the Hurst
Welcome to the Spring issue of The Hurst amidst what seems to be a hugely transformative and busy time for the village.
On a very positive note, after over a year without, the village has a new Vicar who will move into Hurst Green April
I’m sure we all look forward to welcoming Hugh Reid, together with his wife Francesca, and very much hope they enjoy living and working in our little community.
On a sadder note, it’s sad to see that the Royal George is closing as a pub at the end of March. Whilst apparently there are plans for it, orchestrated by the owner, no information is available as we go to press
Of course, the biggest topic of conversation and at times heated debate at the moment is the traffic light debacle. More about this beginning on page 4.
The Hurst magazine, it appears has been going for more than 120 years! By chance, Elaine
Ralph and her husband, who were putting away Christmas decorations, found a treasure-trove of a trunk in the vestry attic. In it was a bound book containing the first Hurst Green magazines dating from January 1902. You can see an early front cover and read more about it on page 6.
Of course, this magazine includes school, cricket club and more updates. But, interestingly, it also includes a piece about Wild about Etchingham and Hurst Green, celebrating the lovely countryside that we all live in and enjoy.
We hope you enjoy this issue. We’d love to receive feedback from you – particularly on topics that you feel we should be covering. Do get in touch – our contact details are below. And, in the meantime, have a wonderful and peaceful Easter and, fingers crossed, the weather improves too!
Editor: Francesca Wooldridge. thehurst.hg@gmail.com 07875 411876
Advertising: Allan Cheek. cheekallan@gmail.com
USEFUL CONTACTS
Allotment Association 01580 860251
Breakfast Club (75+) 01580 860760/860358
Brownies 01580 860742
Comedy Capers 01580 860221
Cricket Club 07796 976809
Holy Trinity Church 01580 880282
Hurst Green C of E School 01580 860375
Nursery School 01580 860375 x211
Parish Clerk 01580 860111
Rother District Council 01424 787000
Short Mat Bowling 01580 752348
Twinning Association 01580 860977
Village Hall Booking Agent 01580 860425
Walking Football 01435 882444
HELPFUL LOCAL SERVICES
Cars Mobile Car Mechanic: Cliff Mercer 07909 911869
Dogs Holiday and day care: Lorely Watson 01580
880061/07796 392653
Pippin’s Pet Sitting and walking: 07717 681972
Sarah.janeheasman@hotmail.co.uk
Eco-friendly products Joanna Girling 07443 411677 girling.joanna@gmail.com
Electricians Gareth Skinner 07929 839309
Tim Russell 07771 687636 trussell.5@btinternet.com
House Portraits Christine Masters Art 07833 342020
www.christinemastersart.wordpress.com
Leather repairs Kay Lloyd,Wealden Saddlery 01580 860860
Maths tuition Alec Whiteman 01580 861304
Plastering and tiling Edd Ripley, 07875 494493
Plumbers Aaron Plumbing & Heating LtdAaron Rowsell 01580 230330
Steve Walker 07564 405702
Private car hire and taxi service Hugo, 01435 883803 Mob. 07931 605057
If you would like to be included in this list please email thehurst.hg@gmail.com This is a free listing.
Hurst Green has a new Vicar
Hurst Green has a new Vicar
Hurst Green has a new Vicar appointed, which is amazing news for the village church! Hugh has sent a short introduction for us below. The church will announce the details of exactly when in April he arrives via facebook and the church website….
“My name is Hugh, and it’s my great joy to be able to come and serve you as your next parish priest.
I’m due to be licensed as Priest-in-Charge of the Benefice of Salehurst, Hurst Green and Robertsbridge at some point in April (date to be confirmed as we go to press).
To say a little bit about myself…I grew up in Hampshire, studied history at university, and then spent a few more years researching and teaching, with a particular focus on the medieval period (which remains a key interest of mine!).
During this time I began to discern a vocation to ordained ministry in the Church of England, and explored this further while spending a year in the Community of St Anselm, a community for young Christians of all denominations.
I trained for the priesthood at the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, and was ordained in 2022 in the Diocese of Oxford.
Since then I have been based in the small market town of Olney, in North Buckinghamshire, where I have been serving as Assistant Curate.
I am married to Francesca, who is also ordained, and has been serving her curacy in Wolverton, Milton Keynes; she will shortly be starting as the Rector of
Rev. Hugh Reid, Hurst Green’s new Vicar
Brede with Udimore, Beckley and Peasmarsh, not so far away!
We have a fluffy black-and-white cat, Onyx; and among our varied interests we’re both very keen on walking, real ale, cinema and cryptic crosswords. We’re really excited for this next chapter in our lives, and I’m so very much looking forward to being among you in Hurst Green and getting to know you!”
Services are every Sunday at 9.30am, with coffee beforehand at 9.00am. We alternate services between Holy Communion and a more Informal Service of Worship. You will receive a very warm welcome from our small but loyal congregation.
Events:
• 3/4/26 Good Friday – 10am at Village hall to parade to church for a short service followed by refreshments
• 5/4/26 Easter Sunday – 9:30 Resurrection service with communion
Our Church Warden is Alan Digman. Alan is the contact for requests for baptisms, weddings and funerals and for access to the church. Phone: 07435 064809.
Helen Winning is our Authorised Lay Minister who can offer pastoral care and home visits, including Holy Communion for people in Hurst Green who are housebound. Phone: 07788 596115. Mary Digman is our Safeguarding Officer for the church. Phone: 077136 25801
Alan Digman & Holy Trinity PCC
Testing the patience of Hurst Green!
This issue of The Hurst would not be fulfilling its remit if it didn’t comment on the proposed traffic signalling on the A21 and Station Road.
Whilst there are many different opinions on how safety and traffic flow could be managed – mini-roundabout, speed cameras and/or ultimately a bypass which is what every other village on the A21 has – what seems to unite everybody is the strong opposition to the traffic light scheme that has been put forward by National Highways.
Hurst Green is the only village where the A21 goes right through the middle.
Traffic lights were first proposed more than twenty years ago. Interestingly, National Highways (or whatever they were called) opposed it on the grounds of traffic congestion. Fast forward two decades and is there any less likelihood of traffic hold-ups? No, of course not..
The plans were not put forward for proper consultation. Had they been, we might not be in the position we are now in. A hastily convened meeting – held deliberately in the middle of the day – attracted over 120 people into a packed village hall - something National Highways clearly did not expect.
The presentation from National Highways was poor, innacurate and filled with dubious statistics and facts. Their analysis of traffic through the village, clearly, was either done in the middle of the night, or during the COVID months when we were not supposed to go out. You only have to look at the video on National Highways website to see that, clearly, they have no
understanding or appreciation of traffic volume or movement in the village.
And then there is the A265. Up until this, traffic peeled into two lanes (turning left or right) at the junction with the A21. In yet another backwards step, this now appears to be reduced to one lane. Without doubt, this will add to the frustrating time it will take to exit the A265 onto the A21. Yet another random and damaging decision.
People living on the A21 or the A265 will be subject to constant cars queuing outside their windows – complete with the toxic fumes which are highly harmful to human health, causing immediate respiratory irritation and increasing the risk of long-term diseases.
Our MP, Kieran Mullen, chaired the meeting and called for a pause in the work until correct research had been carried out. A show of hands during the meeting demonstrated that the village was almost unanimous in its opposition
“As an ex parish councillor, I feel for the people affected on Station Road, and those on London Road affected by the lack of parking.
This new layout is an outrage, not having gone through proper consultation.
Neither Highways or East Sussex Council have acquired a TRO (Traffic Regulation Order) which we are led to believe is a necessity before works commences. All we are looking for is fair notification and reasonable parking alternatives made.”
A resident of Station Road
– for a number of very valid reasons, not least of which was parking on Station Road which is essential for those who live on the road. East Sussex Council, according to reports, refused to attend – presumably because they have no solution to the loss of parking (and it’s their responsibility).
Despite the opposition, letters from our MP to National Highways and even escalating it to the Roads Minister, nobody appeared to take any notice of the very valid reasons, and the scheme was to go ahead as planned. It seems National Highways can make unanimous decisions, regardless of very valid concerns. Our MP agrees that a decision like this was not handled properly in any way. He shared this with the village. But still, National Highways persist.
With the best will in the world, this scheme is destined to fail. According to the BBC, around 15,800 vehicles pass through Hurst Green every day (note that traffic stats from National Highways are apparently limited and innacurate).
That’s 15,800 vehicles, many of which will grind to a halt at the traffic lights. You only have to look at the tremendous tailbacks at the Flimwell lights (or the tailbacks when somebody pulls up at the fish and chip shop). Well those cars passing south (eventually) through Flimwell are heading for Hurst Green. What logic is there that lights in Hurst Green will be better?
Our village is protesting this absurd scheme in the only ways it seems to be able to. A petition calling for a pause/cancellation is circulating. Cars continue to be parked on Station Road (there’s a missing Traffic Regulation Order which
“We always have our heart set on the bypass but, once again, distant authorities refuse to acknowledge our health concerns and without proper consultation and consideration are imposing a remedy that is bound to cause more pain. This disgraceful treatment and lack of respect for the residents of the only village on the A21 without adequate traffic control which continues to endure such negligence should be urgently addressed by all parties.
Two hurried non-inclusive sham meetings have further aggravated the good people of Hurst Green – ignored and dismissed by outside agencies.
A ‘pause’ to better understand the legitimate and heartfelt wishes, was the accepted outcome of hurried meeting no.2 (ominously on Friday 13 February).Yet as this magazine goes to press, it’s as if all those Hurst Green voices have disappeared into the mist.
C’mon East Sussex, we are better than this!”
Allan Cheek, A21 resident
may or may exist, allowing for the removal of these cars) and communication is flying between the village, local press, national press and more.
As we go to press, it appears that, unless somebody in National Highways, actually takes some notice of the issues involved, the scheme is going ahead. Why they are concentrating their time and energy on this ill-conceived plan, isnt at all clear, especially when you consider that Coopers Corner, which has suffered fatalilties, continues to be ignored. At its simplest, working speed cameras would solve a lot of safety issues - and could make them money!
On a positive note, it has been heartening to see how the village is pulling together over thi issue – people power at its best!
So keep protesting, bombard all relevant bodies with information, keep all informed through the Facebook groups and keep parking your cars as you are lawfully allowed to.
Maybe, just maybe, eventually somebody will listen...
Fascinating what you can find in a loft...
Elaine Ralph was taking down the Christmas decorations in the church in January and decided to find a new place to store them as the only cupboard available was crammed.
She asked her husband, Matthew, to get a ladder and try to get into the loft space above the Vestry to see if it was suitable to store the decorations. While he was putting the boxes in the loft, he notice an old steel trunk and managed to open it….
Elaine continues the story…
“WOW, what a find. it contained lots of old documents relating to the church, old photographs, and a large Bible for the Lectern, which the congregation had contributed to and presented to the church in 1927.
Sadly, the Bible needs repairing and I am looking into our options of getting it restored and put on display in the church along with some of the other documents and photographs.
One of the interesting finds in the loft was a bound book donated by H E Gregory in 1909 containing the first Hurst Green magazines dating from January 1902 through to December 1905.
I have scanned the March 1902 issue to share with you in our March 2026 issue of the Hurst.
Hopefully, I will be able to scan all the copies and post them online for anyone to view as they make fascinating reading, especially for anyone who lives in the village with ancestors who resided in the Village around this time.”
Hurst Green Primary School & Nursery
This term has been a wonderfully busy one at our school. We were delighted to welcome back a former pupil who returned to complete a week of work experience with us - always a special moment for our community. Our Year 1 and 2 children took part in a lively multi-skills event, showing great enthusiasm and teamwork, while Year 2 also impressed everyone with their pirate-themed performance at the ‘Time to Dance’ festival.
Across the school, we have welcomed several new children into our classes, and it has been lovely to see them settle so quickly into our school family. Year 5 enjoyed an inspiring trip to Uplands Academy, where they watched a brilliant production of ‘Oliver!’. Finally, our muchanticipated Break Rules Day brought plenty of smiles and raised valuable funds for the schoolthank you to everyone who supported it.
Looking ahead, we have a number of exciting events planned for the remainder of the term. These include our annual Easter Egg Hunt, as well as celebrations for World Book Day, when
children will be invited to dress up as characters from traditional tales and create their own story jars.
Many of our pupils will also be taking part in the Hastings Music Festival, and our sports teams are preparing for indoor football, badminton, basketball, and benchball competitions in partnership with Robertsbridge Community College.
As always, we are grateful for the continued support of our parish and wider community.
Join Hurst Green Cricket Club this Season!
With the new cricket season fast approaching, Hurst Green Cricket Club is delighted to invite new players - male or female, aged 13 to 93 - to join us for a summer of sport, camaraderie and community spirit. Whether you’re a seasoned player or picking up a bat for the first time, you’ll be very welcome.
We are a supportive and social village club at the heart of the community.
Training Starts Tuesday 7 Apri –Come Along!
Our weekly training sessions begin on: Tuesday 7 April at 6.30pm.
Hurst Green Cricket Ground
This year, we’re excited to be training with our new cricket practice net and we’re also pleased that we now have two ECB qualified club coaches to help develop absolute beginners.
Why Join Us?
• Friendly, welcoming club
• Opportunities to play Sunday social cricket
• A great way to stay active and meet new people
Interested in Sponsorship?
As a community club, we rely on local support. If you’re a business interested in sponsoring Hurst Green Cricket Club, we’d love to hear from you. Sponsorship helps us maintain facilities and keep village cricket thriving.
If you’d like to join, pop along to training or get in touch with us at hurstgreencc@gmail.com
Looking forward to the season ahead - hope to see you at the crease!
Wild About Etchingham and Hurst Green
“My name is Fiona, and I was trusted to set up a community wildlife group called Wild About Etchingham and Hurst Green last July – thankfully with the loving and friendly support of Wild About Burwash – whose aim it is to enjoy, protect and enhance the wildlife and natural environment of their village.
I grew up in London and moved to Botswana in 2013, where we lived for eight years. I spent a lot of my time blogging and setting up an educational eco-group. I did this to teach myself, and to be a voice for the many incredible conservationists out there who tend to be doing, rather than talking, so I’m excited to be facilitating a similar thing in East Sussex.
I have a particular love of birds, and lots of you have already told me about your own passions: from slugs you have videoed munching leaves (hopefully not in anyone’s vegetable patches!) to those of you who have purchased areas of wood to preserve and create habitat. It is joyful.
Wild About Burwash (WAB) started a project to monitor the water quality of the River Dudwell in February 2025. For the last year volunteers have been monitoring the quality of the river Dudwell at six locations from the source near Tottingworth through to the confluence with the Rother in Etchingham on the same day, at the same time – every month. We are excited to be extending the project into our villages, and anyone who is interested in volunteering, particularly in Hurst
Green, please get in touch. The point of the project is to get to know our rivers better, and to make sure the water quality is upheld. We can also do a lot to enhance and maintain it.
Last summer WAB ran a session with the local scout group to show them some of the invertebrates in the river. We hope to be able to run similar projects over the coming year, especially now that we have a teacher, Beth, on our team.” To sign up to our friendly WhatsApp group or newsletter email: wildaboutetchingham@gmail.com WildAbout Team: Fiona, Kim, Anne, Antonia, Julian and Beth
“Hello, I’m Beth and I am excited to be joining the team. I am a Level 3 Forest School Leader and Beach School lead, and have spent over 14 years as a Primary Teacher and Early Years specialist. More recently, I have been working within the SEND community through woodland projects and youth work, focusing on the restorative power of the outdoors to help us connect, care and protect the wonderful wildlife and nature we have here. I hope to begin offering nature walks for the younger members of our villages.”
Food for Thought ... The Joys of Spring
Spring comes quietly at firsta softening of the air, a lengthening of the light, a whisper that the world is waking again.
Gardens that lay weary under winter’s grey begin to breathe, pushing up shy greens and sudden colour, as if creation itself is stretching after sleep.
There is a tenderness in these early days of spring, a promise woven into birdsong and budding branches.
After months of muted tones, we find ourselves noticing tiny miraclesa single blossom, a brighter sky, the faithful return of life long hidden.
Scripture speaks in this language of seasons, reminding us that our lives, too, move through rhythms of joy and shadow, abundance and ache.
There are winters of the heart when the cold feels unending. But spring assures us, gently, that no season lasts foreverthat beneath the frost, new life is already forming.
Even now, renewal does not rush. It comes softly, secretly. Seeds split in the dark before they reach toward day.
Hope often begins below the surface, where we cannot see, yet where everything is quietly changing.
For Christians, these stirrings of spring echo a deeper truththe ancient story of a stone rolled away, of light breaking through, of life stepping out of the shadows. The blossoming trees and the empty tomb tell a single story: Life returns. Light triumphs. Hope rises.
So as we walk the dog through damp morning grass, as children laugh beneath clearer skies, as evenings stretch their golden hours before us, may we remember that renewal is stitched into the fabric of the world.
And whatever season you stand in now, may you feel the first warm breath of spring - quiet, gentle, certain, reminding us all that winter is passing, and new life is on its way.
By Alan Digman
Freedom of HG awarded to Elaine Ralph
Recognising her outstanding service to the community, the Parish Council awarded its highest honour to Mrs Elaine Ralph in December 2025, granting her the Freedom of the Parish of Hurst Green.
In keeping with tradition, the Council hosted an evening reception where Mrs Ralph was formally presented with her award. Surrounded by local residents and members of her family, she was warmly thanked for her years of dedication and was presented with a beautifully crafted parchment scroll by the Vice Chairman of the Council, Derek French.
Guests witnessed the updated Honours Board in the village’s Small Hall, where the names of all recipients are recorded for posterity.
Speaking at the event, Parish Councillor Andrew Brown said, “Elaine has given so much to the community over the years, particularly her work with the Breakfast Club. This evening is a chance for us to all say thank you for her tremendous contribution and for the way she has helped bring people together.”
Although there is no statutory guidance that defines the criteria for appointing Freemen and Freewomen, the Parish Council’s policy states that the Freedom of the Parish is awarded in recognition of exceptional service. Recipients must be persons of distinction who, in the opinion of the Council, have rendered eminent
service to the parish of Hurst Green over a significant period of time. Those granted the honour are entitled to use the title of Freeman or Freewoman.
Members of the public are encouraged to suggest residents who they believe deserve recognition for sustained and exceptional service to the community. Any Parish Councillor may be approached with a nomination request for consideration.
Further details are available on the Council’s website, or by contacting the Clerk to the Council via email: clerk@hurstgreen-pc.gov.uk or via 01580 860111.
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WALK TO THE WHITE DOG PUB
Allan Cheek continues his regular feature in the Hurst describing different walks. For information, contact Allan by text/What’sApp 07803 502972.
An A to B route of approx. 6.5 miles to a character freehouse in the idyllic village of Ewhurst Green.
Our starting few miles are a repeat of some earlier walks.
From the Clockhouse head south on the A21 on the school side pavement as far as cottage no121 London Road. Look across the road for the stile and concrete footpath sign. Cross with care and follow the path across two stiles and through a metal gate to a newly fenced route through to the wooded gully, often slippy. Cross the stream and head uphill to the metal gate and continue uphill on the left of the pasture to a metal kissing gate (often puddled) and a second one in the left hedge.
Turn right up the lane to the T-junction bearing right again to reach two sets of cottages. Pass between them onto the grassy marked footpath and follow this out into the open field. Cross this then right at the bottom up to a metal gate and path which leads further uphill to another gate. The path continues to pass by an odd circular green building designated as a reservoir beside Stage Field. Turn right here down to the Bodiam road then carefully turn right to reach the next left turn signed to Salehurst. Follow this downhill for c750m to reach the oast house of Beech House Farm. Find the fenced footpath in the driveway and follow this down past two large horse paddocks to a stile. Keep downhill on the left of the pasture for a good 100m to spot the path disappearing on the left. This leads you to a footbridge over the stream and a stile into another field bearing left then take a diagonal uphill to find the path again to the right of the clump of gorse bushes. Follow this over the old field edge and look for a stile about 30m on the right. This stile is tricky as it drops you down a bit and leads steeply to a little footbridge then up again to
another stile out of the valley. Follow uphill on the left to find the designated altered footpath bearing left alongside some blue rope. Keep on in this direction towards an open metal gate and continue all the way up to a little old house gate leading out onto Bourne Lane. Turn right and continue for approx. 700m past Jollies Farm, Rocks Hill and Haiselman’s Farm with its lovely old buildings until the sharp left hand bend. Just round the bend find the stile to cross on the right with the ‘cows and calf warning sign’.
Keeping to the right hand side of the field leading to a gate with no footpath signs, turn right here and looking across the field you’ll see four or five sizeable trees on the other side. Head across to the last of these until you see the stile. Crossing here look for the clump of trees including a large yew slightly to the left. Aim for these and as you approach bear left around the sunken area to continue in the same direction (more or less due East) on often unmarked path. Again look for a gap in the trees across the field where you’ll find a stile. Cross here and keeping roughly to the right you’ll soon see down the hill a doubled-up gate and stile out onto Junction Road.
Head straight across and another gate/stile. Head straight across then sharp left following footpath signs, then around the left hand side of a small lake leading to a large wooden bridge up to the buildings.
Bear right in front of the complex of buildings and head towards a willow tree keeping straight on to a metal gate and access only to the footpath beyond. Continue past large leylandii trees and on past the Old Cricket Pavilion, vineyard and eventually popping out beside the Castle Inn at Bodiam.
Turn right and cross with care (handy public toilets) where there is a designated footpath, avoiding the roadway, out over the river Rother bridge to the first footpath gate on the left.
To avoid possible flooded areas it’s best to track left up onto the raised boundary path and follow this with the Rother on your left and great views of the castle. As this path reaches end turn right down the slope to head across the meadow towards the railway line.
Bear right beside the track until you reach the crossing point stile. Carefully avoid any trains heading your way. Another stile and gate leads you right past a dilapidated barn and across a stream keeping to the right hand side to find another footbridge/stile.
Keeping on this path go through the metal gate and head across and uphill towards the trees where you’ll find the next stile and gate. Keeping left another gate appears and once through this you follow the path round to the right and uphill to the final gate on the lane which leads left through past the lovely village house of Ewhurst Green and your well-deserved refreshments at the White Dog. Award winning food and wellkept ales; character buildings and interior; lovely gardens out the back with distant views of Bodiam Castle.
Allow three hours for the walk and a couple at the pub. Return transport is recommended. The 349 bus goes to The Moor, Hawkhurst for connection with the 1066 bus.
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I can’t stop!”
“Oh dear, cleptomania,” said the doctor.
“Right, take one of these tablets each day for a week and it should cure you. If it doesn’t, do you think you could get a 50-inch TV for me...!
