Hassocks council relaunch Adastra Park tennis courts

Park tennis courts at Adastra Park have been officially reopened after a £83,000 renovation, funded by Hassocks Parish Council, the UK Government, LTA Tennis Foundation and Developer Contributions. Tennis courts at Adastra Park hosted a ceremony attended by Hassocks Parish Council representatives, along with representatives from the LTA. There was an opportunity for people from the local community to pick up a racket and get on court for a range of tennis sessions.

Through the Parks Tennis Project, the LTA is investing across Britain to help develop grassroots tennis. The three courts at Adastra Park have undergone extensive work to ensure viability for years to come, including resurfacing, repainting, new fencing, nets and a new gate access system. As well as weekly free park tennis sessions, with equipment provided, the new courts will host Local Tennis Leagues, giving people the opportunity to get involved in friendly and social local competitions. All courts will be available to book via the LTA website. New booking systems and gate access technology means it is now easier to get on court by booking in advance to guarantee availability. A small booking fee will ensure that the courts are maintained at their new high standard for years to come.

The LTA, Hassocks Parish Council and KB Tennis Coaching will work together to ensure free park tennis sessions are available on the courts, providing regular opportunities for anyone to pick up a racket and play. Cllr Ian Weir, Chair of Hassocks Parish Council said: “The new tennis courts are the latest step in the Parish Council’s commitment to deliver improved facilities in Adastra Park following Community Consultation. Our partnership with the LTA and their Club Spark Booking and Gate entry systems have enabled us to provide simple and easy access to the new courts which we hope will make them more attractive to occasional and first-time users as well as giving our existing users a greatly improved playing experience.”

Helpful facts: How to ‘Pay and Play’ Booking online is quick and easy. Courts can be booked up to seven days in advance.
All our courts are available for pay and play, allowing you to book and pay for a single booking at any time. The cost is £7 per court per hour. Concessions £3.50 per hour.

Play 365 days a year, subject to essential court maintenance and weather. For further details, visit: www.clubspark.lta.org.uk/AdastraPark

Hassocks' tennis courts upgrade

You may have noticed the work taking place on Adastra Park Tennis Courts. This is part of an exciting project to refurbish the courts and provide a new automated entry gate and online public booking system. The Parish Council, who own and manage the tennis courts, has made a substantial investment towards the refurbishment, alongside receiving additional funding and support from the LTA Tennis Foundation and UK Government as a part of the Parks Tennis Project to refurbish public tennis courts across Britain and open up the sport to more people. Weather permitting, it is hoped that the tennis courts will be ready for use by mid-August with a formal launch planned in September.

Further details about when the courts will open and public booking information will be posted on the Parish Council website when these are available: www.hassocks-pc.gov.uk

Adastra Park says goodbye to our last DownsFest - 2022

By Michelle Binks, organiser

It is with great sadness that I announce that DOWNSFEST will not be held again. The DownsFest ambition was to bring entertainment to the community in a festival environment supporting local acts and giving the opportunity of a ‘Glastonbury’ experience whilst raising funds for St Peter and St James Hospice. DownsFest is a self-funding scheme and was run by a core team of three, who have collectively dedicated over 3,100 hours of their own time, planning and organising the 2022 event.

In 2019, the festival ran at a loss but we decided to try once again, as well as fundraising for St Peter and St James Hospice. In 2019, we gave £1,000 to the hospice and this year we managed to raise funds to pay for a days’ nursing at the hospice. DownsFest fixed costs were over £30,000 to put on! Sadly, the ticket sales failed to cover these costs. We had some great sponsors but not enough for such a big undertaking. We did not take any payment for our time, in contradiction to some online rumours.

We did extensive research in the area and DownsFest was one of the cheapest events to attend in the locality, especially with the full day on stage performances and circus programme once inside. We have realised we have achieved something amazing with DownsFest 2022. And we got some great feedback from our festival goers this year.

I am so proud and sincerely grateful to all the help and support given by my DownsFest team: Kelly and Nick who were my backbone, and to Sarah as stage manager and Phil, music director and photographer Chris. Also, thank you to all the volunteers that helped over the two days.

Adastra Park hosts DownsFest 2022 in July

This July, Adastra Park will once again be transformed into DownsFest. Friday 15th will be Comedy@DownsFest, courtesy of ‘Funny That Comedy’. A top notch line up of comedians will be hosted by local favourite, Stephen Grant. From 5.30pm, Jessica Fostekew, Stephen K Amos, Nick Helm, Mark Simmons and Ivo Graham will be taking to the festival stage.

On the Saturday, the headliners are One Step Behind ‘The Masters of Madness’ topping the bill. Other musical treats on offer, include Loki + Zaffire Twinz, Harmonessence Choir, Cheer up Mollies, Breeze in and Stuart Barbour. Local band, Disco B’stards are sure to get you dancing. And many of you may know Thing of the Swamp, another act you don’t want to miss. Plus Stone Dark Night, Diva and the Nobodies, Nova and Overdrive. There will be plenty of choice in the FamilyZone, too. Pop into the Dance Tent, see what’s happening at the Fire show, watch Nick Cook Entertainer or get involved at Poi Passion Circus. Tickets are now available at www.DownsFest.co.uk

DownsFest 2022

Adastra Park in Hassocks announces May Day celebrations return!

By Michelle Binks

Everyone is welcome to Adastra Park to join in the merriment and festivities of Hassocks May Day on bank holiday Monday 2nd May from 12noon-4pm.

Our infamous Dog Show is back! Entry will be £2 per class per dog. Just turn up on the day to enter. We are delighted to welcome the Maypole Dancers from Hassocks Infants School, led by Mrs Brewer, Acting Deputy Head, to perform at the Maypole. Burgess Hill Marching Youth will be playing to open our event.

Come and enjoy in tea and cake at the community café in The Pavilion run and raising money for PearlPower. Donations of cakes greatly appreciated too!

We look forward to music from the crew of Burgess Hill Community Radio to keep us entertained. Enjoy the produce of the BBQ and a festival of beer hosted by Keymer and Hassocks Sport and Social Club (KHSSC). And all that before we get to the numerous community and charity stalls offering a plethora of activities and other delights to interest you and help them to raise funds for their many great causes.

A big thanks to Hassocks Parish Council and Keymer and Hassocks Sports and Social Club for supporting Hassocks May Day. If you are a community group or charity and would like a stall please contact michellebinks5@outlook.com. I look forward to seeing you there!

Pearl's commemorative tree in Adastra Park

Children and parents using the playground in Adastra Park may have noticed the arrival of a new tree recently.

The family of Pearl BartlettBundy - a Hassocks schoolgirl who tragically died just before her 10th birthday from an aggressive form of bone cancer in 2017 – took part in a special ceremony in the village when a tree was planted in her name.

A temporary plaque, which featured a photo of Pearl on one of the rides, said: ‘This tree, planted on 15th December, commemorates what should have been the 14th birthday of our daughter Pearl. She loved coming to this park. Happy birthday Pearl, with love from the BartlettBundy family.’

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The family have planted a tree around the village every year since Pearl’s death. “The play park was a really special place for Pearl and her brother Milo and they spent many happy hours there,” Pearl’s mother Rachel said. “This is a winter flowering cherry tree, which has a beautiful pink flower. We’re extremely grateful to the Parish Council for its help – especially Tracy Forte and Cllr Jane Baker and her husband Nick.”

Rachel is already thinking about places for next year’s tree – which she’s happy to take suggestions for!

DownsFest was the mini-Glasto in Adastra Park, Hassocks

September saw the inaugural DownsFest music event take over Adastra Park for one day only. Although originally a suggestion from Jo Ganpatsingh, the reality of making DownsFest happen came down to Hassocks resident Michelle Binks, who tells us how she is feeling now it’s all packed away…

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To say getting DownsFest off the ground has been a stressful experience would be an understatement! However, my knight in shining armour was Kelly Foley, who I’m forever grateful to for coming to my aid. Kelly was my rock, my social media champion and became my right hand man! And how can I miss out Jo, the maddest friend I’ll ever have; all I have to say to you is ‘cheese and banjo’! Love you both to the moon and back.

One thing that I love about my community is all the help and assistance from so many that have enabled me to put the festival together: Graphic Design (Su Watts), Web Design (Alex Simmons), Burgess Hill Community Radio (Steve Bird), all the volunteers and many more. And I thank my family for their support throughout this huge adventure.

Three months later, DownsFest 2019 was live!

[Full article printed in Hassocks Life magazine, October 2019]

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Summer Trail created by Hassocks youths

By Deirdre Huston

When I went along to Hassocks Youth Hangout a group of young people were engrossed in developing the Adastra Summer Trail. This activity is being designed by them and is hoped to be popular with children and families over the summer.

The initiative uses recycled materials and works in a similar way to geocaching but without the app.

Families will be able to download the trail from https://sussexcyp.org.uk/news/hassocks-science-trail/.

They must solve clues to find boxes hidden across Adastra Park which contain hands-on science challenges to complete and a stamp for marking their entry form. Everyone who completes the trail can take their completed sheet to the Hassocks Market on 24th August where they will receive a small reward and be entered into a prize draw. The Turner Dumbrell Foundation in Ditchling funded the activities, staff and promotion necessary to make the Adastra Summer Trail a reality, while Hassocks Parish Council were very supportive in allowing Adastra Park to be used. “It was lovely to have that immediate response and support,” admits Liz Jeavans, local resident and scientist extraordinaire.