Lindfield Blog — Lindfield Life - the community magazine for Lindfield, West Sussex

Lindfield Village Day

Welcome to Lindfield Life’s Lindfield Village Day event page. Here you will find our most recent information for our wonderful community day.

Lindfield Village Day is a celebration for the community and a fundraiser for the King Edward Hall.

See also, King Edward Hall
Village Day Facebook page

2025’s Lindfield Village Day is scheduled for 31st May 2025!

Click to enlarge

2025’s Competition Tent

Lindfield Village Day’s Competition Tent brings together people of all ages in the spirit of friendly competition to show off their secret skills and not-so-hidden talents! Our categories this year celebrate both our beautiful village and 2025’s procession theme – On The Farm.

There are lots of ways to get creative from homemade cakes to home-brewed drinks and crochet to poetry. There’s something for everyone to get stuck into. We are trying to reduce waste this year so in some categories we are asking for just a selection of 3 or 4 pieces, rather than a full cake and we have avoided categories that produce large amounts of food waste. This year we will also be holding a competition for a young person to become our guest judge – so follow Lindfield Village Day on Facebook or Instagram and watch out for details on how to get involved!

All the information on how to enter can be found at: www.kingedwardhall.org.uk/village-day
Alternatively you can pop into Ounce General Store on the High Street to complete an entry form and pay £1 per entry. We love seeing our Competition Tent full of your wonderful creations – so join the fun and come and see us on the day to find out if you’re a winner.

This year’s categories:


Food & Drink

1. Celebration Cake – Adult A cake to share for any occasion! Get creative in the kitchen and bring us a cake suitable for a celebration.
2. Traybake – Adult Four pieces of a traybake packed with flavour. No need to bring the whole bake - keep some at home to enjoy!
3. Decorated cakes or cookies – Children only Have a go at decorating cupcakes or cookies - bring three along for the judges to see. Shop bought or homemade, it’s creative decoration that we’ll be looking for.
4. Jams & Preserves – Adults A sample jar for our judges to taste - bring the best of your homemade delights.
5. Chutneys & Pickles – Adults A sample jar of your best chutney or pickled veg to get our judges’ tastebuds tingling.
6. Homemade Bottled Beverages – Adults A maker of delicious drinks? We’d love to taste your tipple. Bring a small bottle.

Art & Crafts

1. Handmade Character – Adult Knitted, crocheted, felted or sewn, create a cute character and bring them to life.
2. A Celebration of Lindfield – Adult Celebrate our beautiful village in any medium: photography, paint, textile, digital art… it’s up to you!
3. Lindfield Poetry* – Adult With words that capture the essence of our village, write a poem of any kind.
4. On the Farm poem* – Children only Write a poem about life on a farm to help celebrate the theme of this year’s Village Day. Winning entries may be published in Lindfield Life!
5. On the Farm artwork – Children only Celebrate this year’s theme with your own artwork - paints, mosaics, collage or clay - or something different. Capture the life of a farm.
6. On the Farm - Lego model – Children only There’s lots of inspiration in the farmyard - can you make a Lego model of an animal, tractor or barn? To fit in an A5 sized space. And don’t worry, we won’t keep your Lego, you can collect it at the end of the day to take home and use again.

*These can be submitted in advance via email as well as on the day.

Newsletter from Mid Sussex District Council - April 2025

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Raising awareness of heat pumps

Heat pumps are relatively rare in residential properties in the UK – there are only around 250,000 currently. This means that the vast majority of people will never (knowingly) have seen a home with a heat pump.

Nesta, the charity that focuses on innovation including a sustainable future, wants everyone in the UK to be able to visit a heat pump near them and get the support they need.

Visit a heat pump combines a digital platform along with recruitment and training of heat pump hosts, providing a full end-to-end service for the public to visit a heat pump and get further support to help them build their confidence. So far, nearly 400 hosts are listed and Nesta is aiming for over 1,000 visits in the next few months.

Anyone interested in being a host or visiting a heat pump can register their interest at: www.visitaheatpump.com

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Sign up to our digital newsletter!

Want to keep in the loop with what’s happening in your local community? Then sign up to our digital Mid Sussex Matters newsletter, a monthly email to help residents stay up to date with what’s going on at the Council and in the wider district. Scan the QR code or visit our website www.midsussex.gov.uk to subscribe and join thousands of residents who are already taking advantage of this valuable resource. Let’s work together for a better Mid Sussex.

To read the full newsletter, click the images to enlarge them or pick up April’s Lindfield Life today.

Lindfield Village Run

Welcome to Lindfield Life’s Lindfield Village Run event page. Here you will find our most recent information for the race.

The Lindfield Village Run is a well-established event that sets out two cross county runs: a 10k Village Run and a 5k Family Run. Both take place mostly on paths and tracks through the West Sussex countryside in the immediate vicinity of the village of Lindfield. They are old fashioned cross-country runs with multi-terrain, some slippery surfaces and the odd cow in fields!

See also, King Edward Hall
Village Run Facebook page

2025’s Lindfield Village Run is scheduled for 18th May 2025.

Sign up to run this year’s Village Run on 18th May 2025

With Lindfield’s annual village run coming up at the end of the month, the streets here can often be seen bursting with eager participants, keen to get training for the event on Sunday 18th May.
Seen as one of the most challenging traditional cross-country runs in the county, Lindfield Village Run comes in two flavours; 5k and 10k – although the organisers recognise the distances aren’t quite exact!

Last year, over 600 runners took part across both races. However, with ever-increasing costs of hosting such an event, the organising team have decided to cap the number of entrants in order to be more efficient and avoid wastage of items like entry forms and medals. So, it’s a case of reserve your spot early; bookings can be made now online at www.kingedwardhall.org.uk. There is a possibility that runners may not be able to sign up on the morning of the run.

The event is part of a duo of fundraising activity with Lindfield Village Day (Sat 31st May), the profits from which go back to Lindfield’s King Edward Hall – a registered charity in its own right.
This year, the run is being supported yet again by local businesses Six Physio and Potential Personal Training – whose financial support helps to keep the entry costs down.

“The run is a highlight of our calendar,” Six Physio’s Alex Keogh said. “Seeing so many familiar faces of all ages running together is fantastic. Supporting this great community event, cheering the runners on and watching them cross the finish line is brilliant.”

Churches of Lindfield Easter services

Welcome to Lindfield Life’s churches of Lindfield Easter services event page. Here you will find our most recent information for everything Easter in our churches.

See also, All Saints Church, Lindfield United Reformed Church, Lindfield Evangelical Free Church, St Augustine’s Church, Scaynes Hill

All Saints Church

www.allsaintslindfield.org/christmas
Email: allsaints@lindfield.info

Good Friday 18th April

10am – A service for all ages as we explore the meaning of Good Friday followed by an opportunity to make your own Easter garden and enjoy hot cross buns.

12noon – An hour’s service of music, prayer, Bible readings and short reflective talks around the Cross.

7pm – Good Friday Requiem Concert New Sussex Singers will be performing a concert of beautiful music for Good Friday including works by Stanford, Lotti and Duruflé. The evening will culminate in a performance of Matthew Coleridge’s ‘Requiem’, featured in the 2023 Classic FM Hall of Fame. The Requiem will be sung by a choir of over 50, as NSS are joined by singers from All Saints and the local community.

Tickets £15 or £5 for under 21s, available at www.allsaintslindfield.org/requiem

Easter Sunday 20th April

8am – Holy Communion

9.30am – Easter All Age Celebration with Communion followed by an egg hunt for the children in The Vicarage garden.

11.15am – Easter Communion Service

6pm – Lively Easter Celebration led by young people, also including communion.

Some of our services will be livestreamed: www.allsaintslindfield.org/live

Lindfield United Reformed Church

Good Friday 18th April

10am – Remembering the Cross

Saturday 19th April

10am - 2pm – Easter Egg Hunt, starting from the church explore the village, and return for a reward.

Easter Day 20th April

10am – Celebrating the hope we know through the resurrection of Jesus. You are invited to bring cut flowers to help decorate the Easter Cross on the High Street before the service begins

Our services can be accessed online at www.lindfieldurc.org.uk

Lindfield Evangelical Free Church

www.lefc.co.uk

Good Friday 18th April

10.30am – ‘Who Did Jesus Die For?’

Easter Sunday 20th April

10.30am – ‘How Can We Know?’

St Augustine’s Church, Scaynes Hill

www.sash.org.uk

Palm Sunday 13th April

10am – Holy Communion – Meet on Scaynes Hill Common 10am, with service in church to start at 10.15am

Maundy Thursday 17th April

7pm – Parish Supper followed by Tenebrae Service

Good Friday 18th April

2pm – Hour at the Cross

Easter Day 20th April

6am – Sunrise Service followed by breakfast

10am – Family Communion followed by Easter Egg Hunt

Karate dojo open at Oathall in Lindfield

There is a new beginner’s class, for those wanting to learn karate in Lindfield.

The class started last month at Oathall Community College on Monday evenings, and Becky MacSweeney is the leader.
Becky’s own journey into the sport, begun when she went along to classes with her own children just over two years ago. She loved it so much, she started competing nationally and has ten gold medals to date, including regional champion two years in a row!
“I love watching people learn karate,” Becky explained. “Seeing them learn a form of self defence, growing in confidence and winning medals, as they do.”

Becky – who still trains six hours a week – is helped by Senpai Marli and Maddie, plus also Sachin, at Oathall (part of the Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and Cuckfield dojo).
Lindfield resident Stuart Todd, who trains with Becky, said: “I love the elements of discipline, control and confidence that karate brings to me and those that I train with, from young children to those more advanced in years. My fitness levels and flexibility have been positively impacted and also been a huge advantage in every day life.”

For more information about karate, email: skrycler@ gkrkarate.com.

https://www.gkrkarate.com/locations/listing/gkr-karate-haywards-heath-occ/

Denmans Lane Dash in Lindfield

Welcome to Lindfield Life’s Denmans Lane Dash event page. Here you will find our most recent information for the exciting Boxing Day race.

Denmans Lane Dash is a Boxing Day beer race, racing the length of Denmans Lane and back for charity.

See also, Denmans Lane Dash Facebook page

All photos © Mark Tampion (Click to enlarge)

2024’s Dash complete

By Ray Gower

Another Boxing Day Denmans Lane Dash has passed and what a brilliant day we had! This year’s Dash was the best supported yet. The weather stayed kind to us again which encouraged many more people to come out and watch the competitors, adorned in their various festive and fancy dress costumes.

As usual the ladies set off first at a sensible pace. We had a couple of former champions including last year’s winner Sophie Grimaldi defending her crown. But this year saw another name added to the illustrious winners list – Emily Phillips.
Emily was closely followed by Mae Robinson – a member of the formidable Robinson family. Competing in her first Dash, Mae was just edged out by Emily.

The men raced off up Denmans Lane at a rate of knots and included not just one, but two Dinosaurs who bravely tackled the race in what must be very awkward costumes to run. The race would not be the same without our resident dinosaurs taking part.
Still racing hard across the line, the men’s race was won by Charlie Payne competing in his first Dash, followed closely by Ben Rebeiro and former champion Lio Robinson, another member of the lovely Robinson family.

This year’s Fancy Dress winner, judged by Mark and Sarah Tampion Lacey, went to Rob Watts who wrapped himself up as a Christmas present.

I was blown away by the amount of support we had this year. The Dash has grown to become such a wonderful fun community event, giving everyone a bit of relief from the normal Boxing Day festivities and the chance to grab a bit of fresh air.
It also gives us an opportunity to raise money for deserving charities and this year I wanted to do something for the ladies. This year’s charity was Breast Cancer Now - a fantastic charity that supports not just women suffering from the awful disease, but a number of men and families who have relatives with the disease.
We all know someone who has had breast cancer or has had a friend or family member with it. It touches all our lives, so for me it was the charity I wanted to support this year. A total of £2,193.96 was raised for this great charity and I can’t thank all donators enough. It just shows how generous and kind our community is.

As always, I want to thank the community for their support and the competitors for taking part and making a huge effort with their fancy dress costumes. A massive thanks goes to all those who help me put this event on each year - I couldn’t do it without them.
Andi Frost and the team at the Stand Up were fantastic, as always. A special thanks goes to Andi for supplying the bottles of bubbly for the winners and my wonderful supportive friends from Lindfield Bonfire Society who manage the marshalling of the event for me. This year was the smoothest ever!
Thanks also to my dear friends Ian and Lorna Towner who managed the registration brilliantly, our fabulous Denmans Lane resident Roger Seymour for his traffic management and Mark Tampion Lacey who took so many wonderful photographs.

To conclude, I just want to thank our fabulous, kind and supportive community for the support shown in good times and not such good times. Lindfield.... you are the best! See you next year when the Dash will be ten years old!

Video round-up of 2023 Denmans Lane Dash

Lindfield Horticultural Society

By Christine Cawley

Lindfield Horticultural Society (LHS) has been at the heart of village life since its inception back in 1945. Much has changed in the intervening 80 years, but gardening remains a passion for many Lindfield residents, and new generations are bringing a fresh outlook to how we tend our gardens.

The LHS is keen to embrace change, whilst still maintaining the traditions for which it is known and loved, and is inviting members and non-members alike to a Coffee Morning at the King Edward Hall on Saturday 8th February from 10am to 12noon.

As well as providing an opportunity to meet fellow gardeners and enjoy tea, coffee and home-made cakes, this event will highlight current and future projects planned by the LHS.
It will also feature the annual seed swap and the unveiling of the new 2025 schedule.

Other local organisations, including Greener Lindfield, the Eastern Road Nature Reserve and Lindfield in Bloom, will also be there to showcase their own aims and activities.
Along with the traditional flower and produce shows, talks and outings, the LHS is trying out some innovative new ideas in 2025, with gardening masterclasses, flower arranging workshops, visits to members’ gardens and a special rose event.
This coffee morning will showcase these and much more, and there will also be the opportunity to chat to the committee and to put your gardening questions to a team of experienced gardeners.

If you’re interested in joining the Lindfield Horticultural Society, you can do so on the day, visit www.lindfieldhorts.org.uk or contact Membership Secretary, Jacqui Essen, at membership@lindfieldhorts. org.uk.

Forthcoming copy dates

2025 Copy Dates for Lindfield Life magazine

June’s Lindfield Life
Copy date 6th May
Delivery between 17th - 23rd May

July’s Lindfield Life
Copy date 3rd June
Delivery between 14th - 20th June

August’s Lindfield Life
Copy date 8th July
Delivery between 19th - 25th July

September’s Lindfield Life
Copy date 12th August
Delivery between 23rd - 29th August

October’s Lindfield Life
Copy date 9th September
Delivery between 20th - 26th September

November’s Lindfield Life
Copy date 7th October
Delivery between 18th - 24th October

December’s Lindfield Life
Copy date 4th November
Delivery between 15th - 21st November

Lindfield Society newsletter - January 2025

Gladman Development

The announcement of Gladman Development’s (GD) proposed 90-unit estate on the north of Scamps Hill kicked-off the year. The Lindfield Society submitted strong objections based on non-compliance with current planning policies. During protracted planning discussions with the Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC), GD filed an appeal despite not having a final ruling. The Appeal Inquiry was scheduled to begin on 10th December but has been delayed until 2025. The pre-inquiry evidence exchange showed that GD challenged the validity of the current MSDC District Plan, which currently excludes the Scamps Hill site from development. Due to publication deadlines, we cannot print an outcome, but we will have full coverage of the meeting on our website. Related documentation can be viewed on the MSDC website https://pa.midsussex.gov.uk/online-applications/ Using reference AP/24/0044, select the ‘Appeals’ tab.

Lindfield Society talks programme

Our programme of free talks continues in King Edward Hall. We roamed from the Trolleys of Lisbon to the Artic Home of the Polar Bear in 2024. In 2025, we’ll visit Treasures in St Petersburg, hear about writing comedy for TV, and walk the Sussex Downs with Ian Everest. A complete listing is available on our website and the Jubilee notice board on Denmans Lane at High Street. Our talks are well attended and provide a forum where the management committee can discuss current planning issues with the membership.

Website enhancements

We may have mentioned our newly updated website at www.lindfieldsociety.org.uk, which has an easy-toreach layout to find information on any of the above topics. The most exciting announcement is our ability to accept payments through our JustGiving page, so it is possible to join, renew, or make donations entirely online through the Society website using debit or credit cards of your choice. Your contributions will also be eligible for Gift Aid, which will benefit the Society over and beyond your donation. Please have a look and let us know what you think. We want to thank all our members for your continuing support in 2024 and wish you all a very happy New Year!

To read the full newsletter, please click the image to enlarge it.

Join a new hiking group in Lindfield

Love walking? Why not join a new, free, monthly hiking group for people who enjoy walking, and prefer company – it’s called Walkie Talkies!

Walks will take place on the last Sunday of every month, starting 29th December 2024.

Hikers will enjoy local, walks (of approximately 8km initially) along with an opportunity to meet new people while exploring beautiful trails around Lindfield and Sussex.

The walks are being organised by Simon Geere, a Lindfield local with a love for hiking. “Over the past three years, I’ve explored the beautiful trails across Sussex, including the stunning South Downs,” he said. “I’m passionate about encouraging more people to lace up their walking boots, enjoy the fresh air, and discover the incredible countryside we’re lucky to have on our doorstep. Hiking is great for your physical health and wellbeing.
“So, whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just starting out, I’d love for you to join our free monthly hiking group boots, waterproofs and a smile!”

Contact Simon at lindfieldhikes@gmail.com to register your interest in December / January hikes and to find out more.

Churches of Lindfield Christmas services

Welcome to Lindfield Life’s churches of Lindfield Christmas services event page. Here you will find our most recent information for everything Christmas in our churches.

See also, All Saints Church, Lindfield United Reformed Church, Lindfield Evangelical Free Church, St Augustine’s Church, Scaynes Hill

All Saints Church

www.allsaintslindfield.org/christmas
Email: allsaints@lindfield.info

Sunday 15th December
8am - Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
9.30am - Morning service with children’s groups
4.30pm - Traditional Carol Service (1)
7pm - Traditional Carol Service (2)

Tuesday 17th December
10am - Tiger@Ten Christmas special (fortnightly group for over 65s)

Sunday 22nd December
9.30am - All Saints Kids Nativity
The children can come dressed up as a shepherd, farmyard animal or angel as we retell the Christmas story in this enchanting, fun and slightly chaotic service
11.15am - Morning Worship
4.30pm - Big Band Carols (1)
7pm - Big Band Carols (2)

Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve)
3pm - Christingle
This Christingle is a particularly accessible service for all, including SEN families and those with very young children
4pm - Christingle
5pm - Christingle
6pm - Christingle
11.15pm - Midnight Communion

Wednesday 25th December (Christmas Day)
8am - Christmas Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10am - Christmas Celebration

Sunday 29th December
10am - Morning Worship (children will stay in for whole service)
6pm - Cornerstone – our informal band-led service for all ages

Please visit our YouTube channel to watch some of these services broadcast live.

Lindfield United Reformed Church

Friday 13th December
4pm - Messy Christmas
The monthly Messy Church focuses on Christmas

Sunday 15th December
10am - Family Worship
5pm - Carols by Candlelight
A candlelight traditional service of lessons and carols

Thursday 19th December
7.30pm - Christmas Concert
Join us in the church or online for a light-hearted Christmas concert with music from the Perdido Players, and more as we celebrate together the meaning and message of Christmas

Sunday 22nd December
10am - Family Worship - including the Lord’s Supper

Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve)
4pm - Crib Service
A retelling of the first Christmas, appropriate to, and performed by, the very youngest. Suitable for all ages

Wednesday 25th December (Christmas Day)
10am - Family Service - We celebrate the birth of Jesus

Lindfield Evangelical Free Church

www.lefc.co.uk

Sunday 22nd December
4pm - Carol Service

Wednesday 25th December (Christmas Day)
10.30am - Christmas Service

St Augustine’s Church, Scaynes Hill

www.sash.org.uk

Saturday 30th November
4.30pm - Lighting of the Village Christmas Tree With hot dogs and carols - followed by mulled wine and mince pies

Monday 9th December
4pm - Christingle Service Followed by a Christmas Party Tea

Thursday 19th December
10.30am - Cheerful, short service with carols
7pm - Celtish Concert - free admission As seen on BBC One’s Songs of Praise

Sunday 22nd December
6pm - Carols by Candlelight Followed by mulled wine and mince pies

Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve)
4pm - Crib Service
11.30pm - Midnight Communion

Wednesday 25th December (Christmas Day)
10am - Christmas Holy Communion

Sunday 5th January
4.30pm - Follow the Star Trail

Lindfield Parish Council's newsletter - December 2024

Chairman’s Update

Scamps Hill – 90 house development Our understanding is that the developer has appealed against the time taken by MSDC to make a decision regarding the application received although we understand that MSDC will be defending their position.

The appeal is to be heard on the 10th December, we have not been notified of the venue yet. A representative from the Parish Council is hoping to be invited to speak at the appeal. LRPC continues to oppose this speculative development, in summary the reasons are: The site has previously been excluded for development in the adopted Local Plan and is speculative and not required to meeting housing needs. The highway proposals fail to meet current guidance for active travel and public transport and introduce an access at the least safe location on the site frontage with maximum negative impact to hedgerows and visual amenity. We consider that the Transport Assessment is flawed with errors, inaccuracies and unfounded assumptions.

If you want to read more about this application, then visit the MSDC website looking for planning applications ref DM/24/0446

To read the full newsletter, click the images to enlarge them or pick up for December copy of Lindfield Life today.

Lindfield’s Remembrance Sunday

Welcome to Lindfield Life’s Remembrance information page. Here you will find our most recent information for all things Remembrance Sunday.

See also, Lindfield Parish Council
and All Saints Church

2024

Members of the Lindfield branch of the Royal British Legion are busy preparing for the annual Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Services.

From 4th November, poppies will be on sale daily at the gazebo on the High Street.

On Sunday 10th November at 2.45pm, there will be wreath laying at the memorial outside All Saints Church followed by a memorial service at 3pm.

On 11th November, at 10.50am, members will gather at the War Memorial outside All Saints Church for wreath laying and to remember those who sacrificed their lives at 11am.

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