Mid Sussex District Council August newsletter

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Playdays on tour for the summer

Playdays on Tour is coming to a town near you! Ten free events, organised by Mid Sussex District Council, will be held during the summer holidays for children under 10. There’s no need to book, just turn up and join in.

Starting on 29th July in Haywards Heath, and finishing on 27th August in Crawley Down, there will be two events each week, with a variety of different activities. Other venues will be East Grinstead, Hurstpierpoint, Ardingly, Hassocks, Handcross, Burgess Hill, Cuckfield and Bolney.

Visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/playdays for more information. We’ll see you there!

Updating your register details

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Mid Sussex District Council has begun contacting residents to ask them to confirm their details on the 2025-26 electoral register. Every year, the Council must complete an annual electoral canvass to update the electoral register and ensure that all residents who are eligible to vote can do so. Households will have already been contacted via post to confirm or update the electoral registration information for their property. Letters will contain information on how to respond to the canvass. Being on the electoral register maintains your credit rating and ensures you can have your say at future elections. www.midsussex.gov.uk/elections- voting/annual-canvass/

To read the full newsletter, pick up your copy of August’s Cuckfield Life or click to enlarge the pictures.

Mid Sussex District Council celebrates Mid Sussex Applause Awards

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Celebration for the unsung heroes of Mid Sussex

Unsung heroes were celebrated at the Mid Sussex Applauds Awards 2025 - an annual event that recognises those people who go the extra mile for their community. More than 100 people attended a special ceremony that was organised by Mid Sussex District Council and held at the South of England Showground, Ardingly. Hosted by Cllr Rodney Jackson, Chairman of Mid Sussex District Council, and the High Sheriff of West Sussex, Dr Timothy Fooks, there were 37 individuals, groups or businesses who were recognised for their contribution to the district.

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These included nine winners, 10 highly commended and 18 commended nominees. Sponsors of the awards were: Community People, Glendale, Jobs Go Public, Orchards Shopping Centre, Places Leisure, City Science, MUFG and Chroma Vision. For a list of all winners, including those highly commended and commended, visit www.midsussexapplauds.co.uk

To see our showcase of winners and to read the full article, please click the images to enlarge them or pick up your copy of July’s Cuckfield Life.

Mid Sussex District Council newsletter - June 2025

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Your garden waste bin

Summer is on its way, and that means more time in the garden. Here’s a reminder of what can, and can’t, be put in your garden waste bin with some useful questions and answers:

What happens if I put the wrong items in my bin?
Your bin will not be emptied and a tag will be left on it. You will need to remove any unacceptable items before your next collection.

Why can I not put food waste and fruit and vegetable peelings in my bin?
Regulations that were introduced to prevent the spread of diseases like Foot and Mouth limit the materials that can be composted in the open air. The facility we use is not licensed to take these materials.

Why can I not put pet bedding in my bin?
Regulations mean that we are not able to take animal bedding or waste in our garden bins. Even where the animals are vegetarian and the bedding is hay or straw the waste is still the by-product of an animal. We suggest this material is composted at home.

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What about non-native invasive plants?
Non-native invasive plants upset the balance of the ecosystem as they may be bigger, faster growing or more aggressive than the native species. Please do not place any part of Japanese Knotweed, or any other invasive weeds, including Giant Hogweed, Himalayan Balsam, Australian Swamp Stonecrop, Parrots Feather, Floating Pennywort and Creeping Water Primrose, in your garden bin.

I have leaves from a confirmed infected ash dieback tree or I live in an area where the infection has been confirmed. What do I do?
Do not put leaves from an infected tree in your garden waste bin. You may leave infected leaves where they fall, however, if you do clear them, you should burn or bury affected leaves in your garden or compost them (but only in your garden). If leaves are used for compost, do not remove the compost from your garden eg: to an allotment.

How much garden waste can I put in my bin?
The lid on the bin needs to be closed to enable it to be emptied. If you compact materials in your bin, it may result in the bin being either too heavy for the equipment to life for emptying or the bin falling into the lorry. If the bin is too heavy, then it will have a tag placed on it and will be emptied once the weight is reduced.

For more information visit www.midsussex.gov.uk

To read the full newsletter, pick up for copy of June’s Cuckfield Life or click the images to enlarge them.