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COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
Fairtrade
Forest Row has been awarded Fairtrade Village status. Elizabeth Peel, convenor of the Fairtrade Steering Group, presented a certificate to Nigel Manger, chairman of the Parish Council at the Open Day on 16th February. The certificate is on display in the Parish Council Offices.
The purpose of a Fairtrade town or village is to contribute to the Fairtrade Foundation's aim of tackling poverty by enabling disadvantaged producers from poor countries to receive a better deal, through encouraging support for the FAIRTRADE mark.
The Parish Council fulfilled one of the conditions in passing a resolution agreeing to serve Fair Trade tea and coffee at its meetings and in its offices and canteens.
An increasing number of local work places (estate agents, hairdressers etc) and community organizations (churches, schools etc) are using Fairtrade products and a range of Fairtrade products is readily available in the village's shops and cafes.
Everyone can make it a reality for Forest Row to become a Fairtrade Village. Products which can be fairly traded are coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa, sugar, bananas, other fresh and dried fruit, juices, honey, cakes and snacks, preserves, nuts, oils, herbs, spices, rice, beer, rum, wine, roses and cotton products.
Please call David Jonas on 01342 826896 or the Parish Council Office on 01342 822661 to find out how you can contribute to this initiative, either by pledging to use Fairtrade products in your workplace (this can be as simple as just tea, coffee and sugar) or to offer them for sale to your customers.
For details of Fairtrade Village Supporters please click here
Community Liaison Group
A liaison group has been set up linking the Parish Council with all the disparate organisations in the village which will act both as a filter and point of contact between such organisations and the Parish Council. Among its representatives are those representing schools, sports organisations, the police and fire brigade as well as youth organisations, residents associations and Neighbourhood Watch.
Minutes of Meeting Held on 21 November 2005 - Click Here
Minutes of Meeting Held on 6 February 2006 - Click Here
Minutes of Meeting Held on 17 May 2006 - Click Here
Minutes of Meeting Held on 12 July 2006 - Click Here
Minutes of Meeting Held on 18 October 2006 - Click Here
Minutes of Meeting Held on 15 January 2007 - Click Here
Minutes of Meeting Held on 19 March 2007 - Click Here
Minutes of Meeting Held on 4 June 2007 - Click Here
Minutes of Meeting Held on 10 September 2007 - Click Here
Minutes of Meeting Held on 3 December 2007 - Click Here
Minutes of Meeting Held on 17 March 2008 - Click Here
Minutes of Meeting Held on 2 June 2008 - Click Here
Forester's Link
This path and wildlife area has been created by the Parish Council out of a frequently wet and unusable piece of land. The path has been elevated and sympathetically surfaced so that it can be used by everyone all year round. A new hedge has been planted on one side and the more mature hedge on the other has been layered to let in more light and offer glimpses of a meadow beyond. Bat and bird boxes, made by the cubs in 2005, await their regular occupants and the area has been planted with bulbs for the spring.
A magnificent sculpture at the end of the path was created by Ken Smith from the stump of a much loved oak tree growing in Priory Road, which had to be felled in 2001 when it became unsafe.
From here you can cross the meadow to Rush Green with its adventure playground or continue across the new bridge over the River Medway and on to the Forest Way.
Forest Row Twinning Association
Forest Row is twinned with Milly-la-Foret in the Department of Essonne that lies to the south east of Paris. The two villages have much in common, each being connected with a forest; in the case of Forest Row, the Ashdown Forest and in Milly's the Forest of Fontainbleau. The Twinning Association is very active and organises various events during the year.
Jubilee Garden
The Community Centre is home to the Jubilee Garden which has been created by Mike Smith and helpers under the auspices of the 'Create It' scheme of the Parkinsons Society. The garden was opened in 2003 and provides a wonderful oasis of calm at the Centre. It is used by those wanting a few minutes peaceful break from the hustle and bustle of village life.
Newlands Place
For some years, this area of the village has been badly in need of a facelift. In 2005, after much research by one of the Parish Councillors and a great many meetings between the Parish Council and interested parties, including East Sussex County Council and Wealden District Council, work was started on the area by Sussex County Council contractors.
The old grass bank was removed and replaced with a brick wall to support decorative railings made by a local craftsman. The top pavement was widened and repaved in a different slab and brick design. Seats, brick planters and hanging basket trees were installed thanks to donations from villagers and new cast iron litter bins were added to complement the other fixtures.
The lower pavement was relaid with a build-out to allow a cycle rack to be installed and the parking bays, including two new disabled parking spaces, were brought away from the road to allow safer parking. As part of the Hartfield Road Traffic Calming Scheme which the County Council was carrying out in tandem with the work on Newlands Place, a new crossing was installed to help people to access both sides of the road safely.
Newlands Place was officially opened on 23rd March 2006 and was hailed as a true community initiative with financial donations from Wealden District Council and local people as well as many hours of time from the Parish Council.
Forest Row Cycle Ride
This has become a popular annual September event, organised by a local resident and supported by the Parish Council to promote cycling in Forest Row. In 2006, the Forest Row Cycle Ride expanded to include a weekend of arts events which was so successful that future events are planned.
Cyclists, walkers and horse riders all take part, starting at the Forester's Green and following their own routes along the 9 mile course which takes them safely around the village and to its furthest confines. There are various checkpoints at local schools, farms and the Memorial Ground to mark the cards of all competitors, who range from the keen individual racers to entire family groups.
Spring Clean
For the last four years members of the public have supported the Parish Council in their Annual Spring Clean to smarten the village up after the ravages of the winter and to supplement the work of others involved in the upkeep of the village.
It is held in March when litter is most visible just before the grass starts growing. Individuals, groups and families take on litter collecting, cutting back vegetation, leaf sweeping and general tidying up. Wealden District Council is very supportive of our efforts in providing manpower and a road sweeping vehicle as well as most of the equipment. Together we have made a big difference and on every Spring Clean day there are new faces as well as stalwarts who come every year. In 2008 the Spring Clean was held in the morning of Saturday 15th March.
Sport in Forest Row
Sport in Forest Row is based around the new Memorial Pavilion at the top of Chapel Lane.
The Pavilion was formally opened by Sean Yates on 27th June 2004 when the facilities were first available for inspection by the public attending a Fete on the sports ground to mark the occasion. A match against an Old England Cricket XI was the highlight of a Cricket Festival also held to mark the opening.
Currently there are four clubs using the facilities available:
Forest Row Association Football Club
Forest Row Cricket Club
Forest Row Junior Football Club
Forest Row Lawn Tennis Club
If you are interested in joining or supporting any of the above-mentioned contact details can be found on the Useful Information on Local services and Organisations of this site.
Facilities available are modern changing rooms on the Ground Floor together with a small kiosk and facilities for a shower and toilet for the disabled and on the Upper Floor, a balcony overlooking the playing field, a social area which will accommodate 60 guests and a fully stocked kitchen and bar.
Facilities available are modern changing rooms on the Ground Floor together with a small kiosk and facilities for a shower and toilet for the disabled and on the Upper Floor, a balcony overlooking the playing field, a social area which will accommodate 60 guests and a fully stocked kitchen and bar.
These facilities are all available for hire by the general public whenever matches are not been played.
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Rebuilding the Memorial Pavilion
The old pavilion burned down on 19 July 1998 and within 10 weeks the new Association was formed and became a registered charity the following year. By the end of November 1998 the 1st project brief for a new pavilion was finalised with a completion date of June 2000, in time for the Millennium Festival. Application for planning consent was made using scheme 2A at the end of February 1999, and Project and Business Plans prepared for a Sport England Lottery Grant application in May for £240K out of a total projected cost of £400k, including VAT.
With much persuasion, Wealden DC gave planning approval in September but the lottery application was turned down in November 1999. The Association set about raising additional funds of £85k and getting a 21-year licence from the Conservators (previously 10 years) to enable a 2nd lottery application to be made in December 2000. By this time the application procedure had changed and new documents were required. In early 2001, Rydon Group and the Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club approached the Association about expanding the pavilion to enable the West Golf course to be operated from the pavilion, instead of the local hotel – the hotel was to be demolished and apartments built.
This led to the withdrawal of the 2nd lottery application, a redesign of the pavilion with the additional costs being funded by Rydon Group. The 2nd planning application made in June 2001 and the 3rd lottery application made at the end of August 2001, again using another revised procedure. After much discussion over car parking issues, planning consent was finally given in March 2002. However, the problem of integrating a members’ golf club with the aims and objectives and requirements of Sport England Lottery Fund were underestimated, with both the Club and the Association wishing to ensure they had full control over their use of the pavilion. The Golf Club finally withdrew from the discussions in May 2002. 
This led to a 3rd planning application in July 2002 with subsequent approval 2 months later, while fortunately the lottery application was held open at the well advanced Stage 2 position. Tenders were sent out to 3 local companies but tender assessment showed building costs had increased significantly again and there was a funding shortfall of £85k. The Association agreed it could raise a further £25k and the Rydon Group was asked if it could help bridge the gap. Rydon Group agreed to do so and build the pavilion, making cost savings in the mechanical and heating designs. With this agreement and the provision of all the very detailed information needed to support stage 2 of the lottery application, a Sport England grant of £366k was awarded to the Association in March 2003 against a total project cost of nearly £750k. What a relief!
Rydon started site work in April 2003 with completion expected in December 2003. The building was dedicated by the Bishop of Horsham in November 2003 and handed over to the Association in March 2004 and formerly opened in June 2004.
