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Singleton Parish Council

( Volunteers Clearing the River Lavant )

This website provides information about the activities of the Parish Council in the villages of Singleton and Charlton - pretty villages situated in the Lavant Valley, a few miles north of Chichester in West Sussex.

All of our councillors are volunteers and are committed to representing their community. They:

give views, on behalf of the community, on planning applications and other proposals that affect the parish
undertake projects and schemes that benefit local residents
work in partnership with other bodies to achieve benefits for the parish
alert relevant authorities to problems that arise or work that needs to be undertaken
help the other tiers of local government keep in touch with their local communities

We want to work closely with our community and encourage residents to get in touch with us and attend meetings. Please get in touch and join our mailing list, mailchimp

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Latest Parish News

Chichester District Council - District Dispatch

District Dispatch

18

September 2024

We are lucky to live in an area which has such an abundance of wonderful food producers. You can easily enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner using ingredients and produce made right here in the district!

From September 20 it will be British Food Fortnight, which is dedicated to celebrating the diverse and delicious range of food made and grown across our nation. The celebration takes place to tie in with the traditional Harvest Festival and aims to engage retail, catering, education and volunteer sectors in create a proper market from British food — anyone can take part, from producers and growers to pubs and cafes, care homes and schools and other community groups. Find out more about how you can embrace the campaign at:www.lovebritishfood.co.uk/whats-it-all-about

On the theme of local food, you may have heard of the ‘Sussex Six’ campaign which is encouraging businesses in the district to sign up and pledge to stock or use at least six more items or ingredients that are from Sussex. The aim of this is to create a strong local food market and supply chains.

If we spend more of our money on food made locally, the more of it stays within the local economy, and often goes round two or three times. This is good for businesses, residents and communities as it supports local jobs and enables smaller businesses to grow. This can boost the prosperity of our area and make a huge difference, especially in areas where there are no major industries or employers.

Each business that signs up to the campaign will receive marketing information that they can use to help their customers identify the local items they have chosen to stock or use in their products. You may be interested to know that there is a local directory of food producers which businesses can currently get listed on for free.

Since the campaign launched here in the Chichester District in the summer, there’s been a positive response from businesses but there are many more out there who would really benefit from getting involved and getting listed and if you run a small business I would really encourage you to find out more and make the pledge.

Potential customers like you or me can also look up to see the range of producers here in our district and find out where to get their products.

Interestingly, when people are aware of who their local producers are they are more likely to choose them, or choose a meal from a menu that is made with food from the area. You can find out more about the campaign at: https://sussexfoodanddrink.org/sussex-six/

Another excellent way of supporting local food producers is to head to your local farmers’ market. Our council organises the Chichester Farmers’ Market which takes place on the first and third Friday of the month in the city centre. Produce sold here comes from within 50 miles and features a wide range of goods from fruit and vegetables to baked foods and locally caught fish, to fish, salad and locally-reared meat.

The wonderful aspect of shopping at your local farmers’ market is that you can chat to the stallholders about where their products have come from and how they have been made – you really do learn more about where your food comes from.

Midhurst Town Council also run their own farmers’ market which takes place on the first Saturday of the month, while Petworth have a farmers’ market that takes place every fourth Saturday of the month.

What’s great about the Sussex Six and farmers’ markets is that they consist of local people who are passionate about good food and want to really contribute to their communities. By supporting them we can also make a difference.

Best Wishes

Harsha Desai

Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Communications, Licensing and Events at Chichester District Council

South Downs News - September 2024

16

September 2024

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WORK AND PLAY IN YOUR NATIONAL PARK

THIS MONTH:

New CEO for National ParkFind out about the new Chief Executive of the National Park Authority and what his goals and passions are as he prepares to step into his new exciting role.
Discover the DownsAs the latest research shows anxiety is at a record high in children, we launch our new initiative to help less advantaged school pupils access nature.
Golf courses go greener!Learn about our wonderful wildlife work with local golf clubs.
Competition!Win tickets to one of the UK’s finest restored gardens, all at the foot of the Downs.

As always please send your comments and ideas to newsletter@southdowns.gov.uk

Click here to read a PDF version of South Downs News

PICTURE OF THE MONTH: An incredible new wetland area for wildlife has been created in the east of the National Park after a chalk stream was re-aligned. The new wetland is providing an oasis for a variety of birds and insects. Find out more below!

If you have an amazing seasonal image, please do email us!

Meet Siôn, the Authority's new CEO

Siôn McGeever is to become the new Chief Executive at the South Downs National Park Authority from the end of November.

Siôn brings 25 years of experience of working in environmental policy, international development and business. He has a lifelong love of the outdoors, is a keen outdoor swimmer and enjoys photographing wildlife and landscapes.

Our thanks go to Tim Slaney, who has skillfully and diligently led the Authority team during this interim period, and will resume his key position as Director of Planning later this year.

Find out more about Siôn's appointment.

Children will discover wonders of the Downs

Hundreds of schoolchildren from across the South East will be able to enjoy the wonders of the South Downs National Park thanks to a major funding boost.

The “Discover The Downs” initiative will get scores of children into the great outdoors, bringing exciting experiences to youngsters who don’t have easy access to National Parks. It comes as a new report shows anxiety is at a record high in children in the UK.

A wide body of research has shown that connecting with nature and learning outdoors can benefit children’s mental and physical health, including assisting brain development, increasing attainment, supporting social skills, and reducing anxiety.

Schools are now being invited to apply for funding. Find out more here.

Embrace autumn with all five senses!

As the leaves turn golden and the air becomes crisp, autumn is the perfect time to experience the South Downs National Park through all five senses.

This season, let nature’s splendour envelop you in a multi-sensory adventure that deepens your connection to the landscape. Learn more here.

Discover the amazing heritage of the Downs

Whether it’s Iron Age forts, Norman castles, historic mills, Second World War defences, Viking burial mounds, or grand stately homes, the South Downs is a landscape oozing with history.

The incredible cultural heritage was one of the reasons for the designation of the National Park in 2010 and it’s the job of the National Park Authority to help conserve and enhance this heritage.

September is a good time to discover more about the heritage and culture of the South Downs as a number of venues open their doors for Heritage Open Days.

And the best part about it...it’s FREE!

The open days are part of a range of free experiences taking place across England and organised by thousands of volunteers. Find out more here about the open days.

Putting nature recovery into golf sector

Golf clubs across the South Downs National Park and beyond are coming together to help fight biodiversity loss.

With golf courses covering two per cent of England and a significant number of clubs in the South Downs, there’s tremendous potential for courses to become havens for wildlife, particularly bees and butterflies, as well as golfers.

A network of golf clubs has now been formed, with greenkeepers and club managers from across the region coming together to share knowledge and practical support. Find out more here.

Dogs with backpacks help restore flowers

Local dogs in Lewes have been ‘acting like wolves’to help reseed native wildflowers at a nature reserve.

Find out more about the clever canines here.

Rare moth is spotted

Ranger Angela Ward writes about a recent community event that uncovered one of the rarest insect species in the UK.

Read Angela's article here.

How do students connect with the National Park?

Students from the University of Brighton and East Sussex College Group have been researching how to open up the South Downs to younger generations, with a little help from technology.

Learn more here.

"Rewiggled" stream becomes wetland oasis

Six hectares of much-needed wetland for wildlife has been created following the realignment of a rare chalk stream.

The restoration of the Cockshut Stream, near Lewes, has seen the area quickly become an oasis for nature, with herons, kingfishers, egret and snipe among the many birds to be found, while toads, sticklebacks, eels and newts can be spotted in the ponds. Find out more here.

Meet National Park's community climate champion!

While this summer has seen some very mixed conditions on the south coast of England, meteorologists say that 2024 is the warmest on the planet ever recorded.

There’s no doubt that our climate is becoming more unpredictable and taking positive climate action through nature-based solutions remains one of the National Park’s key priorities.

This month we chatwith Sara Osman, the National Park’s new Climate Officer, on the topic of climate change, what it means and how to get involved in climate action.

Win a trip to West Dean Gardens!

Nestled at the foot of the South Downs,West Dean Gardens is one of the greatest restored gardens open to the public today.

Though West Dean is mentioned in the Domesday book as a hunting ground, Richard Lewknor built the first significant house in the 1620s, next to the medieval village church. In 1738, Sir John Peachey acquired the West Dean estate.

It was then inherited by Sir James Peachey, a courtier and confidant of King George III, who made him Lord Selsey in 1794. A peerage required a grander house, so in the early 19th century architect James Wyatt designed a suite of grand rooms and tall towers to give West Dean the appearance of a castle, thereby creating one of the largest flint-faced buildings in the country.

Today visitors can explore the restored walled garden, working Victorian Glasshouses, 300ft pergola, and a spring garden with flint bridges. The circular 2½ mile arboretum walk, set in 50 acres of beautiful parkland, offers stunning views of the South Downs and a route passing the grave of Edward James, a poet who inherited the house and was a famous supporter of the surrealist art movement.

West Dean, near Chichester, also runs a year-round programme of creative short courses offering you the opportunity to learn a new skill in beautiful inspirational surroundings. There is a bumper line-up of short courses this autumn, covering everything from autumnal botanical painting to tips on growing apples.

The National Park has teamed up with West Dean to offer two Garden Escape vouchers, with each voucher covering garden entry for two people and a cream tea. The voucher can be used for single use up until September 2025.

People signing up to the newsletter during September will be automatically entered into the draw. Those who are already signed up can email “St Roche's Arboretum” to newsletter@southdowns.gov.uk before midnight on 30 September.

The winners of the hotly-anticipated South Downs Design Awards will be announced next month! Here's a snapshot of the shortlisted entries that showcase outstanding architecture and design. What's your favourite? Cast your vote, but be quick as voting closes at midnight on 12 September!

Things to do in September

Find other events and activities across the National Park and submit your own. Please remember booking may be necessary and do check full details with the venue.

Visit Charleston, in Firle, on 14 September for the Bloomsbury Queer Festival. The festival celebrates contemporary queer culture and includes a feast of queer art, writing, drag, fashion, poetry, clubbing, and protest.
This September, local residents in the Lewes district are throwing open their doors so you can visit and see what changes they have made to their homes to make them more energy efficient. The open house tours take place over the weekend of 14/15 and 22/22. Find out more here.
Become a conservation volunteer for the day and bring the whole family! Help us look after Seven Sisters Country Park, take part in a nature walk and beach clean on 21 September. Reserve a spot here.
Head to Gilbert White’s House, Selborne, on 18 September for an autumn harvest. The Kitchen garden crops will be being harvested , cleaned and stored ready for use by the venue and you’ll be able to ask questions on all aspects of traditional vegetable growing.
Join our team on 22 September for a taste of conservation volunteering at St Catherine's Hill, near Winchester, with scrub clearance to support wildflower and butterfly habitats. Reserve a spot here.
We’ve got two free archaeology walks coming up, but be quick if interested as tickets are going quickly! Led by James Sainsbury, Curator of Archaeology at Worthing Museum, this will be a chance to learn more about the deep time of this landscape, and the legacies left by the people who have lived and died here over thousands of years. A walk takes place at Amberley Wildbrooks on 28 September and at Highdown Hill on 5 October.
Coming up on 6 October, take part in a creative session at Seven Sisters Visitor Centre at Exceat. The free session will help you learn the art of podcasting in the great outdoors! Connect with nature and discover tips from seasoned writers while listening to the captivating “We Hear You Now” audio series. Book a place here.