Cuckfield's Graham Silander volunteers for Convoy4Ukraine

Cuckfield resident Graham Silander has begun working with a charity which is doing good work in Ukraine. Graham, who has been an ambulance technician for over 20 years, explained: “I’m lucky enough to have some time off work in February and March, and so I was looking at doing some charity work.”

Graham and his family hosted a Ukrainian family four years ago, and so Ukraine was still on his heart. “I wanted to see what I could do to help there. A quick Google search led me to Convoy4Ukraine.com and after a Zoom call with the founder, Tom, I was accepted on to their February convoy as a co-driver.”

Convoy4Ukraine is a registered charity founded after the Russian invasion. It raises money to buy 4x4 vehicles and retired ambulances, which are filled with vital aid supplies and driven to Ukraine. There the aid is distributed and the vehicles are handed over to Ukrainian volunteers who take them eastwards where they will be used to rescue people caught up in the fighting with no means of escape.

“The next convoy is due to depart in mid-February and I’m raising funds to join it. Every penny raised is used to purchase vehicles and aid supplies requested by our Ukrainian partners. All fuel, ferry, food and accommodation costs are covered by the volunteer drivers ourselves.”

Graham, who has plenty of experience driving ambulances, is already close to the £3.5k target, but would be grateful for any support from the Cuckfield community to help make the difference. Click here: https://gofund.me/3a51aa8cf

Cuckfield winter NGS garden opens for charity

All throughout January and February, the National Garden Scheme (NGS) opens hundreds of gardens, known as their Snowdrop and Spring Flower season, offering unique glimpses of early blossoms like snowdrops, clematis, hellebores, and irises, providing a cheerful start to the garden visiting year while raising money for nursing and health charities.

These special winter openings feature vibrant displays, expert advice from owners, and often serve tea and cake, inviting visitors to discover hidden gems across the country.

One such Cuckfield resident will be doing just that later this month; please join, Shirley Carmen-Martin who will once again be sharing her delightful garden and inviting visitors to 5 Whitemans Close, by appointment from 10.30am to 3.30pm on the following days; 26th January and 30th January and 2nd, 4th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 17th and 18th February.

Admission is £9, which includes delicious homemade refreshments. To book please call 01444 473520 or email shirleycarmanmartin@ngs.org.uk.

Cuckfield Christmas Tree Festival

Welcome to Cuckfield Life’s Cuckfield Christmas Tree Festival event page. Here you will find our most recent information for the Holy Trinity festival.

The first Cuckfield Christmas Tree Festival was in 2003 and it has been held almost every year. The Festival is set in the beautiful Holy Trinity Church in Cuckfield, West Sussex. Since the first festival, the total raised (as of 2024) for charity now stands at over £100,000! Without your support and help, this would not have been possible - thank you all.

See also, Cuckfield Christmas Tree Festival
Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield

Cuckfield’s Christmas Tree Festival 2026 info coming when available.


Another successful Tree Festival in 2025!

By Isobel Simmonds

Thank you to everyone who visited, played, decorated, cooked, and volunteered in any way at the Cuckfield Christmas Tree Festival 2025.

On Sunday 4th January at the 9.45am service we presented a cheque to Jo from the Sussex Cancer Fund, the partner charity, for £5,300 which, together with the proceeds from their stall, meant that they raised nearly £5,970 at the festival. Since our first Festival in 2003, this makes a total to partner charities of over £109,200!

Without your support and help this would not have been possible. Please keep your eyes open for details of next year’s Festival.