News
Don’t miss the deadline for £2.6 million of support for Wealden businesses
Wealden businesses that were not eligible for Covid-19 Small Business or Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grants have until Friday 19 June to apply for the Council’s new Discretionary Business Grant. This support is geared towards helping small businesses not eligible for other support because they do not pay business rates. Typical enterprises which can be... Read more
15th June
New hope for help for small businesses in Rother
Many businesses like B&Bs, holiday lets and micro businesses have failed to qualify for any of the government help made available to others. This has impacted on these small businesses, who often operate with quite precarious finances; or for whom the income generated serves as a retirement income, or vital additional income to supplement other... Read more
11th June
New rural crime team to be operated out of Heathfield
Good news for our rural community – Sussex Police has launched a new rural crime team, whose overall aim, is to crack down on unlawful behaviour in isolated communities. The team was launched on Monday June 1st, and has been made possible with the precept increase, as acquired by Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy... Read more
3rd June
Army Cadet Force receives Queen’s Award while cadets find ways to cope with lockdown
Sussex Army Cadet Force (ACF) has today been given the distinction of being awarded with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS). The QAVS is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities by their volunteers. It was created in 2002 to... Read more
2nd June
More retailers to reopen shortly, in and around Heathfield
Heathfield High Street has recently seen several stores reopen in the last week, Trading4U and the Heathfield Ironmongers are two of note. The newly published government list has now opened the way for many more to reopen after June 15th. Shops will all be subject to social distancing rules and will incorporate protective measures to... Read more
26th May
Churches Together set up a community support service in Heathfield
Churches Together in Heathfield have set up a Coronavirus support service called Happy to Help, and have taken more than 230 calls since starting. Callers ringing the Happy to Help hotline are matched with a church volunteer. Volunteers have been busy picking up prescriptions, running errands and getting shopping for people who are self-isolating. Church... Read more
24th May
Riding challenge reins in more than £1,000 for charity
A six-year-old schoolgirl has amazed her family, friends, classmates and the local community by using her riding skills to raise money for the NHS. With her business being under ‘lock down’ and far too many horses and ponies to be exercised by one person at Ghyll Park Equestrian, owner Sally Ann Dale came up with... Read more
22nd May
Care home manager was “overwhelmed with help” after coronavirus took hold
The manager of a Horam care home says she has been overwhelmed by support from the public when COVID 19 struck. In an exclusive interview with The Heathfield News, Cynthia Viloria spoke of the huge sense of loss following the death of seven residents of Millcroft Care Home in Vines Cross Road. Three members of... Read more
15th May
#englishwinenight kicks off in the South East this Friday
We are lucky enough to be surrounded by excellent vineyards, and lockdown has given many of us the opportunity to explore these delicious wines, made right on our doorstep. In a response to this surge of support #EnglishWineNight was launched with the aim of bringing this new community of wine lovers together in Friday night... Read more
14th May
Wednesday sees several local businesses welcome customers back
After nearly two months of being closed, Trading4U owner Chris Macklin opened his doors to customers on Wednesday morning. Chris said: “I’ve had lots of calls from people asking when we will be reopening which was nice. “I was really keen to open but we needed to make sure everything was safe and secure for... Read more
13th May
Time to get your entries in, as the Heathfield Show goes virtual
One of the area’s biggest and most well-attended events would normally be just around the corner, the showground at Tottingworth Farm would be sporting marquees, show arenas and trade stands in preparation for The Heathfield Show at the end of May. But sadly, not his year. Along with a great many events affected by the... Read more
13th May
Tennis club starts fundraising to improve facilities
Cross in Hand Tennis Club has launched a campaign to raise funds for improvements and take the first steps towards becoming a local centre of excellence for the sport. Immediate plans include replacing three of the club’s astro courts, which were old and slippery, and laying three all-weather, state-of-the-art, artificial-clay courts. After several years of... Read more
11th May
Schoolgirl is Irish dancing around Heathfield to raise money for the NHS
Alice, aged 10, and a Y5 pupil at Punnetts Town Comunity Primary School, is fundraising money for the NHS. She is a regular competitor at the national Irish Dancing Feis competitions, and has several medals and trophies on her mantelpiece. “I saw that the NHS needed more equipment to help poorly people, which gave me... Read more
5th May
Heathfield trampoline park could close without Government support
A Heathfield business which is one of the largest employers in the town is facing an uncertain future due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Urban Jump Trampoline Park, on Ghyll Road Industrial Estate, was formally closed on 23rd March in line with the UK Government mandate. Because the park is so large and its ‘rateable value’... Read more
4th May
Firefighters express concern over inconsiderate bonfires during pandemic
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is asking members of the public to consider their neighbours’ health and urging them to not light bonfires. With the majority of people at home all day, garden bonfires are becoming more common. However burning garden waste can mean smoke drifts into other people’s gardens and homes. People also... Read more
30th April
Heathfield Community College en route to Ofsted ‘outstanding’
Heathfield Community College is feeling optimistic – they have a real sense that making Ofsted ‘outstanding’ is within their grasp. The college was inspected just before the school closures, when parents, pupils and teachers lives were turned upside down. The results were delayed and although Ofsted are not publishing reports on their website until schools... Read more
29th April
What to do if you have a dental emergency
During the pandemic, all Dental Surgeries are closed. Dentistry requires a very special sort of PPE, because of the aerosol generating nature of treatment, and there would appear to be a shortage of this type of PPE. But this is of no consolation to anyone wih a dental emergency. The Dental practices we called, were... Read more
23rd April
Local community comes together to support key workers and the NHS
Businesses and individuals around the Heathfield area are using their spare time to find ways to help support those working on the front line. The Heathfield News has been made aware of many initiatives, and there are some included below. Most would be grateful for more support, so please go ahead and volunteer or donate... Read more
20th April
Guy is king of the castle during lockdown
It’s the time of year when Herstmonceux Castle and Grounds are at their most colourful with displays of daffodils, tulips, magnolias and primroses. Normally there would be hundreds of visitors walking around the estate, people attending special events like Easter egg hunts and others enjoying the tearoom and tours of the castle. But as a... Read more
15th April
Award winning wine importer launches delivery service for Heathfield area
Mayfield based, Las Bodegas, is the UK’s leading importer of wines from South America. They also stock an impressive selection of wines from Spain and France. Normally, they supply exclusively to independent wine shops and restaurant trade customers; but the recent crisis, which has seen restaurants closed, has challenged the business to think about a... Read more
15th April
New rules for funerals during pandemic must be followed
Restrictions and guidance on gatherings are having a huge impact on the way funerals can be conducted – presenting both emotional and logistical challenges for mourners, funeral directors and funeral venues. Jeremy Field, Managing Director of CPJ Field, explains: “Funerals are about giving people emotional and physical support and the new rules are incompatible with... Read more
14th April
Alice makes plea to the public after grandfather’s death
The devastated granddaughter of a 77-year old man who died recently of coronavirus says she is determined to make more people aware of the seriousness of the disease following her loss. Alice Tripp’s grandfather Alan Varney, who lived in Brighton, was self isolating and healthy when he had a fall at his home which resulted... Read more
11th April
Cuckoo Hair talk about coping with the salon closure and the challenges ahead
“The day we closed the salon was one of the most devastating moments we have ever had to experience. It was heartbreaking. After having worked so hard to build up the business, we were in shock at having to put it on pause; plus the challenge and responsibility of trying to look after the brilliant... Read more
9th April
Foodbank service to launch for Heathfield and nearby villages
A Burwash Common woman has been recognised for her efforts to help the local community. Jilly Wingfield, a Co-op Member Pioneer for Heathfield and Horam, was awarded a certificate for her work in the community. She is currently helping to set up a foodbank in Heathfield, under the umbrella of the Hailsham Foodbank, which will... Read more
8th April
The Great Out-tours goes indoors and online
Popular, nature inspired, educational business The Great Out-tours www.thegreatout-tours.com was recently shaken by the closing down of all schools, and the cancelling of all after school club activities. Always one to rise to a challenge, Founder, John Brooksbank has sprung into action and over the past two weeks has worked long days and nights to... Read more
7th April
Heathfield solicitors busy with enquiries during pandemic
While many businesses in the Heathfield area have been busy moving to delivery or on-line business models, the town’s solicitors have been quietly working to keep people’s legal paperwork flowing. With solicitors who carry out will writing being designated as key workers, Hughes Solicitors has been finding ways to make sure the team can continue... Read more
7th April
Wealden announces COVID-19 Financial support for businesses
Many local businesses both large and small are struggling during this extreem period of lockdown, and social distancing. While some businesses have been able to move online or into a takeaway or delivery model, some just don’t have that option. Either way, the impact on business is enormous and will only increase over the coming... Read more
1st April
Volunteer to help support your community
As part of the national effort to support vulnerable people in self-isolation, Wealden District Council is asking for volunteers to help as we all work to limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus. “We are working with the volunteer organisation 3VA to identify residents who are able to help reach out to self-isolating households either... Read more
31st March
Farmers urge walkers to follow the Countryside Code
The Country Land and Business Association is reiterating Government calls to limit outdoor exercise to once a day in addition to practising social distancing and, when they do so in the countryside, respect the Countryside Code which helps to protect British landscapes as well as farmers and those living there. The CLA which represents 30,000... Read more
27th March
Corona virus causes unavoidable delay in anyone’s plans to buy or sell a property
There doesn’t seem to be a business untouched by the Corona Virus, and the business of buying and selling homes is no exception. For anyone who has already exchanged with a completion date, the sale can go through and the move take place. But for anyone who is not at that stage, the sale is... Read more
25th March
More shop closures and how ‘staying at home’ will impact on your life
Last night’s announcement has extended the shops and services that need to stay closed. While it is clear that food shops, chemists and essential services can continue, there are plenty of grey areas. We will attempt to clarify some but be aware that this is an ever changing situation. All but essential shops and services... Read more
24th March
Local businesses get creative in a crisis
No one can have missed the unprecedented distruption to everyday life wrought by the Corona Virus as it causes schools to be shut, events to be cancelled, pubs and restaurants and many shops closed, and daily life as we know it to cease. Living in a rural community brings us benefits like fresh air and... Read more
23rd March
Heathfield show postponed, rescheduled for 2021
The Heathfield & District Agricultural Show Society Council have announced with sadness that the 2020 Heathfield Show has been cancelled. The Show Council has taken into consideration all the Government instructions relating to the virus and has come to the conclusion that there is no option other than to cancel. The Show Secretary, Nicola Magill... Read more
19th March
Heathfield Vets wins apprenticeship award from Plumpton College
A veterinary practice in Heathfield has won major recognition for its apprenticeship programme. Heathfield Vets in Hailsham Road recently scooped Plumpton College’s Veterinary Nurse Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Awards beating all of the practices in the area that the college takes students from. With around 100 nursing students studying through the college, winning the... Read more
18th March
Disappointment for Broad Oak School
The parents, teachers, governors and local community have been campaigning hard since last June 2019 to fight the closure of their beloved school – Broad Oak Community Primary School, Broad Oak, East Sussex. Originally, the closure was announced last year, with a consultation period to follow. The Support Broad Oak School group was formed, and... Read more
13th March
Budget headlines from Cranwell Wealth Solutions
This week the Chancellor gave his first budget since the UK left the European Union. There were many announcements made and here Cranwell Wealth Solutions of Uckfield and Heathfield summarises some of the key points: The economy is predicted to grow by 1.1% this year, revised down from 1.4% a year ago. This figure does... Read more
12th March
Why interest rates were cut – Stephen Palmer of Cranwell Wealth Solutions explains
Today Mark Carney, The Governor of the Bank of England, announced a 0.5% drop in interest rates from 0.75% down to a record low of just 0.25%. Stephen Palmer, founder of Cranwell Wealth Solutions, a wealth management company with high street offices in both Heathfield and Uckfield explains what this means and how savers can... Read more
11th March
Local businesses scoop National Rural Business Awards
Horam based outdoor education business The Great Out-tours has beaten a raft of excellent businesses to win ‘The Best UK Rural Professional Services Business Award’. The award was presented at a glittering Rural Business Awards ceremony, hosted in Manchester, last Friday 28 February. The organisers describe the award as a celebration of any professional service business... Read more
3rd March
Kick start your business with this chance to win a free stand at The Heathfield Show
A chance to win a stand in The New Enterprise Zone The Heathfield & District Agricultural Show has been a celebration of agriculture and business in the area for 73 years. In 2019 the Show won the award for the Best Agricultural Event in the South East. The organisers are offering new businesses the opportunity to... Read more
28th February
Heathfield students self-isolated as a precaution over Corona virus concerns
We understand from HCC that four students have been advised to self-isolate due to the location of their half term holiday. The school does not have any sense, at this stage, that any member of the school community has a diagnosis of concern. They remain in communication with the families who will keep the school... Read more
28th February
Heathfield pupils enjoy a collision between rap and poetry
Just before half term the Heathfield Community College was fortunate to have a visit from Karl Nova, a Performance Poet who has written an award winning Poetry book called Rhythm and Poetry. Karl gave a presentation to the Year 8 students providing them with a background into why he went into making rap music and... Read more
26th February
Katie’s CrossFit success at European Championships
Last weekend Katie Hickling was joined by a number of Isenhurst gym members, who clubbed together to support her in a major CrossFit competition. They were blown away by her mental and physical performance as she competed in the Finals of this year’s The European Championships, which she qualified for a couple of months ago. Katie... Read more
25th February
New Heathfield Tavern team celebrates first birthday with special event
A pub in Station Road has become one of Heathfield’s most popular eating spots since it was taken over a year ago. The new team has worked hard to establish a range of events and special offers on different days of the week and host special celebrations such as a New Year’s Eve party. Reviews... Read more
19th February
Kyan’s mission to improve hospital wards for children
A mother from Cross in Hand says she is overwhelmed by the response after starting a fundraiser called ‘Kyan’s Kipling Make Over Mission’ to decorate the Hastings hospital ward where her son gets treatment. In just a two weeks Lia Higgs’ £4,000 target has been smashed and the fund that will transform parts of Kipling... Read more
18th February
Beware of rogue traders – storm-hit homeowners told
RESIDENTS are being warned not to fall foul of rogue traders as they count the cost of damage caused by severe storms. Fraudsters have already been reportedly posing as East Sussex Highways staff across the county, offering to carry out repairs and remove fallen trees for cash following Storm Ciara. With Storm Dennis having caused... Read more
18th February
MPs and local councillors push for A21 to be a dual carriageway
Anyone using the A21 to get to the M25, will know the trials of being stuck behind slow vehicles on some of the single lane sections. The alternative route via the Ashdown Forest isn’t any easier. Inconvenience aside, the economy of the whole region suffers from lack of infrastructure, especially Hastings. Members of the A21... Read more
13th February
Exciting start to 2020 for The Great Out-tours
Horam based, outdoor education and pioneering franchise business, The Great Out-tours has made it to the National Final of the Rural Business Awards, which takes place on 27 February 2020 in Manchester. The business represents the South East in the Best Rural Services Business category, competing against five other businesses. Many parents in East Sussex... Read more
11th February
Worried about rural transport? Get in touch with local MP Huw, the newly elected Chair of Transport Select Committee
Last week the Bexhill and Battle MP, Huw Merriman, was elected as Chairman of the Transport Select Committee in the House of Commons in a contest voted on by the 650 MPs across all political parties. With transport and infrastructure being a hot topic at the moment, brought to the forefront in our community with... Read more
5th February
Heathfield host #StandTogether Holocaust Memorial Day programme
The 27th January 2020 marked the 75th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. To mark the occasion, the Heathfield Community College has planned a series of events for students and the wider community to take part in for greater knowledge, understanding and reflection. Most notably, on Monday 3rd February, Heathfield Community College hosted an event... Read more
4th February
New offices fit for the future of successful law firm
Around 200 clients, staff, suppliers, friends and partners gathered at Hughes Solicitors’ new offices in Heathfield High Street for a stylish ‘office warming’. The celebration marked the completion of a major refurbishment which involved turning the former NatWest Bank into the headquarters and offices for the law firm and its 19-strong team. With the growth... Read more
3rd February