Hurst News

Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common May 2023 | Parish Council News

Hurst Meadows News

Thank you to all the children, staff and helpers from Year 5, St Lawrence CE School, who helped plant trees in Hurst Meadows last month. The tree whips had been heeled in safely over the winter awaiting the right weather for planting and this proved a challenge with the ground either frozen or the rain torrential! Eventually ninety children were able to walk to the Meadows and plant a tree each. The day was rainy and the ground muddy but good fun was had by all! Councillor Claire Majsai and Estates and Facilities Manager Stephen Witchell pointed out the ancient oaks which border Hovel Field. In 200 years time, the trees the children have planted may grow that big! Thank you also to the adult volunteers who came the following day to plant the remaining trees. In total around 350 native trees; rowan, silver birch, oak, hazel, and blackthorn were planted to form what will become an extension to existing Ancient Woodland. We hope that the children and all those who visit Hurst Meadows will enjoy watching the trees grow and see them begin to provide food and shelter for birds and insects. The next tree planting will be a single Walnut tree to be planted in Walnut Tree Field in the Autumn and then the focus will shift to natural regeneration and maintaining (through watering etc, as necessary) the newly planted trees. Some tree safety work is planned in Tilley’s Copse, the Wilderness, Hurst Meadows and a small number of other sites in the parish later in the year following our recent tree risk assessment surveys.

To read the full newsletter, please pick up a copy of May’s Hurst Life or click the pictures provided.

Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Parish Council

The Annual Parish Meeting is an ancient custom designed for those on the parish electoral roll to discuss parish affairs. It must be held between 1st March and 1st June and not be before 6pm. Previously, the forum has taken place in the Village Centre, with approximately 50+ residents in attendance. Last year, due to the Coronavirus Pandemic and the associated lock-down measures, the meeting was sadly cancelled and replaced by an Annual Report which was published on the Parish Council’s website. This year, anticipating a lack of certainty over being able to a hold the meeting in person, the Parish Council agreed to publish its Annual Report on the Parish Council’s website, but also to embrace technology and to hold the meeting via a webinar on 18th May 2021. We widened the scope under the theme “Working together for a sustainable future”. There were some great presentations covering the range from recycling in the community, managing the Hurst Meadows for wildlife and the community, Hurst Rethink, The Lost Woods Project, to Sustainable Development. They were topped by very focussed videos from both St Lawrence School and Downlands School Students.

We had about 68 logged on to the webinar with a wider demographic to those who have previously attended this meeting in person at the Village Centre. The presentations were both thought-provoking and full of related updates. There was even a quiz to establish exactly which local authority is responsible for which service. We will be drawing upon some of the detail from the presentations and follow up questions to help us to develop further our Environmental Policy into one which will both support the operations and output of the Parish Council, and in some way meet the aspirations of our residents as well. If you missed the webinar the presentations are now accessible via our website at www.hurstpierpointpc.gov.uk/speakerspresentations-from-the-annual-parish-meeting/

Parish Council News published monthly

Village Centre, Trinity Road, Hurstpierpoint, BN6 9UY

Call: 01273 833264
Email: hurstpierpoint.pc@btinternet.com

www.hurstpierpoint-pc.org.uk