Bring your favourite teddy for half term fun at Cats Protection!

If you go down to the woods today – be sure to bring your favourite teddy for a special picnic in the woods at Cats Protection's National Cat Centre in Sussex.


The charity's Visitor Centre, in Chelwood Gate, will be holding its Half Term Teddy Bear's Picnic on Wednesday, 29 May and everyone is invited to join in the fun.

Every child will receive a picnic box and can have their face painted before setting off for a bear hunt and picnic in the enchanting Nature Trail, with its unique flock of Hebridean sheep and secret fairy ring!

The fun starts at 2pm and costs £3 per child, including a free picnic box. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Visitor Centre Officer at Cats Protection Dee McDonald said: "Our Nature Trail is part of the Ashdown Forest, home of Winnie the Pooh, so there's no better place for a magical Teddy Bear's Picnic! We're looking forward to welcoming our little guests for an afternoon of fun and exploring so bring your picnic blanket and don't forget teddy!"

To book a place, please call 01825 741 370 or email visitor.centre@cats.org.uk

Open seven days a week, Cats Protection's National Cat Centre, set in the heart of the Ashdown Forest, is a great day out for all the family.

Entry is free and visitors are welcome to explore the Nature Trail, relax by the tranquil lake, enjoy freshly prepared lunches, cakes and afternoon teas in the cafe and browse the gift shop.

The site is also home to the National Cat Adoption Centre, the largest centre of its kind which rehomes over 1,000 unwanted and abandoned cats every year. Visitors are always welcome to come and say hello to the cats!

The National Cat Centre is situated in Chelwood Gate, on the A275 between Wych Cross and Danehill. To find the centre using a SatNav, please use the postcode RH17 7DE or for a map and directions please visit www.cats.org.uk/find-us/find-the-ncc

Adrian Cox Quartet – Jazz star returns home for Burgess Hill Festival

Adrian Cox was born and raised in Burgess Hill. He has earned a deserved reputation as a skilled jazz sax and clarinet player to which he has now added easy jazz vocals. A leading light in the jazz scene, Adrian is marking the launch of his first major album with a return to his home town and with his new quartet which he formed last year.

Adrian has been working as a professional musician for over 15 years. He has toured and recorded with bands such as TJ Johnson, Paloma Faith and has recently returned from a three month world tour with two tone 80's legends, Bad Manners.

The Adrian Cox Quartet plays a heavy mix of energetic jazz and swing. In addition to Adrian, it includes is completed three more of the UK's leading jazz Musicians: Nils Solberg ( guitar ) has performed at top West End venues the Royal Albert Hall and the Kremlin; George Trebar ( double bass ), is a highly regarded musician who has performed at major international jazz festivals. George is a leading exponent of gypsy jazz and Mez Clough ( drums ) is based in London and performs at many of London’s leading jazz venues, including Ronnie Scott’s. With a varied program from Benny Goodman to Ben Webster, Ed Hall to Jonny Hodges, they are entertaining large crowds wherever they play.

The evening is part of the Burgess Hill Community Festival and is on Friday 7th June (starting at 8.00pm) in the Martlets Hall, Burgess Hill. Tickets cost £10.00 (£8.50 concessions) and are available online at www.freedom-leisure.co.uk or call 01444 242888.

With a new album out, be sure to not miss an evening which promises to deliver five star entertainment.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Robert Eggleston (promoter)
Snowdrop Music
0794 779 2033

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Sam Jenkins - Hatha Flow Yoga

Sam Jenkins from Hatha Flow is delighted to add a further date to her weekly Yoga sessions on Wednesdays at 8pm at the newly opened The Wild Dove in Hassocks from 12th June. For more details 07922 060331

Residents select new adventure playground

East Grinstead residents have helped to choose some new playground equipment for Mount Noddy Recreation Ground. Local people have backed Council plans to introduce a series of rope bridges and swings that will add a new element of adventure to the park.

Mid Sussex District Council is keen to improve and expand the range of play equipment on offer at Mount Noddy and asked local people what they would like to see installed. The Council carried out a public consultation to gather local opinion and the vast majority residents opted for some new adventure playground equipment.

Under the agreed plans, the new equipment will link together to form an adventure trail that passes over grass mounds and ends with a Tarzan swing. Netting and rope bridges will test the balance of local youngsters and they will be able to use stepping stones to move from one piece of equipment to the next without touching the floor.

The new play equipment will be installed alongside the roundabout, slides, springers and swings that are already in place at the playground. There will also be a new seating area at the base of a tree to give parents another place to relax while their children play.

The Council has listened carefully to the comments of local people to make sure that residents get exactly what they want from the new and improved playground. During the consultation local people said they would miss a large timber unit that is being replaced by the new equipment because the monkey bars were popular with the children. The Council took the feedback on-board and has arranged for some extra monkey bars to be installed as part of the new scheme.

Outdoor gym equipment will also be added at the recreation ground, helping East Grinstead residents to stay fit and active. A mix of machines will be installed that are designed to help local people increase strength and improve fitness. The open air gym equipment is free to use, is safe for people of all ages and will give local people a new way to take regular exercise in the fresh air.

The public consultation was open to everybody but the Council also took the time to contact a number of key community groups to ask for their views. Local Town and District Councillors, neighbours of the playground, Sussex Police and regular hirers of the pavilion on site, were all approached to have their say.

“I would like to thank all the local children and parents who took the time to respond to our consultation and let us know what sort of play equipment they would like to see in their local park,” said Councillor Pru Moore, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sustainability. “We have an exciting opportunity here to create a fantastic play space for the local community and feedback from local people helps us to give them what they want.

“Residents have said that they would like some adventure playground equipment to be installed so that’s what we will do. Work is now likely to start on site in the next few months and, all being well, local children should be playing with the new equipment later in the year”.

For more information about parks and playgrounds in Mid Sussex visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/openspaces.