Vitality Villages - Directory and Activities

Vitality Villages is a community organisation which focuses on the health and well-being of residents in Herstmonceux and the local communities.

UPDATE OCTOBER 2021

Vitality Villages projects are gradually resuming following the pandemic but the effects of Covid are still impacting on how we meet and where we can meet.

Vitality Villages has therefore made the following changes: -

• The Coffee Morning has moved to the lounge at Herstmonceux Village Hall and changed the meeting day to Thursdays.
• The Singers meet at Herstmonceux Free Church Hall from 7pm – 8.30pm on Wednesdays.

Coffee Mornings

We welcome anyone who wants to join us for a coffee, chat, and fun quiz in the lounge of Herstmonceux Village Hall from 10am to midday on the third Thursday of each month.

The programme for November and December is: -

Thursday 18 November – Craft demonstration

Thursday 16 December - Carol Sing along

More information from Sheila Charlton on 01323 833673

Singers

The singers were a founding part of VV, and they meet from 7pm – 8.30pm on Wednesdays in Herstmonceux Free Church Hall. It is a very friendly, welcoming group and anyone is invited to join with no auditions necessary. Just turn up and sing!

More information from Laura Heales on 07905 745384

Men's Shed

The Men's Shed meets on Wednesdays from 10am-4.30pm at Herstmonceux Castle and welcomes new members to join them.

You can work on your own woodworking or craft project, work with other members on any group projects (this has included making ladder stiles, repairing the church gate, making benches and bird boxes, repairing loggia doors at Herstmonceux Castle and much more!), having a cup of tea with other members.

The Community Workshop Session from 10am – 1pm is open to all. The recent 'Open Day' generated 15 visitors and 4 new members.

Donations of tools to the Men's Shed are gratefully received as these contributions help extend the opportunities for working on many projects.

More information from Alan McInnes on 01323 833306

Walking and Associated Activities

Vitality Villages Truggers footpath clearance group which works under the authority of East Sussex County Council has been busy at work in clearing overgrown footpaths in the parish.

Community Walks Programme

Work onthe Vitality Villages programme to improve the condition of the local footpath network is continuing. The goal is to ensure that any person fit enough to walk over fields and uneven ground would be able to negotiate both the footpaths and the field furniture encountered on the way, i.e. bridges, farm gates, kissing gates and stiles. To date, five kissing gates and two ladder stiles and six gates have been installed with the support of landowners across different footpaths in the parish. Work continues to identify footpaths which need improvements.

More information from Steve Burke on 01323 833473

Allotment

The Community allotment on the Parish Council allotment site at Greenway Fruit Farm, Stunts Green is an ideal opportunity for anyone to try out their growing skill, help others on the plot or just come and chat. Two members have worked sections of the allotment in the past year, and it is hoped that more people will join us next season and try their hand at growing some vegetables, fruit of flowers. There is also the potential to increase opportunities for the Hearts & Flowers project detailed below.

More information from Janet McInnes on 01323 833306

New Activity

Vitality Villages was recently approached by Deborah Becker, a recently retired occupational therapist, from the Sussex East Mental Health Partnership, to work with Vitality Villages to trial a six-week pilot project on Social and Therapeutic Horticulture called the Hearts and Flowers Project.

Social and Therapeutic Horticulture harnesses the benefits of the natural world and gardening and uses them for therapeutic means. The value of natural open spaces and gardens has been recognised for centuries, but the use of gardening as a therapy has been more recent. A tailored approach to the process of gardening can help people to achieve their goals and this is supported by a growing body of research. The Hearts and Flowers Gardening Group is for anyone living with memory loss, or mild to moderate dementia and their careers.

It provides the opportunity to meet up with people in similar situations to enjoy horticulture based activities, make new friends, have a relaxing and stimulating time.

At each session, there will be an invitation to participate in seasonal nature-based activities, arts, and crafts, reminiscing and poetry. There will be a warm welcome and of course tea, coffee, and a slice of cake!

£575 of funding was awarded for the project from the Local Connections Fund and a new six-week group started at Herstmonceux Free Church on Friday 15 October, 10.00am to 12 midday with the last session on Friday 19 November.

More information from Janet McInnes on 01323 833306