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CHAIRMAN’S SCRIBBLINGS Ron Goodenough

Well, by the time you read this our Summer will be over and what a Summer! Sometimes it’s been a little on the warm side for walking but great to have been out and appreciate our beautiful area which we can often take for granted. Looking back through our walks programme the variety is impressive; distances, different days, South Downs, North Downs, Ashdown Forest, Literary Trail linear stages etc. One of our committee members looked up a local Ramblers Group website whilst on holiday recently; there was just one walk available each week. Thank you to all those who have been active in any way, particularly leading walks. That doesn’t mean that we don’t need more leaders so if you have a favourite walk or would like to volunteer to lead one please e-mail our Walks Programme Secretary, Paul Jenkins, (programme@midsussexramblers.co.uk) who will be able to give information and guidance.

In our last Newsletter I encouraged members to visit the main Ramblers website and also our MSR one to pick up news and information. As an example, Ramblers UK (www.ramblers.org.uk) has an article about the impact that even Brexit might have on the management of our footpaths. You can read more but the opening paragraphs are as follows:

Our countryside paths are one of Britain’s most precious assets. Hidden in plain sight, they allow all of us to access and enjoy the countryside. Whether you're a walker, nature lover or wild swimmer, there is a path awaiting you. But keeping them in good condition requires hard work and investment.

As we prepare to leave the EU, the government is developing a new set of rules for how the countryside will be managed long into the future, as part of the Agriculture Bill. It is vital that these rules protect our right - and the right of future generations - to access and enjoy the countryside.

PLEASE remember that our AGM is on Wednesday 14 November at 7:30 for 8:00pm in the Upper Room of the Haywards Heath Town Hall, Boltro Road (just up from the library). My experience is that the reaction to the very mention of an AGM, hopefully not from MSR members, is rolled eyes and a yawn. Please try to be with us. There will be a short introduction followed by one or two reports and the election of officers and committee, then an open forum for discussion where members can ask questions and bring any suggestions. It’s a great opportunity to meet the committee and other people who you don’t normally walk with. Our talk after refreshments this year will be given by Janet Terry who is the Seed Collection Manager at the Kew Millennium Seed Bank based at Wakehurst. I think we will find this very interesting.

Thank you for all those who have submitted articles for this edition of this Newsletter, please keep them coming.

THE HIGH WEALD WALKING FESTIVAL 2018 William Coleman

For the first time, following an initiative from the High Weald AONB Partnership based at Flimwell, East Sussex, the first ever High Weald Walking Festival took place from Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 September and was a collaboration between the High Weald AONB Partnership and a number of local groups of the Ramblers, namely Battle Ramblers, High Weald Walkers, Mid Sussex Ramblers and Rother Ramblers.

Mid Sussex were asked to enter walks and we duly obliged with John Cribb leading a Danehill and Chelwood Walk and I led a longer walk starting at Buxted railway station, both walks on Sunday 16 September.

Newsletter of the Mid Sussex Ramblers

Number 160, December 2018 to March 2019

Mid-Sussex Rambler

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At the leaders’ pre-Festival briefing held at The Bear pub, Burwash, we had been handed new yellow High Vis jackets and information packs and had been asked to bring along our thoughts of five things to illustrate the High Weald. I chose, History, Geography, Architecture, Ecology and Way Mark signs.

To my surprise, having thought the walk would only have limited appeal as there were other walks in the festival that day as well, I found myself welcoming walkers from far and wide, including Cornwall, Isle of Man and Solihull together with more local ones including Eastbourne, Brighton and South London. This made a group of 34 and we set off after the introductions and briefing, with Jill Brown as back marker, to discover the delights of the Buxted River Valley.

Blessed with a fine summer’s day, the route took us north east, climbing up the River Uck valley and enjoying the sights and sounds of the countryside. After pausing for our break at the Sleeches Viaduct we continued past lakes and sandstone ghylls to a lunch stop on a high ridge with views to Heathfield and Hadlow Down.

The afternoon return was down again, following the River Uck and passing ancient sites such as Huggett’s Furnace Mill and lovely restored oasthouses to reach Buxted station. It seems that the walk was enjoyed by all, without incident or losing anyone!

Thank you to the organisers of what, I am sure, will be a regular event.

WALK AT WOODS MILL NATURE RESERVE THURSDAY 30 AUGUST Alison Heath

Fourteen members of Mid Sussex Ramblers and two people from a Ramblers group in Bedfordshire assembled in the car park at Woods Mill on a sunny and warm morning for our little talk and guided walk around the Sussex Wildlife Trust reserve, led by Michael Blencowe. We were offered coffee or tea with biscuits, then given a short introduction in the classroom before we set out around the reserve.

Michael showed us some of the changes that have taken place at Woods Mill in recent months including the re-digging of a large pond. In the first meadow area, we saw several pieces of corrugated sheeting strategically placed to catch the warmth of the sun and attract invertebrates such as grass snakes but, alas, no snakes! We also saw a fallen tree now growing again and shrubs bearing summer berries which were attracting butterflies in the sunshine. Brown Hairstreak butterflies seemed to be a speciality on the Blackthorn around here. During the morning we did see a buzzard, dragonflies, swans and hornets. Among the plants we saw were yellow

Fleabane and delicate Water Mint.

After about two hours, we returned to the Centre to collect our picnic lunches and then disperse around the reserve to eat them. Most of us gathered together again at 1pm and, this time led by our very own Paul Jenkins, we went up a steep path onto Truleigh Hill and returned via Edburton Hill. Michael Blencowe had originally hoped to lead us on this walk but he had been taken ill with kidney problems and so was not fit enough to lead such a steep and challenging walk that day.

A very long line of walkers!

The crowd gathered

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The weather was very warm and the views extremely good. We looked back several times to admire the view as we climbed up Truleigh Hill, which was pretty steep even though Paul had chosen the less steep path for us that day! We walked along the top from Truleigh Hill onto Edburton Hill passing the radio mast and Truleigh Youth Hostel before descending more gently that we had gone up. Our route included part of the South Downs Way and we passed several people taking a break from their long distance trek. They were interested to hear about our walk and the Sussex Wildlife Trust. In total we walked about 7 miles and returned around 4pm, tired but happy with what we had seen and achieved.

WINTER TALKS 2019 Brian Judge

Our meetings will take place in the Upstairs Room in the Methodist Church Hall, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath RH16 3DN. All talks will start promptly at 8:00 pm with the exception of that on Wednesday 13 March which will start at 7.45 pm and doors open at 7:30.

Entry charge will be £4.00 including tea/coffee and biscuits. There is car parking available behind the church which gives direct access to the meeting room.

Wednesday 09 January, Speaker: Ian Everest, Topic: “The Women’s Land Army, A Sussex connection”. His mother was one of 80,000 Land Girls during WW2 and the talk includes some of her personal memories and a potted history of the role of women on farms during two World Wars.

Wednesday 13 February, Speaker: Helen Poole, Topic: “Charles II and his escape through Sussex in 1651”. This talk looks at possibly the most attractive of the Stuart kings and how he escaped from the Parliamentary forces who were hunting him after the Battle of Worcester in 1651. It also sees how he rewarded the people who had helped him to escape to France when he returned to England and the throne at the Restoration of 1660.

Wednesday 13 March, Speaker: Lesley Baker: Topic “My life as a tree surgeon”. This talk looks at what it takes to become a tree surgeon, the satisfaction, the dangers and the misunderstandings that can occur, particularly for a woman. There will be equipment demonstrations, light-hearted anecdotes and a quiz to test your tree knowledge.

OBITUARIES Les Campbell

I have to report that Ted Brittain died during the summer. Some members might recall that Ted, along with his wife Tina, used to walk regularly with the group, latterly preferring the shorter and evening rambles. At one time, Ted organised speakers for the Wednesday evening meetings and we had some interesting presentations. Sadly, due to declining health, Ted had to give up rambling and spent the last few years of his life in a Nursing home. Our sympathies are with Tina and the family.

Also, Ted Parr died during the course of the summer after a long period of illness. Ted, and his wife Rita, often came on our walks, particularly the Wednesday evening rambles, until Ted could no longer manage them. They came on a few group weekends away and were also Pub Social stalwarts where they enjoyed meeting up with their friends for a meal and a chat! Our sympathies are with Rita and the family.

It is with much sadness, that I have to report that Ted Hasley a stalwart member of the group died last April., after being ill for some while. Ted used to attend group walks particularly the Wednesday evening rambles (when he wasn’t dancing!) along with his neighbour and good friend Bryan. Sadly, I could never get him to lead a walk! He also enjoyed the pub socials and was very outgoing, always good company. We offer our sympathies to his wife Joan and the family.

Alison Heath

Just after we went to press with our last newsletter printed in June, we learnt that Janice Tipping had sadly died from cancer at a relatively young age. Many of us remember her wonderful photographs and enjoyed looking at the pictures on her own web pages. Janis had moved to Brighton in recent years but was still doing her adventurous travelling to unusual parts of the world. We extend our sympathies to her husband and family.

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TRAIL FOR 2019 Paul Jenkins

As you will probably already know, the trail walking that we introduced a couple of years ago has become quite popular. I have now been joined by Sue Blandford to run these events and by the end of October 2018 we will have already completed the following:

Greenwich Meridian Trail: Peacehaven to Greenwich Sussex Ouse Valley Way: From its source to the sea Wey and Arun Trail: From Weybridge to Littlehampton The Sussex Diamond Way: Midhurst to Heathfield West Sussex Literary Trail: Horsham to Chichester

What next you may ask?

In early summer 2019 we will be following another local river from its source(s) to the sea. We have chosen to invent our own trail along the River Adur. This is made more difficult / interesting by the fact that there are two sources. The East Adur rises on Ditchling Common and the West Adur rises near Slinfold. So, with a little careful planning, after six separate walks we should arrive at Shoreham having completed the MSR version of The Adur trail.

The advantage of planning our own trail is that we can pass through places of interest on route. The pre-planning stage has already highlighted a few places to visit, including: Wineham, Mock Bridge, Dragons Green, Shipley, West Grinstead, Partridge Green, Small Dole, Upper Beeding and obviously Shoreham.

Keep an eye out for this trail in the 2019 Summer Walks Programme.

VACANCIES Alison Heath

We still have a vacancy on our Mid Sussex Ramblers Committee for a Display Boards and Shows Co-ordinator. This person should ideally be able to store, or know where to store, the display boards for the shows that we attend. The display boards are actually the property of Sussex Area so they are loaned out on occasions, but we in Mid Sussex do use them a lot when we attend events in our area. Tony has co-ordinated this activity for several years now and he wishes to hand it over to someone else.

We would also welcome new members to our Committee or observers who wish to see how things are done and who may like to join the Committee in the future. Please contact an existing Committee member to arrange for you to attend a meeting.

If you interested in leading a walk but perhaps have not done so before, do have a chat with Paul Jenkins or Sue Blandford who would be very willing to help give you the confidence you might lack. Indeed any committee member or existing walk leader would be very willing to point you in the right direction.

YOU MAY HAVE MISSED Ray Heath

Keep Walking! Daily Telegraph Apparently, most people become weaker in their later years as their leg muscles get smaller and less able to bear weight. According to a Manchester Metropolitan University study, by age 75, people have between 30 and 50% fewer nerves controlling the muscles in their legs. Without a connection, muscle areas wither and die. But nerves in healthy muscles can send out branches to rescue muscles which have become detached. The study believes that regular exercise could help this process. So,

Keep Walking!

Daily Telegraph Bird Feeders In the UK we spend around £200 million a year on bird food, which helps some of Britain’s most beloved species get through the winter. However, research by the Zoological Society of London and the British Trust for Ornithology suggests that bird tables and feeders are spreading illness because they bring species together which would not normally come into contact. The risk increases if bird tables and feeding stations are not kept clean, allowing stale food, food waste and droppings to accumulate.

Simple steps they recommend include offering a variety of food from accredited sources, feeding in moderation so that feeders are emptied every 1 to 2 days, regular cleaning of bird feeders, and rotation of feeding sites to avoid accumulation of waste.

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In the UK some 48% of households regularly leave food out for our garden visitors, and gardens have become havens for birds which have suffered habitat loss. There is also a well-being aspect to feeding birds, which also helps to reduce the growing disconnect from nature, and fosters an interest in wildlife and conservation. However, the report also points out that there are risks from feeding - they may become reliant on the food and stop being able to fend for themselves.

Daily Telegraph Bumblebees The conservation of bumblebees has been boosted by a £300,000 award – to The Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Two species of bumblebee became extinct in the UK during C20, with 8 more on conservation priority lists.

Daily Telegraph What can be done The final tree has been planted in England’s largest new native forest, completing a decade of work by the Woodland Trust and 45,000 volunteers (17,000 schoolchildren). Over 600,000 trees have been planted over the 857 acre Heartwood Forest site in Sandridge, Hertfordshire. The planting has had remarkable effects on wildlife with recorded bird species up from 35 to 63 and skylarks, yellow hammer and hen harrier being sighted for the first time. Butterfly populations have also increased along with new species such as the water shrew and barbastelle bat.

The Metro Did You Know?

Just a 20 minute walk each day can help keep you mentally and physically healthy

You use an impressive 200 muscles every time you take a step

Walking one mile burns up 100 calories

Taking a short walk every day can increase productivity by up to 30 percent.

CHRISTMAS WALK AND LUNCH SATURDAY 15 DECEMBER Stella Law

Jack and Jill went up the hill and came tumbling down ready for the Mid Sussex Ramblers Christmas Lunch on Saturday 15 December at the Jack and Jill pub, Clayton! Time 12:30 for 1:00pm.

There is an optional walk before lunch to be led by Brian Judge. This will start and finish at the Jack and Jill Inn, starting at 10:30am and be 4 miles in length. Details are in the Walks Programme accompanying this newsletter.

Bus numbers 270, 271, 272 and 273 stop right outside the pub providing transport from Brighton, Crawley, Horsham and East Grinstead areas. Alternatively, there is ample car parking. You may care to walk from Hassocks along the Cinder Track.

270 Bus from Lindfield 11:54 Haywards Heath 12:01 Burgess Hill 12:24 Stone Pound, Hassocks 12:37 Jack and Jill pub 12:42

Going back, the 270 Bus leaves at 2:45, 3:51 and 4:50 pm towards Haywards Heath. (We suggest you check the winter timetable to be sure these are the correct times for December).

You will find the menu in this newsletter and a separate booking form enclosed. Please select your menu choices and send the completed booking form, together with a cheque for £5 per person, to Stella to reach her before Friday 23 November 2018. Your cheque should be made payable to The Ramblers, Mid Sussex. Please send to: Stella Law, 17 Barnard Gate, Balcombe Road,

Haywards Heath, RH16 1PQ. Thank you.

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THE JACK AND JILL INN AT CLAYTON

Brighton Road, Clayton BN6 9PD

www.thejackandjillinn.co.uk

Telephone 01273 843595

CHRISTMAS MENU 2018

Starters Roasted pepper and tomato soup with Taleggio Boursin baked field mushroom, walnut and rocket salad Venison, duck and wild boar terrine, plum and star anise chutney, toasted sour dough Locally oak smoked salmon with endive salad, brown shrimp and prawn Marie Rose Main Course Roast Bronze turkey with traditional trimmings Keepers Cottage Pie with Paddockhurst Estate venison, field mushrooms and red wine Roast topside of Sussex breed beef with Yorkshire pudding Fresh sea bass fillet, pan fried with capers, wilted spinach, chive mash (£4 supplement) Boursin baked field mushrooms, Lyonnaise potatoes, fresh vegetables Chestnut, hazelnut and couscous roast, fresh vegetables, roast potatoes Dessert Christmas pudding, mince pie, Armagnac cream Warm chocolate brownie with salted caramel ice cream Lemon and ginger cheesecake with lemon posset Sussex Blue and Barber’s Vintage Cheddar cheese with biscuits and spiced plum chutney Three courses and coffee £27.50pp / Two courses and coffee £21.50pp

All bookings and orders must be made in advance together with a £5pp deposit to secure the booking.

Please completed the enclosed booking form and send it with your deposit cheque.:

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PERU and MACHU PICCHU Georgia Heath, one of Ray and Alison’s granddaughters

During my four week volunteering expedition to Peru, I got the chance to experience a five day trek to one of the Seven Wonders of the World - Machu Picchu. On 3rd August 2018, we woke at 2:00am! to begin our trek. We began at Soraypampa, 3868m above sea level, and walked ‘the Trail of the Seven Snakes’, from Salkantaypampa (4154m) to Soiococha (4491m). We then trekked to the top of the Salkantay Pass, which is 4638m above sea level. The mountain we climbed, Mountain Salkantay, is very important for the communities around the area as the melting snow is the main water supply and is also used to irrigate the land for farming. It is especially important in the dry season. We then began walking down to Wayracmachay, which is 3906m above sea level, to our campsite. Although Day One of the trek was extremely tough and probably, for me, the hardest day of the trek, I experienced some beautiful views.

On Day Two, we woke at 5:30am and walked from our campsite down to Rayanniyoc (3494m) then down to Chaullay (2870m) and through a community in Collpapampa (2850m). The communities in Collpapampa rely very much on local trade. They all share the same school and transport. The men go to work in the nearest town and women stay to help run the community. Trekking companies work within these communities and 10 to 12 years ago they helped Collpapampa get electricity to help improve their way of life. From Collpapampa, we walked to Loreta (2166m) to our camp for the night.

We woke at 6:30am to start Day Three. The campsite we were staying at produced organic coffee. The first step is to pick the seeds, they must be picked by hand and so lots of people are needed. The second step uses a machine called a Molino which peels the coffee beans. Then, the third step, they go through fermentation which takes 23 to 24 hours if it is cold, but 18 hours if it is warm. The beans must then be washed and left to dry - which takes 40 days. In step 4, the beans are toasted on a concho (a natural kitchen) in a particular shape pot. After the beans are toasted, the last step is to grind the coffee beans. The organic coffee is then

packaged and sold.

From Loreta (2166m), we walked to Lucmabamba (2017m), and then trekked up-hill to Llactapata (2736m). We began to walk through the rainforest which was so very humid and rained a lot! At Llactapata, there are some granite ruins and the first views of Machu Picchu. The ruins have been abandoned for 500 years and were originally used to give signs and warnings to Machu Picchu in case of invasion or people discovering it. We then walked 10 minutes to our campsite from where we could see amazing views of Machu Picchu in the distance.

On Day Four we woke to pouring rain. We trekked from Llactapata down the mountain to Hidroelectrica (1771m). We then walked to Intiwatana, and from here the rest of the trek, and Machu Picchu itself, is owned by the Peruvian Government. We then followed the train track through the mountains along the Urubamba River and through the edge of the Amazon rainforest. The river is very important as it is used as a natural source of electricity for the south of Peru. The power of the river and the constant rainfall are crucial for energy and electricity in the area. We then walked to our camp which was near Aguas Calinetes (2050m).

For Day Five, the final day of the trek, we woke at 3am and queued at the entrance of Machu Picchu until 5am. We then began our climb up the 2000 steps to get up to Machu Picchu. The atmosphere was

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magical. The remains really help you imagine what the Inca village looked like. Our tour guides were very informative and interesting with their knowledge about Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu was re-discovered by a North American man called Hiram Bingham on the 24th July 1911, 400 years after it was lived in. The ruins were covered in vegetation and so, although people knew about Machu Picchu, they didn’t know where it was, nor the importance of it. In fact, Hiram was looking for the Last City of the Incas but instead came across Machu Picchu. Nine years after his discovery, he called attention to the ruins and they became famous.

I am hugely grateful to have been able to take part in such an amazing adventure and I am sure that I will remember it for the rest of my life!

We were there! Daily Telegraph

The Wellington monument Some of you may remember the Wellington Monument from the walk that we did on the way back from our Selworthy 2010 Weekend. The 175 foot monument, built in 1817 as a tribute to the Duke of Wellington’s victory at Waterloo, was surrounded by some rather colourful hoardings (painted by local schools) as it was unsafe.

After 13 years of being fenced off, it has been announced that The National Trust is to spend £1.8m to partially repair the monument – a full repair is estimated at £3.8m!

The Week . . . . and we were here as well!

The water vole, one of Britain’s most beloved and endangered riverine creatures, is being reintroduced to Exmoor National Park where it has been extinct for more than 30 years. The animal, immortalised as Ratty in The Wind in the Willows, is the nation’s fastest declining mammal. At the beginning of September, 150 voles were released along the River Aller on Somerset’s Holnicote Estate (HF Selworthy to us!). They will be monitored by volunteers, rangers and the public, with 150 more to be released in spring 2019.

Views around Jack and Jill windmills in August 2018.