Next Meet:
Our next scheduled meet will be held on Sunday 24th March 2024 at 09.30 (thirty minutes past 9).
Scroll down to the end of this post for more details concerning future meets:
Dates for 2024
Old Covid-19 notes:
Group members will be informed of the latest HDC Covid-19 instructions for conservation volunteers before the meet if there are any changes.
NOTE that the current instructions are still those issued to us on 19th July 2021.
Our latest meet was held on Sunday 17th December 2023 following the latest rules for the 'post Lockdown' provided by HDC as for December 2021.
Past Lockdown history which affected the Group work:
Lockdown Easing commenced on 8th March allowing two people to meet outside for recreation, allowing small tasks to be carried out safely, as well as litter-picking, in socially distanced pairs.
Further easing commenced on 29th March 2021, with up to 6 individuals or 2 households taking part in outside spaces.
Our March Meet on Sunday 28th March 2021 went ahead, observing current rules.
On 26th February 2021 the rules for the strict National Lockdown 3 still applied unchanged:
it was decided to 'suspend all volunteering activity until further notice'
The only exception was litter-picking for those who wanted to take their litter-picking tools with them during their daily exercise - in line with government guidelines'
(Please wear gloves)
Our Meet on 31st January 2021was postponed.
Previous instructions were:
The whole of Sussex is placed in Tier 4 from 26th December 2020.
All HDC Parks and Countryside Volunteer activities are suspended until further guidance is provided - possibly on the 4th January 2021, with revised protocol and Risk Assessments
Below is the Corvid-19 history 2020:
Horsham District Council took the decision to postpone all practical conservation volunteering on HDC parks and open spaces until the end of May 2020.
Our Meets on March 29th, April 26th and May 31st were
therefore postponed.
Restrictions were then partially lifted and we were able to hold an extra Meet on Sunday 14th June. This was very successful with 6 bags of litter and rubbish collected. Subsequent scheduled meets went ahead as usual but adhering to the current protocol for HDC conservation volunteers.
The last meet of the year was on Sunday 20th December 2020 when restrictions according to Tier 2 were applied.
Restrictions were then partially lifted and we were able to hold an extra Meet on Sunday 14th June. This was very successful with 6 bags of litter and rubbish collected. Subsequent scheduled meets went ahead as usual but adhering to the current protocol for HDC conservation volunteers.
The last meet of the year was on Sunday 20th December 2020 when restrictions according to Tier 2 were applied.
Our November scheduled Meet was on Sunday 29th November 2020 but at the time specific restrictions applied where group working was not permitted. Each person carried out their own (litter-picking only) task.
From 2nd December West Sussex was working within Tier 2 and we were supplied with updated protocol documents. This was updated to Tier 4 on 26th December 2020.
Please see top of page.
The list of scheduled dates for 2024 is towards the end of this page.
for normal meets -
WHERE DO WE MEET?
We start out from the entrance path near the Tanbridge House School footbridge off Hills Farm Lane at 09.30, usually on the last Sunday in each month see dates for 2023 below:
(if you live in the Ridgehurst Drive and Deer Way area you can start from the Arun river road bridge once supplied with equipment).
Please come to The Tanbridge House School footbridge area first if you are interested in joining the group.
We finish before lunch and the HDC Countryside and Parks Rangers collect our 'haul' which is usually placed close to where we meet.
We provide all necessary equipment, including gloves.
(if you live in the Ridgehurst Drive and Deer Way area you can start from the Arun river road bridge once supplied with equipment).
Please come to The Tanbridge House School footbridge area first if you are interested in joining the group.
We finish before lunch and the HDC Countryside and Parks Rangers collect our 'haul' which is usually placed close to where we meet.
We provide all necessary equipment, including gloves.
Even if you can only spare an hour and cannot come every month, it all makes a difference!
WHEN?
next scheduled meet:
SUNDAY 24th March 2024
WHAT?
please click on the 'TO DO' heading at top
Gatekeeper butterfly basking on brambles on the riverside walk
Our previous Meet was on Sunday 25th February 2024
Sunday mornings at 09.30
DATES FOR 2024:
Sundays:
28th January
25th February
24th March
28th April
19th May
30th June
28th July
18th August
29th September
27th October
24th November
22nd or 15th December
Volunteers -
if you are interested in volunteering please just come to the next Meet at the time and place shown above - we'll be happy to talk to you and answer any questions you have about joining.
Members are sent an Activity Report after each Meet, by email or by post and we hope to produce a short Newsletter each season. Members can also read a 'Hills Farm Wildlife' report for each month on line (click on the title) and are sent an update on the 'West of Horsham, East of the A24' development (Highwood) every few weeks.
