Courses, Events and other Bookings
On this page we list bookings at Sompting Estate's Downs Barn, and some other community environmental events..
Are you an environmental organization interested in hiring the Downs Barn?
Please check dates here and then turn to our Hiring the Downs Barn page to find out more.
Are you a member of the public interested in learning about farming, wildlife, heritage and the environment?
For some courses and events listed below, the "Open to" column states "All". For those events, you can book a place by contacting the provider organization, whose contact details will be given in the "More information" column.
2022
DateTime
Course
or eventProvider
Tutor/ Leader
Open
toMore
infoNB this list has the latest events at the top Courses and events open to the general public are highlighted in green Private environmental bookings are highlighted in grey Past events are on a white background 15 Dec a.m. WAS finds team Worthing Archaeol Soc Connie Shirley 13 Dec tbc SDNPA ranger meeting SDNPA Craig Daters 26 Nov 11-4 ReUnion2022 Womens Retreat event Salt Water Studios
(SWS)Katie Robinson 16 Nov eve Wine production talk 2 Nov 11.15-4.00 Soil Carbon Workshop Event SDNPA Bruce Fowkes and Stephen Woodley 5 Oct 8.30-4.30 SDNPA staff meeting SDNPA Craig Daters 21 Sep pm Woolcraft Katie Gander 21 Sept 9-12 SDNPA staff meeting SDNPA Craig Daters 15-16 Sept Private landscape research Caragh Murphy-Collinson Mike Tristram 14 Sep pm Woolcraft Katie Gander 9 Sep am Estate mtg Mike Tristram 7 Sep pm Woolcraft Katie Gander 31 Aug pm Nat England/SE 25/26 Aug pm Woolcraft Katie Gander 20 Aug 10-12 Friends of Sompting Church coffee morning & talk Estate / Friends Mike Tristram Members & supporters of the Friends of Sompting Church 17 Aug 12-5 Age Craft Event Age Craft wool workshop with Sustainable Sussex Katie Gander Age craft booked only 10 Aug 12-5 Age Craft Event Age Craft wool workshop with Sustainable Sussex Katie Gander Age craft booked only 6 Aug 10-2 Dewponds walk (10.30-1.00ish) & picnic (1-2) Sompting Community in the Countryside: Estate & Parish Council partnership program Leighton Clay Sompting Parish residents and neighbours 3 Aug 12-5 Age Craft event Age Craft Wool Workshop with Sustainable Sussex Katie Gander Age craft booked only 02 Aug tbc Event in the Downs Lancing and Sompting Pastfinders Eileen Colwell L&SP members (booking necessary, limited spaces) 27 July 12-5 Age Craft Event Age Craft Wool Workshop with Sustainable Sussex Katie Gander Age craft booked only 02 Aug 12-4 NFU meeting NFU President & MP & Arun to Adur farmers group meeting Caroline Harriott Invitation only July 16 11-4 ReUnion2022 Womens Retreat event Salt Water Studios
(SWS)Katie Robertson SWS booked only info@saltwaterstudios.com 21 May 11-4 ReUnion2022 Womens Retreat event Salt Water Studios
(SWS)Katie Robertson SWS booked only info@saltwaterstudios.com 15 Feb 10.00-12.00 Sompting Community in the Countryside - SE/SPC partnership planning meeting Sompting Parish Council Cllr Cathy Glynn-Davies Invitation only PREVIOUS YEARS' EVENTS 2021
Date
Time Course or Event
Provider Tutor/Leader Open to More information 9 Dec 10.00 - 13.00 Christmas gathering Worthing Archaeol Society Jacqui Lake Booked members only FOC 19 Nov 8.00 - 16.30 Conservation machinery training day SDNPA Craig Daters Organiser's booked group only 18 Nov 8.00 - 16.30 Conservation machinery training day SDNPA Craig Daters Organiser's booked group only 17 Nov 8.00 - 16.30 Conservation machinery training day SDNPA Craig Daters Organiser's booked group only 11 Nov 8.00 - 16.30 Conservation machinery training day SDNPA Craig Daters Organiser's booked group only 6 Nov day Downland folk SE invitation 12 Oct 8.00 - 16.30 Conservation machinery training day SDNPA Craig Daters Organiser's booked group only 1 Oct 9.30 - 13.00 Defra farm and vineyard visit SDNPA Mark Alden Organiser's booked group only 6 Sep 9.00 - 14.30 Senior team rural meeting Adur & Worthing Council Catherine Howe Organiser's booked group only completed inv sent due 4Nov 30 Aug mid day Sompting Community in the Countryside walk SCIC / SPC Leighton Clay Sompting residents by booking foc 24 Aug 11.30 Pastfinders visit LSP Eileen Colwell / Mike Tristram Pastfinders members by booking foc 07 June 9.00-16.30 Senior team rural meeting Adur&Worthing
CouncilAlex Bailey Organiser's booked group only completed pd 18 Mar 11.15 - 14.45 Senior team rural meeting Adur&Worthing
CouncilAlex Bailey Organiser's booked group only completed pd 2020
DateTime
Course or event
Provider
Tutor/Leader
Open
toMore
information8 Dec 11.00-2.30 Senior Officers incl environmental review Adur&Worthing
CouncilAlex Bailey Organiser's booked group only 19 Nov tbc tbc SDNPA Ranger Craig Daters Organiser's booked group only Cancelled due to Covid-19 22 Oct Friends of South Downs walkers picnic in barnyard FOSD Richard Battson Organiser's booked group only Completed 14 Oct Adur & Worthing Sustainability Team Awayday meeting A&W Francesca Iliffe, Chloe Clarke Organiser's booked group only Completed 3Oct-5Oct Music in the downs Mary Iden Philip Thorby Organiser's booked group only Completed 26 Sep Sussex traditions in the Downs, organized tour and traditions event Sussex Traditions Mike Tristram barnyard, fully booked CANCELLED DUE TO COVID 27.06.20 Day School: Archery of the Mary Rose era Worthing Archaeological
SocietyAmie Friend
Jacqui Lake
WAS members CANCELLED DUE TO COVID 11.05.20 09.00 - 15.30 SDNPA Rangers team day SDNPA Craig Daters invitees only CANCELLED
DUE TO
COVID10.03.20 09.30 - 12.30 SDNPA Rangers Training event: Early season bird nesting SDNPA Sophie Brown iOrganiser's booked group only 07.03.20 06.30-12.00 Dawn Chorus Walk Sompting Parish Council - Community in the Countryside partnership Leighton Clay all 01903 208824 28.02.20 pm West Sussex NFU representatives farm meeting with MPs NFU Caroline Harriott invitees only 2019
DateTime
Course or event
Provider
Tutor/Leader
Open
toMore
information19.12.19 a.m. Local archaeology team event Worthing Archaeological
SocietyConnie Shirley By invitation 11.11.19 10-12.30 Nature Photography workshop EPIC Project (Sompting Estate + OART) Alistair Whitby all - booking required 07784 286858 1.11.19 10-12.30 Nature Photography workshop EPIC Project (Sompting Estate + OART) Alistair Whitby all - booking required 07784 286858 17.10.19 10.00-16.00 Staff training day Sussex Wildlife -Trust 11.10.19 09.00 - 17.00 "Little Brown Jobs" - About Birds Sussex Wildlife Trust Mike Russell SWT members/anyone 01273 497561 02.10.19 10.00-16.00 Staff training day Sussex Wildlife Trust 20.9.19 17.30-19.30 EPIC Photography Workshop EPIC Project (Sompting Estate + OART) Alistair Whitby 07784 286858 14.09.19 10.00-16.00 Flint knapping workshop: A million years of flints Worthing Archaeological Society for EPIC Project Bob Turner Up to 12 adults Book with Pete King OART 07881 458134 12.09.19 18.30 - 21.30 Bat walk Private Group Heather Guides & their families 11.09.19 09.00-13.00 Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust meeting and EPIC project site visit OART Pete King Catchment Partnership by invitation 2-5.9 RK 19.8.19 09.00-13.00 EPIC Project meetings 19-22.8 RK 14.8.19 Sustainable Sussex CIO community farm planning mtg 3.8.19 14.00-18.30 Church in the downs focus day Private Group Ruth Kenward 11.07.19 09.30- 16.30 Senior Management Team Meeting Sussex Wildlife Trust Tor Lawrence SWT staff only 15.6.19 09.00 - 16.30 Conservation, Ecology and Identification of Bumblebees Sussex Wildlife Trust Mike Edwards SWT members/anyone 01273 497561 8.6.19 09.30-4.30 Study day: Food and Feasting Worthing Archaeological Soc Judie English WAS members 29.5.19- 1.6.19 tbc Wild School Fox & Squirrel Chloe Thwaites & Jess Allerton Private group booking 22.5.19 14.00-18.30 Estate meeting 18.5.19 10.00-18.30 walk & talk (TSBP) Estate Mike Tristram Private group booking 11.5.19 9.15-13.00 Base for Sompting Community in the Countryside Woodland Walk Estate + Parish
Council + SCIC partnersLeighton Clay + Mike Tristram Residents and friends of Sompting Leighton on 07704 601172 2018
DateTime
Course or event
Provider
Tutor/Leader
Open to
More Information
27-28.10.18 27pm, 28am Guided walks event Private group booking 08.09.18 9.30-12.30 Woodland walk from Downs Barn SPC/SE Community in the Countryside Leighton Clay / Mike Tristram Sompting residents & volunteers 07.08.18 19.00-21.30 Lancing & Sompting Pastfinders visit and talks Pastfinders Mike Tristram LSP members, booking required 07.07.18 10.00-11.30 & after National Meadows day - flowers & butterflies at BB meadow, refreshments DBarn after SPC/SE Community in the Countryside Leighton Clay / Mike Tristram Sompting residents & volunteers 16.06.18 10.00-16.00 Conservation, Ecology and Identification of Bumblebees Sussex Wildlife Trust Mike Edwards SWT members/anyone 01273 497561 12.05.18 day MT 05.05.18 9.30-12.30 Downland dewponds walk SPC/SE Community in the Countryside Leighton Clay / Mike Tristram Sompting residents & volunteers 22.04.18 pm conservation volunteers tea after litter pick at BB meadow SPC/SE Community in the Countryside Leighton Clay / Mike Tristram Sompting residents & volunteers 7.02.18 Farmland Bird Identification Training A2A = Arun to Adur Farmer Cluster Gp, & GWCT Colin Hedley,
Peter Thompson2017
DateTime
Course
Provider
Tutor/Leader
Open
toMore
information21.12.17 am Worthing Archaeol Soc end of year meeting WAS Connie Shirley WAS members 4.11.17 tba Earthkeepers Pauline Cory Members 2.11.17 9.00-17.00 Bushcraft and nature awareness teaching Backcountrycraft Nikki Hedgecock NH clients 8.09.17 am Stakeholder meeting re sheep worrying issues NFU James Osman invitees 8.07.17 10.00-16.00 Conservation, Ecology and Identification of Bumblebees Sussex Wildlife Trust Mike Edwards SWT members/anyone 01273 497561 25.06.17 10-30 - 16.30 Chalk grassland and small woodland conservation on the Sompting Estate Steyning Downland Scheme Sarah Quantrill / Mike Tristram Steyning Downland Scheme Volunteers 01903 817996 17.06.17 09.00 - 17.00 Flint knapping training day Worthing Archaeological Society Bob Turner / Jacqui Lake WAS members WAS 02.04.17 12.30-16.00 Downland dewponds walk Sompting Parish Council / S.Estate Leighton Clay / Mike Tristram Sompting residents Completed 25.02.17 09.45-13.00 Sompting Brooks walk
(At HJ Community Centre Loose Lane not Downs Barn)Sompting Parish Council / S.Estate Leighton Clay / Mike Tristram Sompting residents Completed 2016
DateTime
Course
Provider
Tutor/Leader
Open
toMore
information23.11.16 10.30-13.00 National Park Rangers South Downs Way team meeting SDNPA Andy Gattiker / Nigel James SDNPA SDW team only 14.10.16 12-3 Sussex Traditions Management Cttee meeting SxTs Mike Tristram SxTs Mgt Cttee 23.9.16 9-5 Strutt & Parker countryside team training day S&P Andrew Thomas S&P staff 25.08.16 7.30-10.00 An evening with Barn Owls SWT Mike Russell Any 01273 497561 8.08.16 7.30-10 An evening with Barn Owls SWT Mike Russell Any 01273 497561 6.08.16
10 - 4 Basic Surveying Skills training day Worthing Archaeological Society Connie Shirley WAS members 01903 203608 4.08.16 7.30-10 An evening with Barn Owls SWT Mike Russell Fully booked 2.08.16 19.00-c21.00 Annual Downs Barn Visit and Talk Lancing & Sompting Pastfinders & Sompting Estate Mike Tristram+ Pastfinders members (pre booking required) 16.7.16 10.00-16.00 Archaeological information from soils and seeds Worthing Archaeological Society Mike Allen WAS members 01903 203608 15.7.16 10-4 Countryside Management SDNPA Nigel James SDNPA Countryside & Policy Managers 13.7.16 10-4 SDNP Rangers team training day SDNPA Tom Parry SDNPA staff 9.07.16 10.00 - 16.00 Conservation, Ecology and Identification of Bumblebees Sussex Wildlife Trust Mike Edwards Fully Booked 01273 497561 10.06.16 Staff training day Nutshell 01.06.16 Estate meeting 20.05.16 Staff training day Nutshell 14.05.16 Sompting Parish walk & picnic 13.05.16 Staff training day Nutshell 23.03.16 Staff training day Nutshell 10.02.16 Staff training day Nutshell 2015
DateTime
Course
Provider
Tutor/Leader
Open
toMore
information16.05.15 10.00-16.30 Snails in Archaeology Worthing Archaeological Society Mike Allen/
Connie ShirleyWAS members 26.06.15 10.30-15.30 Dewponds Walk & Talk South Downs Society & Sompting Estate Mike Tristram
& Peter HarrisSDS Members 04.08.15 19.00-c21.00 Annual Downs Barn Visit and Talk Lancing & Sompting Pastfinders & Sompting Estate Mike Tristram+ Pastfinders members (pre booking required) 08.08.15 Sompting Parish Walk Sompting PC/HJCentre & Sompting Estate Mike Tristram+ Sompting residents 23.10.15 9.00-13.00 Birds of the Open Countryside Sussex Wildlife Trust Mike Russell SWT members/All 2014
DateTime
Course
Provider
Tutor/Leader
Open
toMore
information12.06.14 9.30-16.00 Ranger meeting SDNPA Tom Parry SDNPA completed 01.07.14 9.30-13.30 Farming and Wildlife SWT (&GWCT) Peter Thompson SDNP Volunteers completed 13.07.14 9.30-13.30 Chalk grassland SWT (&GWCT) Graeme Lyons SDNP Volunteers completed 05.08.14 19.00-
21.30Pastfinders downland talk: Barns Old & New Lancing & Sompting Pastfinders
Mike Tristram Members of Pastfinders
completed 26.07.14 tba Sompting Parish Walk Parish Council / HJC Simone Williams Sompting community completed 27.09.14 10.30-14.00 Walk & Lunch/Talk at the Barn
(provisional)North Lancing Community Association June White NLCA 01903 755522 26.10.14 10.00-17.00 Family Woodcraft Day South Downs Society Ingrid Worthington/ Nicky & Mark Hedgecock SDS Members / Anyone cancelled 2013
DateTime
Course
Provider
Tutor/Leader
Open
toMore
information12.05.13 10.00 Archaeology in the landscape Walk. WAS Connie Shirley WAS Members 30.05.13 14.00 - 17.00 Members Talk and Walk recep'n. SWT Jane English SWT Members 01273 497527 08.06.13 10.30- 16.30 Discovering Geology & Landscape on a downland estate South Downs Society
David Bone/ Jane Major Members of SDS £20
Anyone £2001798 875073
(09.00 - 13.00 Mon-Thurs)06.07.13 9.00- 17.00
Pre Bronze Age - a day of flint period recognition, demonstration and practical Worthing Archaeological Society
Bob Turner
+ Gill Turner & Connie ShirleyWAS Members
01903 203608 10.07.13 10.00-16.00 Farm & Environment Training Day Strutt & Parker Andrew Thomas Strutt & Parker staff 30.07.13 09.00-13.00 Leica Total Station Training Day Worthing Archaeological Society Connie Shirley WAS members 01903 203608 06.08.13 19.00-
21.30Pastfinders downland talk Lancing & Sompting Pastfinders
Mike Tristram Members of Pastfinders
17.08.13 @DB c.12.00 Sompting Community Walk Sompting Parish Council & Community Centre Mike Tristram
+ CC/PCAll 31.08.13 TSBP 5.9.13 15.30-19.00 HLS Farm Environment Study Walk CJHedley Colin Hedley CJH Clients 8.11.13 Trust Mtg 14.11.13 09.00 - 17.00 Finds Illustration Training Day Worthing Archaeological Society Connie Shirley, Gill Turner WAS members Click here for poster/more info 2012
22.03.12 9.00 - 17.00 Farming and Wildlife Staff Training Day RSPB Bruce Fowkes RSPB RSPB staff 26.05.12 10.30- 13.00 Visit and talk on what is happening on Sompting Estate and the National Park North Lancing Community Association (Mike Tristram)/ David Stevenson Members of NLCA 09.06.12 10.30- 16.30 Folklore, Superstitions & Traditions of the South Downs &Weald South Downs Society Chris Hare/ Jane Major Members of SDS/All 01798 875073 21.06.12 14.00 - 17.00 Members Talk and Walk recep'n. SWT Jane English SWT Members 01273 497527 22.06.12 10.00 - 3.30 Chalk Grassland Assessment Natural England Sue Simpson NE Staff 30.06.12 9.00 - 17.00 Conservation, Ecology and Identification of Bumblebees SWT Mike Edwards Anyone 01273 497561 07.07.12 10.30- 16.30 Smugglers, Highwaymen & Poachers of the South Downs &Weald South Downs Society Chris Hare/ Jane Major Members of SDS/All 01798 875073 07.08.12 19.00-
21.30Pastfinders downland talk Lancing & Sompting Pastfinders
Mike Tristram LSP Members 2011
29.03.11 9.30 - 16.30 Farming and Wildlife SWT Peter Thompson, Game & Conservation Wildlife Trust Members of SWT/ GWCT 01273 497561 02.06.11 9.30 - 16.30 Members Talk and Walk recep'n. SWT Jane English / Neil Fletcher SWT Members 01273 497527 25.06.11 9.30-
16.30Conservation, Ecology and Identification of Bumblebees
SWT Mike Edwards All 01273 497561 02.08.11 19.00 - 21.00 Lancing & Sompting Pastfinders Mike Tristram LSP Members 15.09.11 9.30 - 16.30 The Life and Times of the Brown Hare SWT Peter Thompson, Game & Conservation Wildlife Trust people involved in land management 01273 497561