The Worthing National Trust Association needs YOU!!

We need new Committee members to organise:

The OUTINGS

The PUBLICITY

The TALKS.

Some of these positions are ones that you could share with a friend.

The talks have been arranged up to the end of this year so it is actually only to meet the speaker and ensure that they have all that they require, as well as ensure that either you take notes of the talk or arrange for someone else to do this. If you like the Chair can still introduce them and give them a vote of thanks at the end.

Please submit your name together with a proposer and seconder so that the Committee can welcome you to our meetings. These take place about four times a year and we do provide tea or coffee and biscuits.

The Worthing National Trust Association donates funds to various local NT properties, one being Petworth. They put the funds towards new planters, which have been placed in the Courtyard. 

Here is the schedule of events that are happening at Petworth House over the Christmas period.

Petworth has various events over the festive period, runing from 29th November through 4th January.

THE WORTHING NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION

Minutes of the 50th Annual General Meeting of the Association held at Durrington Community Centre on Saturday 26th April,2025 at 2.15pm

Present:               Miss Kathryn Best, Chairman and Sales

                              Miss Glenda McMillan, Secretary

                              Mrs Heather Stone, Treasurer

                              Mrs Barbara Lidbetter, Outings

1.            Welcome and Apologies

Miss Best welcomed all the members present.  Apologies were received from Mrs Marion Condon (Membership) and Mrs Joan Pimm (Outings).

2.            Adoption of minutes of previous AGM

The minutes of the AGM held on 4th May 2024 were adopted and signed.   Proposed Pamela Hucombe and seconded Carol Smith.  

3.            Chairman’s review (from the Chairman)

“Thank you everyone for coming today.

I would like to start by taking this opportunity to say a few thank you's.

Firstly, thank you to the committee for all their hard work, without whom there would be no Association.

Thank you to Barbara and Joan for organising the outings and Christmas lunch.

Also, thank you to the ladies who organise the raffle each time.

Lastly, I must thank both Gaye Ryan and Jane McEwen as they step down from their respective roles. Thank you, ladies.

We do still need a couple more committee members to arrange talks from January, as I am still organising those for this autumn, also to continue the good work publicising the Association’s talks. This can be two roles.

During this past year we have listened to speakers talking about a number of varied topics, from the countryside to houses, including Changing Chalk, Gertrude Jekyll and Munstead Wood, Alfriston Clergy House and Odiham Hunting Lodge.

I know that those of you who went on the outings enjoyed your trips to Knole last year and Scotney Castle Garden last week.

Thank you to all the members who have supported our activities and long may this continue.”

4.            Treasurers Report and Statement of Accounts at 31 December 2023

Mrs Stone presented the accounts for the year ending 31 December 2024, copies of which were available to all at the meeting, and a copy is attached to these minutes.

The Accounts were accepted by all present.  Proposed – Jane Graves;  Seconded – Barbara Lidbetter

The reappointment of the Independent Examiner, Mr Alan Park C.Eng FIMechE was approved.

Donation to National Trust

A donation of £3,000 had been made to the National Trust, with respect to year ending 31 December 2024. There was a balance brought forward from 2023 on our National Trust Holding Account of £640, so there was £3,640 to allocate.

The committee suggests that the following allocations be made:

South Downs West, (£920) for firefighting backpacks

Munstead Wood (£1,000) for wheelbarrows and plants

A Shed for Hatchlands (£645)

Printing press fonts to Monks House (£300)

The total allocations amounted to £2,865, leaving £775 in our Holding Account to be carried forward.

The above allocations were agreed by those present.    Proposed – Jane Graves;   Seconded – Carol Smith.

We were notified by our bankers, Lloyds that in future we would be subject to bank charges. The Outings Bank account has been closed to reduce costs. It has also been requested that all membership fees and outings payments be paid by bank transfer whenever possible, although members were assured that payment by cheque and cash will still be accepted.

5.            Election of Committee members for 2025-2026

Kathryn Best, Heather Stone, Barbara Lidbetter and Joan Pimm have offered to continue in their roles.

Marion Condon is standing as Membership secretary

Jane McEwan resigned and Glenda McMillan is standing as Honorary Secretary

All the above are elected.

Mrs Gaye Ryan has resigned her position with the WNTA.

6.            Any other business

The suggestion was made that the monthly meetings should take place on days other than a Saturday, as many members cannot attend on Saturdays.  Miss Best, stated that she can only attend on Saturdays apart from school half term dates, when the meetings days will be changed.

7.            Vote of thanks by Chairman

Miss Best thanked all for coming and advised that refreshments would be available following the afternoon’s talk.

Ms Jane McEwen was thanked for her work as Honorary Secretary for the last eight years. She was presented with flowers and a card.

The Worthing National Trust Assocation raises funds for National Trust projects. Since 1973 we have raised over £185,000. The main beneficiaries have been local National Trust properties, including Petworth House, Uppark and Nymans, but also the Coast Line Appeal and major national appeals.

Allocations to National Trust properties.

At the AGM a Donation of £3,000 was approved for year ending December 2024, plus a balance brought forward from 2023 of £640, meant the available allocation for 2024 was £3,640.

Members approved the following allocations: -

South Downs (West): £920

4 firefighting backpacks, costing £230 each, totaling £920. These backpacks are great for fighting small wildfires and preventing them becoming more serious.

Munstead Wood: £1,000 

They are in particular need of two large volume wheelbarrows to enable efficient movement of plant material, pruning arisings and compost around the garden where vehicular access is limited. A £500 donation would allow them to purchase two large barrows, making their gardeners’ work more productive.

They have plans to propagate more plants on site from seed to fill Jekyll’s celebration Main Flower Border and Spring Garden, and a second heated propagator or heated grow mat to allow them to sow more pots at once and keep the growing seedlings protected. A £500 donation would buy a new propagator.

Hatchlands: £645

At Hatchlands Park they are undertaking an exciting project in their walled garden to grow fruit and vegetables for use in the Courtland Café. This together with their bid to achieve the Trust’s bronze garden hygiene award means that they are establishing a new plant hygiene and propagation area in their garden compound.

In order to provide their garden volunteers with a dry storage area for processing harvested produce and housing the necessary equipment in a segregated area, they need to purchase two sheds.

We will provide £645 to purchase a shed with a window.

Monks House: £300

As an ode to Leonard and Virginia Woolf’s literary venture that brought them such joy and success, Monk’s House has acquired a printing press to be demonstrated at events. We are allocating £300 so they can purchase select fonts, ink and a clamp.

The total Allocated Donations for 2024 comes to £2,865, leaving £775 to be carried forward to 2025.

Heather Stone

WNTA 2023 Donations to Birling Gap and Monks House

At the AGM in May 2024, our members approved the donations of £1,000 to Birling Gap to purchase deckchairs, and £1,000 to Monks House to replant the front beds. We have received the following communications from the Managers of these two National Trust properties: -

We were extremely grateful to the Worthing Association for their generous donation of £1,000 to replace the aging deck chairs we have here at Birling Gap.

 They are always extremely popular with our visitors and well used.

 Once the funding had been processed, we discussed with the manufacturer designs we were interested in, unfortunately the lead time to delivery was 6-8 weeks which meant they wouldn't have been delivered until after the summer and equally did not want to have them sitting stored over winter.

I have attached a couple of designs we are considering, and we look forward to having lovely new deckchairs for Spring next year.

Best Wishes

Simeon Marsh

Visitor Welcome Manager – Birling Gap

I am appreciative of the donation of £1000 from the Worthing Association for the front beds at Monk’s House.

It is really important that the front beds are replanted with thought and appropriately done. Consideration needs to be given to the historic context of the Woolfs, as well as long-term concerns including climate change and the environment. The time frame I would like work to would be planning during 2025 and planting during spring of 2026.

I recognise that this is perhaps a longer time frame than you may have expected. If the association prefers, we could look at diverting the donated money towards other pressing needs – such as greenhouse staging and rebuilding of our cold frames.

Many best Wishes

Sara Jackson

Head Gardener – Monks House

We have reassured both organisations that we are very happy with their time frames. The deckchair designs look very exciting and makes so much sense to wait until the Spring to make the purchase. The care and thought that the Monks House team are taking with the planting reflects their appreciation of our gift.

So please put into your diaries – visit Birling Gap summer of 2025 and visit Monks House Summer of 2026. Send us your photographs for the Newsletter.

Heather Stone

AGM report 2024

52 members arrived to join the committee for the Annual General Meeting of the Worthing National Trust Association.    The formal business of the AGM was concluded fairly swiftly.   

Of note to the members are the new committee members – Marion Condon who has taken over as Membership Secretary and Glenda McMillan who will assist the Secretary before taking over that position at the AGM in 2025.  

Also of note to members are the donations which were agreed:

   £1,000 to Petworth for a Versailles style Planter

   £1,000 to Birling Gap for ten deck chairs

   £1,000 to Monks House towards replanting of their borders

and £50 to Clandon towards maintenance of the property, as a thank to the speaker, whose talk followed on from the AGM.

The committee thanked all who attended – especially as it was the first sunny day for ages and a Bank Holiday!

Tea and biscuits followed. 

The Worthing National Trust Assocation raises funds for National Trust projects. Since 1973 we have raised over £180,000. The main beneficiaries have been local National Trust properties, including Petworth House, Uppark and Nymans, but also the Coast Line Appeal and major national appeals.

One of our most recent donations was to Petworth House for £2,000. This enabled them to purchase a battery powered lawn mower - please see picture attached.

We have also donated to Slindon Estate this year towards the purchase of new tools.

On a glorious May 2023 afternoon, members of the Worthing National Trust Association (WNTA) came together at the Pavilion Barn, Field Place, Worthing to enjoy a sumptuous tea to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the association.     Tables were laid out with celebration napkins and 50th sprinkles.    Much missed was past Chair, Jean White, who was enjoying a wonderful holiday in warmer climes!

Keith Forshaw welcomed everyone and advised that Congratulations Cards had been sent from a number of National Trust (NT) properties via NT Head Office but due to problems with the post, these were only received by WNTA the day following the tea.   There is also a congratulatory letter from Hilary McGrady, Director-General, National Trust and this is on file with the committee.  What a milestone to have been in existence for 50 years – we have managed to keep going despite challenging times  – other areas have closed their supporter groups completely. 

The association received several cards and letters, including one from from Hilary McGrady (rolled and tied with gold ribbon) together with cards from the Regional Director of the London and South East Region, and the NT properties – Polesden Lacey, Hinton Ampner, Uppark House, Winchester City Mill, Ludshott and Selbourne Commons, Tyntesfield, Ightham Mote, South Downs West, La Ronde, Sheffield Park, Stourhead, Batemans and Bodiam Castle, the Yorkshire Dales team, the Calke Abbey team, Scotney Castle, and Wey and Godalming Navigation.

We also received congratulations from NT Head Office, from Danielle Albrecht, Supporter Involvement Lead, Heellis (NT offices in Swindon), Standen and Nymans, Stowe, Cragside and Osterley Park.  

These cards are all an acknowledgement of the contributions of the Worthing Group and its members during many years of supporting the National Trust.      

Kris Sinclair, Senior Volunteering and Community Officer, South Downs, thanked the members for their generous contributions over the years – a total of approximately £170,000.00 – which has assisted many properties in the Southern area to purchase much needed equipment and items to assist in the running of the various properties.    

A strawberry cream tea was served together with cakes, brownies, flapjacks and macaroons and bottomless pots of tea and coffee as well as a bar for other drinks.   A delicious 50th celebration cake had been presented to WNTA and was cut by the new Chairman, Kathryn Best.