At our Annual Village Meeting we presented the Ardingly Parish Council Community Award. The nominations, together with details of this year’s winner, are featured here. Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a nomination recognising individuals who have made a meaningful contribution to village life. Every nomination reflects the appreciation our community has for the time, care and effort so many people quietly give to Ardingly. 

We hope these awards not only recognise and thank those who contribute to village life, but also celebrate the many different ways, both large and small, that residents help support our community. Reading through the nominations gives a fuller sense of how every contribution helps shape and strengthen village life in Ardingly. 

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund for generously supporting the works now fully underway to create Hapstead Garden. While we appreciate that the current disruption and mess can at times be inconvenient, we are hopeful the project will be completed in the coming months. 

The vision for Hapstead Garden is for it to become a welcoming community hub: a place to meet, pause and find out what is happening across the village. A new Parish Council noticeboard is currently being commissioned and will include a dedicated community space for residents and local groups to share activities, events and information. 

We would also like to welcome Councillor Mel Winn, our newly elected West Sussex County Councillor representing the Reform Party. She is due to attend our Village Meeting and we very much look forward to meeting and working with her in the future. –

Finally, for those unable to attend, a summary can be found here, including presentations from the South of England Agricultural Society and Ardingly College, together with an introduction from Mel Winn. 

As the year continues, and spring finally begins to catch up with us, we look forward to seeing these projects develop and to continuing to work together in support of Ardingly. 

Margaret Meldrum (Chair)

We would like to begin this month’s update with a heartfelt thank you to Rev. Crutchley and Sally, who will soon be retiring. Their dedication, care, and countless contributions to village life over the years have made a lasting impact on our community. We are extremely grateful for all they have done and wish them both a long, happy, and welldeserved retirement. 

Please note that the date of the Annual Parish Meeting has been revised and will now take place on 20th May at Hapstead Hall. Doors will open at 6:30 pm and presentations from the Parish Council and local speakers will be made starting at 7 pm. We warmly encourage everyone to attend. It is a great opportunity to hear about the Parish Council’s priorities for the coming year, as well as to reflect on the achievements and progress made over the past 12 months. 

We currently have an allotment available. If you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, please contact the Parish Clerk for further details. 

We are also delighted to share that the new swings and climbing frame have now been successfully installed. These were made possible thanks to the hard work and generosity of the Ardingly Rambling Dads, and they are already being enjoyed by local families. Our sincere thanks go to all involved. 

To further encourage use of the playground, the multi-sport courts are currently being left open. A booking system is available here, where you can register to reserve the space, although informal use is also very welcome. We hope this approach will increase access and enjoyment, particularly in the warmer weather, and encourage everyone to get outside and stay active. 

Finally, we are pleased to announce that work will soon begin on Hapstead Garden. We look forward to seeing this project take shape and to sharing updates in the coming months. 

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. 

Margaret Meldrum (Chair)

Summer Update from the Parish Council

We are delighted to announce that this year’s Ardingly Parish Council Community Award has been presented to Deb Ruse, in recognition of her long-standing and valued contribution to village life. Her dedication and quiet commitment over many years have made a real difference to the community, and we extend our warm congratulations and thanks. All presentations from the Parish Council Annual Meeting are available on our website: www.ardingly.org.

Progress is also continuing on the development next to Hapstead Hall, which is now taking shape with pergolas, generously donated by Wakehurst, landscaping done by Garden Unit and a new name agreed for the site: Hapstead Green. This change reflects a deeper appreciation of the area’s local heritage.

Hapstead Green is the historic local name associated with the wider area within which Hapstead Hall was constructed, once extending across what is now the High Street and beyond. The earliest detailed map, commissioned by Lydell of Wakehurst, indicates a broad area identified as Hapstead Green. The 1841 Tithe Map shows this area as narrower than on earlier mapping, reflecting subsequent development on the east side, and with further development the name became largely limited to the road itself. The new naming therefore reflects this long-standing local identity and helps preserve an important part of the village’s history.

Looking ahead, we are pleased to highlight Village Day on 11 July, and hope as many residents as possible will come along and take part. There will be lots of activities across the village for everyone to enjoy. The Parish Council has organised activities at the Recreation Ground including activities for older children at the basketball hoop from 10:30am–12:30pm – Ross Grillo’s basketball and DJ session. For younger children, from 1:30pm onwards and in line with the St Peter’s Primary School Summer Fete, there will be Tiny Tekkers on the multi-sport courts leading football and other activities.

We wish everyone a very happy and restful summer.