HurstSoc

30/05/2026

Hurstpierpont Society AGM 2026

HSoc Members that Love Hurst? Then this is your meeting.

From protecting the character of our High Street to monitoring major planning proposals and supporting local projects, the Hurstpierpoint Society works year-round on issues that affect us all.

Your newsletter will be through your door this week. You'll see what we've achieved, possibly what's coming next. If you can help us try to ensure Hurst remains a village we're proud to call home, please return your forms in the newsletter. Let us know your concerns and if you can, come and join us at our AGM where members are welcome.

📅 2.30pm Sat 27 June 2026�
📍 Village Centre�🔗
Details below: AGM 2026 Information

Respect the Past. Embrace the Future.

All members are invited to the AGM, on Saturday 27th June at 2.30 pm in the Club Suite, Village Centre. The Agenda, Minutes of the 2025 AGM and the Accounts 2025 are available here: HS AGM 2026 Agenda – Minutes & Accounts 2025 The Society’s 2026 Conservation and Design Awards for 2025 will be pr...

18/05/2026

Latest studies have recorded a significant annual increase in the barn owl population across our large Mid Sussex conservation area... a heart-warming success story driven in no small part by the dedicated work of our The Woodland, Flora & Fauna Group through habitat nurturing, monitoring, recording and ringing.

However, this progress now faces a serious threat.

Under the current District Plan proposals, a substantial section of this vital conservation area could be lost. The outlook for these young owls - like the lovely youngster whom our very own Michael Nailard tagged and recorded a couple of days ago - is deeply concerning. Large areas of the habitat they rely on for hunting, breeding and survival may disappear from the heart of the countryside they call home.

Fragmented hunting ranges mean less access to food, while the breaking up of breeding territories threatens the stability of the population we have worked so hard to support. The impact on the long-term survival of barn owls in our area could be severe.

This is not just about development...it is about protecting a fragile and flourishing ecosystem before irreversible damage is done.

07/05/2026

Calling all artists, story-tellers, scholars, land-workers and policy-makers!

Join the gathering at the University of Sussex to share work and ideas at a creative conference, Sussex Retold: Sounds, Sites, Stories, on Friday, 19 June 2026.

Register HERE:
https://onlineshop.sussex.ac.uk/product-catalogue/conference-seminars/school-of-media-arts-humanities/sussex-retold-sounds-sites-stories

The day offers a timely investigation into the diversity of Sussex heritage and how the past can be used for progressive futures.

Speakers will include Rawden, Cultural Heritage Lead for the South Downs National Park Authority; Azadeh, artist, writer and local cultural activist; Lucas, former MP and now Professor of Practice in Environmental Sustainability at the University; Bird, Director of Love Our Ouse; Drew, Knepp Wildlife Foundation Director and Charlie Cain, Trust Ranger, Saddlescombe Farm.

Also to savour will be stalls, walks and workshops (final line-up TBC), including:

• Dance displays by Brighton Morris (first formed at the University in 1967) who promote an inclusive approach to tradition
• ‘Prehistoric Sussex on a Plate’, with ancient food grains;
• Creative writing inspired by Neolithic ‘Whitehawk Woman’
• Singing together to ‘re-sound The Long Man of Wilmington’
• A walk to the students’ forest food garden via the campus rewilded patch.

09/04/2026

Have your say!

In May 2026, Sussex will elect its first-ever directly elected mayor. This mayor will lead a Mayoral Combined County Authority covering the whole of East Sussex, West Sussex, and Brighton & Hove to make strategic decisions on transport, housing, economic growth, public health, climate, and polic...

09/04/2026

We are CPRE, the countryside charity. Learn how we're working for a beautiful and thriving countryside that's accessible to everyone - and how to get involved.

30/03/2026

Our Chair, Lyn, wins vital recognition of the impact on Hurstpierpoint’s infrastructure - especially the traffic issues - as the strategic District Plan is properly examined at last!

See Hurst Society’s News...
https://hurstpierpointsociety.org.uk/2026/03/29/district-plan-examination-2021-2039-april-2026-update/

nowandthen

30/03/2026

Our Chairman wins vital recognition of the impact on Hurstpierpoint’s infrastructure, especially the traffic issues as the strategic District Plan is properly examined. See Hurst Society’s News.

In March our Chairman, Lyn Williams, attended the 3 week Government Examination of the District Plan. Below is a summary of it, and where to see the discussions , followed by the Inspector’s Comments and requirements to take the Plan forward to the next stage. Report of Discussions Regarding Impac...

19/03/2026

🎹 World Piano Day in Hurstpierpoint!

Saturday 28 March 2026

🎹 📍 The Village Garden (opposite Morley’s)

12–5pm 💛

Free & open to all

has joined forces with to present a special, free and inclusive event for our village as part of World Piano Day 2026.

Turn up on the day and play...Or simply come along and support from the benches

See our interactive Now&Then website for more:

https://now-and-then.hurstpierpointsociety.org.uk/high-street-north/?location=VillageGardenEvent&locationid=00-village-garden-event&side=location_north

25/02/2026

Have your say…👇

The Parish Council originally requested an extension to the 20mph zone to cover the roads around St Lawrence School.

Following a road safety assessment, West Sussex County Council has recommended extending the scheme to a much wider area due to the risks to pedestrians caused by significant on-street parking. The proposed area is shown by the broken red lines on the map.

A public consultation is now open and runs until 12 March 2026. It is important that local views are shared so there is clear evidence of community support.

You can view the proposal and submit comments online here:
https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/traffic-regulation-orders/live-consultations-for-permanent-tros/mid-sussex-live-tro-consultations/

Alternatively, you can email your comments to [email protected]
Please quote reference MDS8014-MM.

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to respond.

23/02/2026

*District planning news!*
We have submitted 3 new statements calling for clarity on local transport and infrastructure planning, as well as recognition of potential detrimental effects on Hurstpierpoint ...read more here:

https://hurstpierpointsociety.org.uk/2026/02/22/district-plan-examination-2021-2039-february-2026-update/