brown sugar - 110g butter - 110g Demerara sugar - 175g digestive biscuits, crushed - 1heaped tsp cinnamon

Method 1) Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas Mark 4.

Place the rhubarb in an ovenproof dish with the orange rind, juice and light brown sugar. Cover with foil and bake for about 30 minutes. Or microwave, covered with film, for 4-6 minutes.

2) Melt the butter in a pan.

Stir in the demerara sugar, crushed biscuits and cinnamon.

Cook for about 5 minutes until thoroughly mixed and then spoon over the rhubarb. Spread out evenly and return to the oven.

3) Bake for 15-20 minutes until the topping is crisp and serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Cookery Courses for all Why not give a Voucher for the perfect gift?

Contact Alex 01243 532240 www.cookwithalex.co.uk

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CHICHESTER LOCAL

36 Gardening

In Your Garden Monthly gardening ideas and tasks

by Andrew Staib, Principal Designer of Glorious Gardens The greatest woodland garden in the UK is set to reopen in West Sussex with an excitement for nature lovers akin to Willy Wonka opening up his doors. With spectacular displays of Azaleas and Rhododendrons, Leonardslee is world famous.

Andrew Staib, principle garden designer for Glorious Gardens Sussex, goes on a tour of the gardens with Head Gardener, Ray Abrahams.

For 8 years, the 240 acres of Leonardslee has been a neglected place. But when Penny Streeter bought the property and gardens in 2017 work started immediately. Last year Ray Abrahams was brought in to renovate the gardens.

“This garden is so full of wonderful surprises I am still discovering new and rare trees and plants.” says Ray, looking around into the still, sunlit Winter landscape.

“The first thing we have to do is make it ready for the public. We are putting in new paths, of which there are 6 miles, and building benches and a new reception area. Then we will start work on the Rhododendrons. Over a period of six to ten years, we will slowly take the height out from some of them to encourage growth lower down and have taken huge volumes of dead wood out of the canopies already.”

The statistics of Leonardslee are mind boggling. The gardens consist of over 15,000 Rhododendrons, 8,000 Azaleas and 15,000 other trees including giant Californian Redwoods and over 30 species of Eucalyptus. In the ancient woodland there are trees over 500 years old and there are 22 Champion Trees (A champion tree is recognised as the best living example of the species in the UK), two of which are Magnolia cambelii and Molecromata.)

More heart breaking are other figures like the gardens are home to over 150 trees on the Red List, which is the list of trees in the world near extinction, including Pinus paulustri and the Algerian Oak. “And see that tree there,” he says, pointing to a beautiful 20 foot Rhododendron changi, “ they think there might be only 30 left in the whole of China which they come from. A valley was flooded to make a damn and wiped out most of them”

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“Our aim is to replicate the entire garden by collecting seeds and cuttings and either growing them on or storing them in seed banks.

There are too many rare trees here to loose. We aim to share them with other gardens, there is such rare stuff here. Edward Loder, the 19th Century founder of the gardens, had the pick of the bunch from plant hunters who returned from their world adventures. His son, Robin, planted over 120 different species of oak trees on that high ridge over there.”

“This is such a valuable and prestigious garden we would like to label every plant here and become an educational centre specialising in acid loving plants.”

Ray has devoted his whole life to acid loving plants, running away from school when he was 14 to work at Windsor gardens as well as the Queen Mother’s gardens and then on to managing other great woodland gardens in the UK and around the world.

He is full of quiet passion and focus. We come across a glade with a small stream running down the hillside.

“We aim to make a forest of Australian tree ferns

here and further down restore a large bog garden- to bring it all back to life!”

Ray goes on to explain the positive side of the garden being closed for so many years.

“A tremendous amount of nature has established itself over these years. Emperor Dragonflies down near the lower lake, insects I’ve never seen before, a lot of bird life and lizards and some wild orchids that I’ve never seen before in the UK. And in the deer park there are still eight pure white deer which are ancestors of the deer raised here a 100 years ago.

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38 Gardening We come to the succession of lakes that lie on the valley floor. “These were once iron stone pits in the Middle ages. Then they filled up with water. We aim to dredge the silt ponds and re fish them as well as putting in water lilies.”

I mention that I love Cryptomeria. Ray dashes into the undergrowth and eventually shows me the most extraordinary species I didn’t know existed. “There are still lots of surprises, and that woodland next to the deer park used to be part of the gardens. I’m still finding specimen trees there.”

Ray is still in awe I think about what he has taken on.

He is both ambitious for the gardens whilst recognising that they are already still very beautiful. and simply need to be preserved. “We have over 500 hundred species of Camellias and half of them have never even been named! They have interbred and it will take years to classify them all.”

What is clear is that Ray, and owner Penny, have the excitement and commitment to make Leonardslee special again.

Where to visit this March Leonardslee is due to open towards the end of the month, the great Rhododendron flower show lasts all the way till June. Keep looking for updates on their website for the opening dates.

March tasks  Sowing - Get busy in the vegetable patch - sowing both indoors and outdoors can begin  Shrubs - You can give Shrubs like Cornus And Salix a hard prune backlook on the RHS website to see how ruthless you can be!  Ponds - If the water starts warming up you can start feeding the fish.  Pruning - If you haven’t finished pruning your roses now is the last time to do them before they come into leaf.  Bulbs - Clean up the beds now to give bulbs a chance to get as much light as possible  Lastly - Look up summer flowering bulbs and tuber plants such as Dahlias.

They can be planted now.

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Domestic Security

By Chris Ennis FRICS ‘A man’s home is his castle’ is an often-quoted phrase which, in modern usage, gives us the right to deny intruders into our property. A lawyer may tell you that this is the essence of a judgement made by Sir Edward Coke during the seventeenth century. Since the judgement prohibits us from shooting common thieves, an industry has thrived selling the products to keep him at bay.

The most obvious way to keep Mr Thief out is to shut doors and windows. You might be very surprised to hear how many times I am told ‘the key is under the pot by the front door’. Quite commonly doors are left open when children run out to play thereby presenting an invitation to the opportunist burglar.

These days replacement doors and windows have multi point locks, and in the most part these are secure, but cheaper designs of patio doors may allow easy access, and all doors should be deadlocked.

Older doors may be fitted with a ‘rim-lock’, commonly known as a ‘Yale’ lock. It pays to buy a high-quality branded device both to meet insurance company requirements and to give good security. Door bolts have

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been in use for hundreds of years but they can only be used from the inside. Mortice locksets with deadlocking are very effective.

Brass ‘Chubb‘ keys are common, but keys to the very old mortice locks are ornate and are collectable items.

There are numerous electronic aids to security. If funds permit, an investment in a burglar alarm system is probably good value, but as ever in this day and age the choices are many and the technology can be complicated. A recent survey indicates that 60% of thieves said they would not break into a house where there was a burglar alarm in evidence.……. the other 40% would just beak a window, and be in and out with the loot in a minute or two!

Take specialist advice, set aside a budget and consider the advantages of one of the many self-installed wireless systems available.

Most importantly, if a burglar alarm is fitted, use it.

After a while the act of alarming the house becomes normal and gives great peace of mind.

Chris Ennis FRICS is a Chartered Surveyor. Call him on 01903 261 217 or you can send an email to surveyor1@talktalk.net or see www.propdoctor.co.uk

CHICHESTER LOCAL

40 Health & Wellbeing

Why Your Shoulder Hurts

By Heather Smith, Personal Trainer Turn your attention to your posture as it is right now – most likely you’re sitting down, staring either into your phone or computer.

Your shoulders are probably rolled forward, with your chin pushing forward.

Give yourself a mental x-ray and picture your shoulder in its socket. When you’re hunched forward like this, your shoulder will be sitting towards the front of its socket and there will be more space at the back.

Over years and years of frequently being in this posture and not countering it by moving in the opposite direction, our bodies adapt. The muscles we tend to put into a shorter position become shorter. The muscles we tend to put into a longer position become longer. For shoulder pain, this means your shoulder us encouraged to take up permanent residence in the front of its socket.

Now you can visualise why your shoulder might hurt when you lift your arm or try to reach behind you – your shoulder ‘hits’ against the front of the socket.

Here’s where strength training gets yet another vote.

Not only does it burn fat, improve your fitness, strengthen your bones and muscles and help optimise your hormones, but it is also the absolute best way to make sure you’ll move well forever.

If your workout is put together with a mind on posture, you can relieve pain caused by poor posture too.

When your workout is designed to release the front of your shoulder and to mobilise your upper back (which is usually also tight when you have shoulder pain), and we add in strengthening exercises for the back, and bottom, of your shoulder; all we need to do is add frequent repetition and some time, and we can fairly easily remove the pain.

It should be very obvious that this isn’t the only cause of shoulder pain, but it is a pretty common one. Using this example shows nicely how good exercise can be about more than just slogging away in order to lose weight. Movement and posture is fascinating.

It’s amazing what can be improved, or created, with exercise.

Heather Smith is a fat loss specialist Personal Trainer. www.fitbiztraining.co.uk

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42 Puzzles

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44 Parish Council News

Chichester City Council Edited extracts of minutes of the Community Affairs Committee on 11th January 2019.

Policing The Chairman welcomed Inspector Steve Turner of Sussex Police to the meeting.

Inspector Turner reported on recent incidents in the area and that through partnership working with other agencies, a positive outcome had been achieved on some incidents and others were under continuing investigation. The new CCTV camera at the Council House had proved beneficial in a recent crime that had taken place. The Custody Suite at Chichester Police Station had now closed which had enabled police officers to be allocated elsewhere in the district. Although no permanent visible Police presence in the City, there was still prevention, intervention and interaction activities taking place to avert crime.

Members were invited to ask questions and Inspector Turner replied accordingly. A concern over the ‘101’ service was raised, and members were advised that the dissatisfaction of this service by members of public was known and that improvements were required.

Community Warden Update The Chairman welcomed Pam Bushby, Divisional Manager, Communities, Chichester District Council, to the meeting. Mrs Bushby advised that the process

CHICHESTER LOCAL of early intervention was the most productive approach to many issues dealt with by the Community Wardens and working in partnership with Sussex Police and other multi-agencies, meant that incidents could be dealt with quickly and effectively.

Mrs Bushby advised that there was a Report going to Chichester District Council Cabinet on a replacement programme for the out-dated CCTV cameras in the City.

Mayor’s Homelessness Forum The Mayor reported on the meeting held on Wednesday 12 December 2018 that included members from many local organisations that were involved with rough sleepers and homeless people in the City. The meeting had been positive with details being exchanged between all parties. Notes of the meeting had been taken and would be circulated.

The next meeting was proposed for either the end of February or early March 2019 and the Mayor would report back at the next Community Affairs Committee meeting.

A question was asked on the number of rough sleepers and homeless people in the City, however a true definitive number could not be given. www.chichestercity.gov.uk

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