Bolnore school girl raises over £1,000 for rainforest

A Bolnore school girl has been raising money to help save the Amazon rainforest. Eight year old Darcie Triance was inspired to help while studying the topic at school.

She commented: “I have learnt that the rainforest provides clean air and homes for many beautiful animals but it is being cut down. My mummy said it was happening when she was little also, so it really needs to stop.”

Darcie’s mum Lucie searched online to find out how they could help. She made contact with rainforest activist Manu Maggaia who is in talks with the government to buy land to protect.

Darcie explains: “Manu runs a nature reserve area in the Amazon rainforest of Peru and he can hear loggers very close by. He is passionate about protecting the Amazon like me and he spends his days trying to save this land and the vulnerable animals who live there.”

Manu needs funds to buy more land to expand the nature reserve so he can have illegal loggers and hunters removed.

To date Darcie has raised just over £1,000 and still continues to fundraise. She raised the money by holding a yard sale, doing a fun run and running a lemonade stand with her friends. Her mum also sponsored her to not play video games during the summer.

Lucie commented: “We made a GoFundMe page and then donations stated pouring in from people who thought what Darcie was doing was great.” If you’d like to donate go to: https://bit.ly/2GgJ7jP

Rugby returns to Whitemans Green

Strict Covid-19 protocols have enabled Heath to get back to rugby adopting the evolving RFU Roadmap

By Tracey Spuyman
At Haywards Heath Rugby Club not only are the senior squad back training and enjoying the competitive element that 10-man touch rugby allows, but most junior age groups have also been enjoying weekly fitness training interspersed with rugby skills as allowed under the recently updated stage D of the RFU roadmap. The Club has been a trailblazer in the way it has adopted and publicised its return with evolving Covid-19 protocols and a series of videos posted on the Club’s social media channels and website which show how the senior squad has been able to enjoy a return to rugby, albeit in a new, previously unfamiliar, environment.
Commenting on the Club’s position, Mark Newey, HHRFC Chairman, said: “I am proud of the way all of our coaching teams from the seniors right down through the junior age groups have adopted the new protocols as specified by the Board, and it has been fabulous to see so many age groups back enjoying rugby in its current form. Of course following promotion to London 1 South we are all hoping that the new season will be able to start for real in the not too distant future but, however far off that may be at the moment, the main thing is to make sure that the values of rugby continue to thrive and players of all ages and abilities can reconnect with rugby and the Club. Rugby is a great way to get fit and stay fit while making new friends, and I would encourage anyone interested in playing to come along to Heath and find out more.”
Junior rugby for ages U12 to U16 and Colts (U17-18) returned to regular Sunday training on 6th September with all remaining mini age groups returning the following week, allowing all coaches time to gain from the experience of their colleagues as to how best to adapt the latest protocols for the younger age groups. Although competitive matches will be limited initially, the Club will endeavour to make sure that regular rugby continues to be the sport that promotes fitness and well-being and benefits from the values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship for all those who choose to play.
Despite the hiatus caused by Covid-19, HHRFC’s mission to build a new multi-sports clubhouse at Whitemans Green has not diminished, instead emerging as even more urgent during these times of the pandemic, and the team behind the Clubhouse Fund continues to work towards the earliest possible start date for this invaluable asset for the Mid Sussex area.
With the ongoing commitment and involvement of Fairfax as Heath’s Main Club Sponsor and the guiding light behind the new build clubhouse plans, it is hoped other commercial and public partners and political goodwill will help our local grassroots rugby club drive this project to a successful completion, benefitting many different sports and social clubs across the local community and the future health and well-being of all in the area for years to come.

Cuckfield Craft & Vintage Market is back

By Marie Dormer
For many years there had been a successful Craft Market held in Queen’s Hall managed by Beverley Smith, and when it came to a close four years ago it was a great loss. Cuckfield Parish Council was hoping that someone would step forward and take on a similar venture, to keep a Friday event going for the community and others who visit the village. However, after a year no one came forward so the Parish Council decided to set up and run the market as a pilot for a year, and as a Parish Councillor at the time I volunteered to run it. I had recently retired from a long career in nursing and missed meeting new people.
This all changed after the first year of running the market. So, in 2019 I had completed my term as a Parish Councillor and decided to take over the running of Cuckfield Craft and Vintage Market on a Friday, five times a year. Beverley Smith returned to run the café selling the most amazing cakes and pastries that just melt in your mouth along with coffee or tea. The philosophy around Cuckfield Craft and Vintage Market is to give a platform for aspiring new businesses, local hobbyists and artists to sell directly to the customer, especially those who do not have an online business. There are a variety of stallholders and putting them altogether creates a unique shopping experience – it allows customer to meet the artisan and find out the story of their products.
It is also a community event to get people out and about, to meet up in the café, have a wander around the market and then on to Cuckfield High Street. This year Covid-19 nearly put a stop to holding the market as we went into lockdown. Fingers crossed we will be back on 25th September, same place, same time but with a difference. In line with social distancing, we ask people to enter through the front door of Queen’s Hall, use the hand sanitiser and follow the one-way signs through the market, adhering to social distancing measures.
Unfortunately the café is closed at the moment, but, as soon as it is safe, Beverley will be back with her scrumptious cakes. For those thinking or wanting to start a new business, the market is a perfect place for showcasing your products, meeting potential new customers and getting feedback about sales. Allowing your business to grow one step at a time will add to its success. On behalf of the stallholders, we are all looking forward to seeing everyone again, and if you are new to the market come along for a visit, entry is free. Open 9.30am-1pm. For further information please contact Marie Dormer (marie.c.dormer@gmail.com) or look up the Cuckfield Craft and Vintage Market on Facebook and Instagram.