25th January 2003.

Valerie

I too want to support you Valerie — North End being as much part of Findon as Nepcote —  although years ago at a parish council meeting where an item concerning North End was being discussed, one councillor was heard to say —

"where exactly is North End?"

The Northenders present were not amused.

Unfortunately I have very little to say that would interest anybody.

We have just spent two lovely sunny mornings in our strip of woodland making bonfires of all the fallen branches and twigs and having our annual tidy up before all the spring flowers come through. (Sorry to mention fires.)

Looking east across the field from right to left in the distance we can see to Cissbury, Mill house and Chanctonbury. Behind us is a bank with numerous rabbit holes, a foxes hole and what we thought was a badgers hole.

Our farmer neighbour saw our smoke signals and came over the fence so I took the opportunity to show him the hole and yes it is a badger - probably a youngster turned out by its parents. He says that badgers have increased greatly in recent years. Years ago there was only one sett on his farm and now they are in almost every strip of woodland.

I did not realise the damage they do to crops, flattening great areas of corn and uprooting it to drag it off for bedding.

In the 30 years I have been here I have never seen a live
badger and we rarely see the fox except when the female is hunting in the daytime for food for her cubs.

We used to have a fellow come with his ferrets to help keep down the rabbit population and he once flushed out the fox, much to his surprise.

We gave up keeping chickens years ago having experienced the
carnage a fox can cause but a neighbour keeps trying with his. Last year we looked after them while he was on holiday and hoped they would survive until he came back. They did but they did not last much longer. Now he is trying again.

I am a keen gardener and over the years I have struggled with rabbits, moles and deer. The only way to have a garden here is to fence carefully against rabbits and deer and trap the moles as soon as they appear.

The first snowdrops were out here about Christmas time and they are now appearing everywhere.( Our snowdrops were once featured on the cover of The Lady magazine.)

We also have aconites out and soon we will have the early crocus. In March there will be daffodils everywhere and in May the woods will
be a carpet of bluebells.

As well as all the usual garden birds we are enjoying small flocks of long tailed tits coming to the bird table. They always come at this time of year.  I have also noticed a couple of the large thrushes which are always one of  the first birds to nest, usually high in one of the apple trees. I have an ancient yew tree only feet from my back door which is home to many birds.

Best wishes to all.

Pam Stepney (North End Scout)

Pam Stepney, North End, Findon, West Sussex.

14th September 2005

Valerie

The Old Well House

Yes I was thrilled with this one as the present owners were our neighbours and friends for over 30 years and I know the place well. I cannot wait to show them this picture as I do not think they have it.

I know it was once two cottages - they have two staircases in their living room and six doors!

I can see what looks like a box edged path to the front door which is no more but I cannot see the ornate well head that would have been on the right. This collapsed about 15 years ago and was never replaced.

Our neighbours removed the yew tree topiary 30 years ago as it had grown to a monstrous size and was blocking out light.

I wonder if the hornbeam hedge that surrounds the property was there then. It used to be cut with arches in it and was quite a feature.

Pam.

Pam Stepney, Findon Village, West Sussex.