The Small Farm Training Group

Willow Workshop - Obelisk
2024-04-20 10:00 - 15:00 (Europe/London) | Gibbs Reed Farm, Pashley Road, Ticehurst, Kent, TN5 7HE, United Kingdom
In this workshops you will learn basic willow weaving skills and make a willow obelisk and time allowing other smaller objects.
Richard Vidal, is going to be our tutor. He has grown his own willow for 20 years and produces beautiful sculptures, living willow structures, ornaments and baskets. This introductory workshop will cover the growing, harvesting, storage and dipping of dry willow into water to regain its innate flexibility.
Before his retirement Richard sold willow at Blackheath Farmers Market and started to teach willow weaving to community groups so understands the different levels of teaching required dependent on previous experience.
Richard will start the day (indoors if weather inclement) with an introduction to the growing of willow and how to create colourful practical artistic objects. You will then create your own garden obelisk, frame or smaller structure. Some people may want to make garden structures outside whilst others may prefer being under cover or inside if cold.
For this workshop please dress warmly: waterproof gloves and leggings are useful and walking boots or wellies essential. Please bring secateurs (though spares are available). If you have a large car or roof rack this will be useful for transporting larger creations. If you can't fit an obelisk in your car we will endeavour to find someone nearby who can deliver it in due course.
Bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee will be provided.
Richard’s mobile is 07597 939668 and his email is richardhvidal@yahoo.co.uk. He is happy to discuss and explain what to expect at the workshop in more detail and to consider making adjustments for any disabilities or injuries.

Private tour of the British Wildlife Centre
2024-04-24 14:30 - 16:30 | British Wildlife Centre, Eastbourne Road, Horne, RH7 6LF, United Kingdom
Are you passionate about British wildlife and want to know more about our different native species?
Why don’t you join us on a completely private tour of the British Wildlife Centre on the 24th of April? It takes a couple of hours and starts at 230 The Centre is closed to the general public that day so it would just be a keeper plus 12 SFTG members. I’m told that because it’s such a small group interaction with the animals is amazing. This really should be a great afternoon. Over 40 native species are lovingly cared for by David Mills and his team in East Surrey (British Wildlife Centre, Eastbourne Road, Newchapel, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6LF).
David has run the centre since 1997 when he converted his old dairy farm into a long-standing dream of opening his own zoo of native species focussing on nationwide breeding programmes to introduce nearly extinct species.
We will have the opportunity to see the animals up close during this informative and fun private tour. As well as meeting old (and making new!) friends this will be a fabulous day out in a superb environment!
PLUS Karen, our lovely membership secretary and her partner Ed have invited us to their gorgeous smallholding which is about 15 minutes drive away, for tea:coffee, cake and goat cuddles. So she can get cake quantities right can you put a note on your booking form to say you’d like to eat afterwards. No set amount to pay but there will be a donation box
PLUS we’re planning on trying to arrange car sharing so please email catrionabush@gmail.com if you’d like this.
Fun fact: Dame Judi Dench can often be spotted there as she lives nearby and David is her partner!

Mousehall Gin Tasting
2024-04-27 12:00 - 14:00 | Mousehall Distillery & Winery, Tidybrook, Mayfield and Five Ashes, East Sussex, TN5 6PG, United Kingdom
Visit the beautiful medieval Mousehall Country Estate, discover the story of Mousehall and how their products are produced. Christy Jordan, Distiller & Director of Mousehall, will guide you through a 90 minute tasting of how Mousehall Gin & Vodka are produced. This includes a G&T on arrival, a step-by-step explanation on how they produce their products and a closer look behind the scenes. Christy will then guide you through a 5-part neat Gin tasting and 1-part neat Vodka tasting.
We will be arranging a delicious local platter to enjoy after the tasting so please let us know if you have any dietary requirements.
You will receive 10% off any purchase of spirits from the onsite store at our Distillery & Winery.

Introduction to keeping goats
2024-05-04 13:45 - 17:00 | Barn Mead Farm, Popes Lane, Oxted, East Sussex, RH8 9PL, United Kingdom
Just starting out with goats? Learn from us...
Karen and Ed have a head of Golden and British Guernsey goats (Rare Breed)
Are you interested in finding out about setting up ready for your goats, learning about handling, what the legal requirements are, and how this is all affected by whether you're wanting to keep goats for milk or for meat?
If so this is the workshop for you, and we look forward to seeing you there.
Do bear in mind - it's a hands on experience so please dress accordingly (and taking account of the weather!).

Pasta Masterclass
2024-05-05 10:00 - 13:00 | Romeo & Juliete, 7 High Street, Hailsham, BN27 1AL, United Kingdom
LEARN THE ART OF FRESH PASTA at Romeo and Juliete Restaurant Hailsham
Join us for the day and enjoy a hands on experience with Romeo and Juliete in house Chef Ramses.
During the Pasta Masterclass, you will learn the art of making fresh pasta from scratch.
At the end of the session you will get to sit down with a soft drink/glass of wine and eat the pasta you have made.

Make Your Own Chorizo or Salami
2024-05-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Oast house, Heathfield, Oast House, Sandy Cross Lane, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 8QP, United Kingdom
Wow your family and friends (and yourself) with delicious home made chorizo!
Jenny takes you through the steps of making a chorizo from sourcing meat and flavouring the stuffing, to fermentation and curing. An ideal way to turn your excess minced meat into a delicious shelf stable product that doesn't need refrigeration. And the result is cheaper and usually far tastier than those bought from supermarkets!
We will look at the different types of casing for the chorizo, different ways and equipment used to stuff your casings, as well as what flavourings you can use to flavour your meat. We will then look at how to start the fermentation effectively, and how to cure your product at home without it going mouldy or the skin drying out. We will use meat from one of our member's organic pigs and aim for you to make 3 chorizo to take home for curing. These will be ready to eat within just 3 weeks.
This workshop is designed to give you the knowledge and confidence to make much more at home with less than £20 worth of equipment.
All the above can easily be switched from chorizo to salami simply by using a different ferment, as Jenny will explain.

Nettles!
2024-05-18 10:30 - 13:00 | Punnets Town, Punnett's Town, TN21 9HU, United Kingdom
I bet we’ve all cursed them! Katy, a herbalist and life long forager, is going to change our minds and show us the many benefits of the common nettle.
We’re going to find, observe and pick them. Then do a tea ceremony where we’ll smell and observe. Next up a shared art piece of all things nettle … and then we’ll make and share some food made with nettles.
It will be a minimum of two hours, probably more as following our foraging walks Katy knows we like to chat, a lot!
Maximum of 8 people (so book quick!) . The workshop will be held in Punnetts Town

Summer foraging walk
2024-06-02 10:00 - 11:30 | Village Hall, Punnetts Town, Hall, Battle Road, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 9DH, United Kingdom
Following two brilliant spring foraging walks everyone wanted more walks with Katy,,..so I’ve fixed up both a summer and autumn walk. Plus a nettle workshop where,amongst other things, we will make some food using nettles (and maybe the delicious nettle beer we tried after our last walk!) I’m certainly going to do them all!
Katy has incredible knowledge ….shes a herbalist and life long forager. The walk will be in the Punnetts Town area.,,.looking, observing,tasting, smelling and learning about wild foods and herbal medicines available from the hedgerow.
It will be about an hours walk (but possibly a lot more) leaving at 10.00 £10pp. Easy route along lanes and tracks.

Paint an Emu!
2024-06-13 08:00 - 17:00 | The Forge, Ringmer, Lewes Road, Ringmer, Lewes, BN8 5NB, United Kingdom
Please note: you’ll need to BOOK DIRECT with The Paint Club for this one.
Several members have shown me their paintings which they have done through The Paint Club and to be honest I’ve been amazed at the standard. Even from our less artistic members (in whose camp I firmly sit).
I’ve investigated an SFTG only evening but it works out quite expensive so myself and others have booked an Emu Painting Evening direct. If anyone would like to join us please book via thepaintclub.co.uk. Please do email me, Cat Bush at meetings@sftg.org.uk, to let me know if you’ve booked though so we can meet and sit together.
The price is £32 per person

Summer BBQ!
2024-06-22 13:00 - 16:00 | Merrifields, Hackhurst Lane, Hellingly, East Sussex, BN27 4BP, United Kingdom
This years Mid-Summer BBQ is being graciously hosted by Nella and Joe O’Hara at Merrifields. This is a wonderful opportunity to mingle with fellow members, meet new ones, and generally have a good old catch up whilst enjoying the fantastic food from our very own Cat Bush, most of the produce that Cat will serve is from her own small holding.
This is a relaxing afternoon and a lovely chance for a midsummer catch up and to see the beautiful old house and gardens that Joe and Nella call home.
We will have games to play and hopefully lots of sunshine so don’t forget your sunscreen!
The BBQ is a subsidised members (and their families) event, ticket are £5 per person. (You are welcome to bring a non member as a paying guest, but they do need to come with a member)
Soft drinks will be provided but please bring your own wine, beer etc as required and your own chair.

Hedgehog Sanctuary Tour 1
2024-06-26 14:00 - 16:00
Help 4 Hedgehogs is based near Herstmonceux and I’ve just spent an absolutely brilliant two hours being shown round. Tas is a hedgehog expert and I so enjoyed myself. Only six people on a tour. You’ll be split into two groups of three to go round.
You won’t be able to pick up/touch the hedgehogs I’m afraid because they’re anxious about cross contamination/infection but you will be able to get close up and personal! Thirty people contacted me to say they were interested so I’ve arranged five tours from 26 June through to 7july. All starting at 2pm except for the tour on 6july which starts at 12.00.
Minimum age is 11 as the hospital ward has to be kept very quiet. Only £5pp for about two hours. Hedgehogs are quite fussy little eaters, and absolutely no obligation, but if you would like to donate some food please can it be Purina 1 or
Royal canin …. pink one for kittens (both dry food) or special hedgehog wet food a favourite is brambles meaty hedgehog which you can get on line from Chubby Mealworms or Spikes semi moist hedgehog food which you can find in most garden centres. But Please absolutely no need to donate anything.
There are two disabled parking spots on site but that’s it! Lots of on street parking 5minutes walk away. (One step into the Sanctuary)

Hedgehog Sanctuary Tour 2
2024-06-29 14:00 - 16:00

Hedgehog Sanctuary Tour 3
2024-07-03 14:00 - 16:00

Hedgehog Sanctuary Tour 4
2024-07-06 12:00 - 14:00

Hedgehog Sanctuary Tour 5
2024-07-07 14:00 - 16:00

Make Your Own Sussex Trug in a Day
2024-07-13 09:00 - 17:00 | Playsters Farm, New Road (Hailsham Road), Herstmonceux, East Sussex, BN27 1PX, United Kingdom
This is an exciting opportunity to build your own Sussex trug in a one day workshop.
Any questions regarding this event, please contact Cliff at meetings@sftg.org.uk
The true Sussex trug is a very durable design that with only a little care will last a lifetime. It is not to be confused with the cheap imitations sold in many outlets today! You will learn how to cut, shave and bend the wooden components and to finish with traditional copper tacks. All wood is grown and coppiced locally.
To save time on the day the wood will already have been roughly prepared.
This workshop runs from 9 am to (nominally) 5 pm. In the words of our tutor Richard it runs from 9 am to "when we're finished". He likes to make sure everyone leaves with a completed trug!
Please bring your own food and drink. A kettle and drinking water is provided.
This workshop is not suitable for under 18s.

An Introduction to Smallholding
2024-07-13 12:00 - 16:00 | Foxwood, Hellingly, Cinderford Lane, Hellingly, East Sussex, BN27 4HL, United Kingdom
Perhaps you're about to take over a smallholding? Or are you relatively new to keeping land and animals? If so, perhaps you feel you'd like to talk the issues through with others in the same boat, and with someone who's been doing it for a while? If that sounds like you, then our "Introduction to Smallholding" workshop is just the thing for you.
Come and spend the afternoon finding out what smallholding entails from a practical perspective, as you visit this 7 acre plot. Paul Lovatt Smith has been working on the land for over 15 years, and has a wealth of knowledge that he's happy to share, including:

How to get started - we know it's all a bit overwhelming at first
What's involved with the paperwork and legal aspects, as well as the finances
A basic overview of keeping poultry, sheep, cattle and pigs
Growing veg
Making hay and growing small-scale cereals

Please note:
this course will be held outdoors (and partly in a barn) - so please do wear suitable outdoors clothing, bearing in mind that this is England - it may well be cold and damp (or warm and sunny, boiling and dry, windy and snowing... you get the picture).
Can't make this date? Event sold out? Please email our training organiser so that you will be on the list when we run the workshop again.

Another hedgehog sanctuary tour!
2024-07-13 14:00 - 16:00 | windmill hill, Windmill Hill, Windmill Hill, BN27 4RZ, United Kingdom
This is proving a super popular tour, and having done it I can certainly understand why. The photos were taken on yesterday’s tour.
I’ve arranged another tour and this will be on 13 July from 2-4 pm . The sanctuary is near to Hailsham and I’ll send full details once your bookings are confirmed.
There’s six people on a tour. You’ll be split into two groups of three to go round.
You won’t be able to pick up/touch the hedgehogs I’m afraid because they’re anxious about cross contamination/infection but you will be able to get close up and personal!
Minimum age is 11 as the hospital ward has to be kept very quiet. Only £5pp for about two hours. Hedgehogs are quite fussy little eaters, and absolutely no obligation, but if you would like to donate some food please can it be Purina 1 or
Royal canin …. pink one for kittens (both dry food) or special hedgehog wet food a favourite is brambles meaty hedgehog which you can get on line from Chubby Mealworms or Spikes semi moist hedgehog food which you can find in most garden centres. But Please absolutely no need to donate anything.
There are two disabled parking spots on site but that’s it! Lots of on street parking 5minutes walk away. (One step into the Sanctuary)

FINAL hedgehog tour
2024-07-20 14:00 - 16:00 | private house, Windmill hill, United Kingdom
Know I’ve said it before but this really will be the last! It’s on 20th July 2-4 pm.
all the details are on any of the previous tours
I’ve only had great feedback and it’s just a fiver for two hours...
Help 4 Hedgehogs is based near Herstmonceux and I’ve just spent an absolutely brilliant two hours being shown round. Tas is a hedgehog expert and I so enjoyed myself. Only six people on a tour. You’ll be split into two groups of three to go round.
You won’t be able to pick up/touch the hedgehogs I’m afraid because they’re anxious about cross contamination/infection but you will be able to get close up and personal! Thirty people contacted me to say they were interested so I’ve arranged five tours from 26 June through to 7july. All starting at 2pm except for the tour on 6july which starts at 12.00.
Minimum age is 11 as the hospital ward has to be kept very quiet. Only £5pp for about two hours. Hedgehogs are quite fussy little eaters, and absolutely no obligation, but if you would like to donate some food please can it be Purina 1 or
Royal canin …. pink one for kittens (both dry food) or special hedgehog wet food a favourite is brambles meaty hedgehog which you can get on line from Chubby Mealworms or Spikes semi moist hedgehog food which you can find in most garden centres. But Please absolutely no need to donate anything.
There are two disabled parking spots on site but that’s it! Lots of on street parking 5minutes walk away. (One step into the Sanctuary)

Autumn Foraging Walk
2024-09-14 10:00 - 11:30 | Punnets Town, Punnett's Town, TN21 9HU, United Kingdom
Here are details of Katys Autumn foraging walk … much as I don’t wish the summer over autumn does bring its own delights so …..
Join Katy and a maximum of 10 SFTG members and their friends on an autumn forage around Punnetts Town…..looking, observing, tasting, smelling and learning about the wild foods and herbal medicine available from the hedgerow.
The walk will be along lanes and tracks and take about an hour …. Or more depending on the amount of chat and questions.

Free Talk - the Raystede Animal Sanctuary
2024-09-20 18:45 - 20:30 | TBC, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Raystede is an animal shelter based at Ringmer where staff and volunteers care for and rehome animals of all shapes and sizes from dogs, cats and rabbits to mice, guinea pigs and even horses.

Raystede's Sue Suckling will talk us through the work of the charity from taking in 'orphans', giving guidance on animal care and finding new homes through to the associated Peaceways Pet Crematorium.

As a follow-up to this talk there will be a guided tour of Raystede on the morning of Thursday 26 September.

As usual the talk is at Burwash Common Pavilion. This event is free to SFTG members; guests are welcome at £3.00 per ticket. The Pavilion opens at 6.45 with the talk running from 7.15 to about 8.15 including time for questions and answers.
Free tea/coffee and snacks are provided and there is a bar which takes cash or a card.
We’ll also have the bring and buy table with proceeds going to Raystede. Please feel free to bring along any unwanted items.

Guided Tour of Raystede
2024-09-26 10:30 - 12:00 | Raystede Animal Sanctuary, The Broyle, Ringmer, East Sussex, BN8 5AJ, United Kingdom
This tour is a follow-up to our Raystede talk on Friday 20 September. We will be taken round the various animal enclosures for domestic pets*, farm animals and wildfowl with plenty of opportunity to ask questions. This should take an hour or so.
Guests will then be left to their own devices and may wish to visit the Raystede shop and maybe take lunch in the café.
Nearer the time we will be taking pre-orders from the café menu.
There is no ticket fee but we encourage those attending to give a donation on the day.
*For hygiene reasons guests are not allowed 'behind the scenes'.

Bring and Share Picnic and Tool Auction 2024
2024-09-29 12:00 - 16:00 | Etching Wood, Etching Wood, Framfield, East Sussex, TN22 5EW, United Kingdom
Calling all SFTG members, new and old, it's picnic time!
This is a chance to meet your fellow SFTG members, in the lovely surroundings of Etching Wood near Framfield, the holding of Helen Cowen and family, who are our kind hosts this year.
Bring a plate of food to share, some things to eat with/on and your own drink. And chairs or a blanket. Tea and coffee will be provided.
It's fun to sample the range of delicious dishes that we all bring, some of them home-grown, and a chance to have a look around the host's holding.
Please use the RSVP form provided to book your place and tick one of the boxes to say what kind of sharing dish you are bringing (savoury, salad or sweet). If you can label your dish that would be great.
To spice up the proceedings a little, we're also having an auction to sell off our remaining stock of tools. There will be a separate email about this, containing details of the items to be sold. Bids will be able to be made prior to the event for those who can't come.
See you there!

First Aid Training - NOW POSTPONED
2024-10-05 09:30 - 17:00 | Mohair Centre, Brickfield Farm, Lewes Road, Chiddingly, East Sussex, BN8 6JG, United Kingdom
This course has now been postponed due to lack of numbers. booked attendees have been emailed.

Should you wish to be informed of possible future dates for this course, please email GTO@SFTG.ORG.UK

Emergency First Aid at Work (Subsidised by the SFTG for members, get your ticket early - limited spaces available)

You’ll learn to deal with life threatening incidents until the emergency services arrive plus a range of minor injuries and common medical conditions. The course will be tailored to ensure that we cover the likely scenarios you’ll face, so you come away with the skills you need.

Core Content

Prescribed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and includes the following:

The importance of preventing cross infection
The use of available equipment & need for recording incidents & actions
Assess the situation and circumstances in order to act safely, promptly and effectively
Administer first aid to a casualty who is unconscious (including seizure)
Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Correct use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Administer first aid to a casualty who is choking
Administer first aid to a casualty who is wounded and bleeding
Administer first aid to a casualty who is suffering from shock
Provide appropriate first aid for minor injuries (including small cuts, grazes and bruises, minor burns and scalds, small splinters)

With some extra time, we can add any additional content that is relevant to our SFTG members and their particular scenarios, we will email you upon booking to fill in registration certificate and to find out if you would like anything covered on the day.

You will receive a certificate approx 2 weeks after the course has taken place and this will be valid for 3 years, there is no exam undertaken just trainer observation.

Please bring a packed lunch and any additional drinks etc, Tea and Coffee will be available on the day.

Mousehall Gin Tasting - Mayfield
2024-10-12 15:30 - 17:30 | Mousehall Distillery & Winery, Tidybrook, Mayfield and Five Ashes, East Sussex, TN5 6PG, United Kingdom
Visit the beautiful medieval Mousehall Country Estate, discover the story of Mousehall and how their products are produced. Christy Jordan, Distiller & Director of Mousehall, will guide you through a 90 minute tasting of how Mousehall Gin & Vodka are produced. This includes a G&T on arrival, a step-by-step explanation on how they produce their products and a closer look behind the scenes. Christy will then guide you through a 5-part neat Gin tasting and 1-part neat Vodka tasting.
We will be arranging a delicious local platter to enjoy after the tasting so please let us know if you have any dietary requirements.
You will receive 10% off any purchase of spirits from our onsite store at our Distillery & Winery.

Free Talk - Sussex Witchcraft and pumpkin carving competition with a fabulous prize! !!
2024-10-18 18:45 - 20:30 | TBC, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Bring your ready carved pumpkin to our next Friday talk on 18october and win a half price SFTG course of your choice……maybe gin tasting?
We’re going spooky in October and having a talk on witchcraft. One of our members has heard Chris talk and says he is brilliant so...
The talk focuses on the historical aspects of Witchcraft in Sussex and looks at what a typical witch (wise woman) would have done on a day to day basis in her village or community. Period cures and medicines are detailed, taken from the practice of Suzannah Stacey, of East Chiltington, a well known Sussex witch of the Victorian period. Artefacts and locations relating to witchcraft are also featured, including the Priest House, West Hoathly, famous for its large number of anti-witch charms, still in place today. The talk also details witch trials in Sussex and the legacy of witchcraft in modern times among the Wicca movement. focuses on the historical aspects of Witchcraft in Sussex and looks at what a typical witch (wise woman) would have done on a day to day basis in her village or community. Period cures and medicines are detailed, taken from the practice of Suzannah Stacey, of East Chiltington, a well known Sussex witch of the Victorian period. Artefacts and locations relating to witchcraft are also featured, including the Priest House, West Hoathly, famous for its large number of anti-witch charms, still in place today. The talk also details witch trials in Sussex and the legacy of witchcraft in modern times among the Wicca movement.
As usual it’s at Burwash common Pavilion with doors opening 645 and the talk starting around 715. Tea coffee and spooky snacks provided free of charge to members and £3.00 for non members. Bring cash or a card if you’d like to use the full bar. This is the last talk of the year as it’s that AGM in November so hope to see lots of you there!

Mushroom Foraging Walk
2024-11-02 10:30 - 12:00 | Wilderness Wood, Hadlow Down, United Kingdom
Learn All About Mushrooms and Toadstools
Saturday 2nd November 2024
10.30am to 12.00pm
WILDERNESS WOOD, HADLOW DOWN

Join Anne Yarrow at Wilderness Wood in Hadlow Down on Saturday 2nd November at 10.30am for a 90 minute walk around the grounds to explore the mushrooms and toadstools. Emphasis will be on learning about the varieties growing and their uses as well as education on the varieties to avoid!
This is a private tour for SFTG members and their guests with a limited capacity of 14 people.
You will need footwear suitable for woodland walking and clothing suitable for being outdoors.
There is a lovely kiosk at Wilderness Wood serving teas, coffees and cakes which takes card and cash and can be enjoyed before and after the walk. The brownies, sourced from a local bakery, are very much recommended!

Sorry Sold out. Another one in the New Year. PAINT CLUB - GROUNDED IN THE FORGE - RINGMER
2024-11-14 19:00 - 21:00 | The Forge, Ringmer, Lewes Road, Ringmer, Lewes, BN8 5NB, United Kingdom
https://www.thepaintclub.co.uk/events/paint-night-ringmer-grounded-at-the-forge-1-22
NB Attendees need to book direct with Grounded in The Forge for this event using the link above.
This is not an exclusive SFTG experience but Cat and other members will be in attendance.
Attendees from SFTG will be sat together at the event if you let us know that you are attending. Please email Cat if you make a booking and she'll ensure you are all together.

Last time, members drew Emus, this time it's Elephants!

2024 AGM
2024-11-22 18:30 - 22:00 | Village Hall, Punnetts Town, Hall, Battle Road, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 9DH, United Kingdom
What better way to spend a late November Friday evening than in the company of your fellow smallholders, celebrating another year of the ups and downs of growing your own food, learning about what the SFTG has been up to and our plans for the coming year.
In the convivial surroundings of Punnetts Town Village Hall. Cat Bush and her team will be cooking us a lovely meal and there will be a welcome drink of something bubbly, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Please bring your own extra drink.
AND ALL FOR A FIVER!!!!
Doors open at 6.30 pm. At 7pm, we will go through what has been going on this year and present plans for the next, including any proposals which need a vote. We'll then elect next year's committee. When the formal proceedings have ended, we'll eat, drink and be merry.
Please don't be shy, we need as many members as possible to come and participate - it's your group. We subsidise this event, so it's a chance to cash-in on your investment in the membership fee.
A formal agenda will be sent out prior to the meeting. I look forward to seeing you there.

GATOS CHOCOLATE - FRIDAY NIGHT TALK AND SOCIAL
2025-01-17 18:30 - 20:30 | TBC, East Sussex, United Kingdom
"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."
Charles M. Schulz

A Pre-Valentine's Chocolate Treat!
Friday 17th January 2025, Burwash Common Pavilion
Our first Friday night social and talk of 2025
Join members, friends and Gatos chocolate for a talk (and maybe a taster or two!) all about their delicious locally (Stonegate, East Sussex) made chocolate!
Hear all about how Paul and Roni source their ingredients (including Stonegate goat's milk!), why sustainability and fair-trade farming is important to their small business and how they turned their love of cats and chocolate in to a wonderful local business that is now producing excellent quality chocolate for its customers. Paul and Roni will also be able to tell us all about the chocolate making process, as well as why they have chosen to make their chocolate with only natural ingredients, leaving out all those pesky emulsifiers, artificial flavours and preservatives - whoop!
There will also be opportunities to buy their products on the night, just in time for your loved one for Valentine's Day!
Doors open 6.45pm for drinks, nibbles, chat, library books and SFTG sale table
Talk from 7.15pm
Doors close 8.30pm
FREE to members and just £3 for non-members
