Green Space Action Team: Return to Beech Hurst Gardens

I HAVE HAD to miss a few sessions with the Green Space Team, due to training for the London Winter 10km and some of the locations being a little out of my area.   But today was a return to Beech Hurst Gardens, which is a place that I look forward to working on.

We meet up in the car park next to the Harvester Restaurant for the morning briefing.   Today was defining the border and weeding out the large area of garden by the side of the tennis courts.

I am not a great one for weeding, so picked up a shovel and started to redefine the border, once that was done I moved across to do some weeding and clearing out some the rubbish thrown into the bushes.

Working in Victoria Park quite a few weeks ago I was interested in the Hebes.   Not realising that the part had the largest selection of them in the UK, but the stock had deminished due to the large amount of brambles that had taken over.    After freeing the hebes I managed to get two, from the local garden centre, which are now in my garden (one of them about the flower).

The plant of the day was the Toadflax.   A beautiful and common plant of waste ground, grassland, roadside verges and hedgerows.   One of the aims of getting involved with the Green Space Team was improve my knowledge and practical skills.

My next stop of the morning was coffee and lunch with friends at Orange Square.

Community engagement is very rewarding and I would recommend it as a way to meet new people, get involved in local projects and enjoy being outside.

If you are interested in volunteering to help the Green Space Team, it's once a week on a Thursday between 10:00 and 12:00 (two hours).   You can emil them direct for more information and they will send out dates, times, and locations.   You only need to attend the ones you can, there is no pressure.

Email: rangers.midsussex@glendale-services.co.uk 

WSFRL: Chicken Run - Run 5

AS THE FIFTH run in the West Sussex Fun Run League got under way Haywards Heath Harriers were joint 1st on the leader board.   For this run there was a massive turn out of 50 athletes taking part from the club, once again aiming for maximum points trying to create a significant lead before the Harriers host their own run in the event, which they cannot get any points for.

Burgess Hill Runners usually have their run in Hassocks, just beneath the South Downs, but this year they arranged a change of venue, which prompted a change in name for the run along with it!

On the 19th April at Macs Organic Chicken Farm in Ditchling the run took place.   The route was across many of the fields on the farm and in some places the marshalls were trying to hold the chickens back, so that nobody could cry foul!

The route was quite complex and difficult to orientate with a few overlapping points on it.   Marshals were there to ensure the run was smooth and problem free as possible, especially as this was a new route for them, which means everybody gets a PB on the day.

Due to the number of people and routes being used by the athletes there was some confusion with runners going the wrong way.   I went past one marshal who was shouting, "I've sent them in the wrong direction".   This is a new route and there are bound to be some teething problems (they are rare like hens' teeth).   Also because of the complex nature of the course, nobody could leave until the last runner was across the finish line.   This gave everybody space to enjoy the day, find a drink, some cake and have a chat.   This was a great run and social event in the calendar as well.

There are a number of runs that I look forward to on the WSFRL calendar and this is going to be one of them.   I hope that Burgess Hill Runners use the venue again next year.   They will have sorted the teething problems out by then as well.

The big question now is where does this leave Haywards Heath Harriers in the leader board? 

 

WSFRL: Lewes 10km - Run 4

AS LEWES Athletics Club host the fourth run in the West Sussex Fun Run League the leader board couldn't be tighter.   Haywards Heath Harriers are holding joint second position, and looking to get into the top spot.    Lewes was that opportunity with their 10km trails run.

As usual the run is held on the Easter Bank Holiday Monday, starting at the Leisure Center on the athletics track and then moving down onto Ham Lane, under the A24 and then heading out around Lewes on the trails.

I have run this event a few times now and look forward to it.   The weather was beautiful as we were running on the flood planes, as Lewes used to be a port.   Previous runs it has been pretty wet and muddy, with a lot of chalk on the ground it creates a white mush, but not today.

I believe that the course goes across private land, that you cannot normally run, unless taking part in this event, which is the Ifold Estate.   Working around the course through woods and fields you route takes a turn through the picturesque village of Ifold as it then starts to go back towards Lewes again.

Haywards Heath Harriers were out in force to try and get maximum points for the run, including new members who were out for their first run.

WSFRL: Thakeham 5 miles - Run 3

RUN THREE IN the West Sussex Fun Run League 2026 took place in Thakeham on the 22nd March. Hosted by Fittleworth Flyers they promised a trails run around the village and they did not fail to deliver in any way.

The day started misty and overcast, but by the time the race was ready to start, the sun had come out and the weather was perfect for running.   I don't remember having run this race before and was looking forward to it.   I have looked through my old race bibs and couldn't find anything for Thakeham, so this was going to be a new run for me, which also means a course PB!

The journey to the venue put me late for the team photo (I am not in it), but I had time for a warm up and start of the race, so all was not lost.

This was a trails run in every sense of the word, working through fields and woods and an opportunity to just admire the countryside, whilst trying to figure out where you are in the race and concentrating on the runners in front of you.

The race was meant to be five miles (8km), it turned out to be a little bit further and it was great to get to the finish line.   There are a number of runs in the league that I look forward to, and this has scored highly as one I will look forward to running again.