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    • Courses & Events, Bookings

      at the Sompting Downs Barn Environment Education Centre

      Come and learn about farming, wildlife and history in our beautiful downland.

      For all enquiries, please email us using this link.

      Please note:  Organizations booking the barn for an event are responsible for Covid-19-safe risk assessment and practice for their events and for ventilating and sanitizing (eg Dettol spray) / cleaning at the end of their event of surfaces that might have become contaminated with virus. Also please note that Covid-19 may lead to cancellations.

      2020
      Date
      Time
      Course or event
      Provider
      Tutor/Leader
      Open 
      to
      More
      information
      8 Dec 11.00-2.30 Senior Officers incl environmental review Adur&Worthing Council Alex 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 Society

      Amie 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
      COVID
      10.03.20 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
      Date
      Time
      Course or event
      Provider
      Tutor/Leader
      Open 
      to
      More
      information
      19.12.19 a.m. Local archaeology team event Worthing Archaeological Society Connie 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 partners Leighton Clay + Mike Tristram Residents and friends of Sompting Leighton on 07704 601172
      2018
      Date
      Time
      Course
      		        
      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 Thompson      		    
                   
      2017
      Date
      Time
      Course
      Provider
      Tutor/Leader
      Open 
      to
      More
      information
      21.12.17 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
      Date
      Time
      Course
      Provider
      Tutor/Leader
      Open 
      to
      More
      information
      23.11.16 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
      Date
      Time
      Course
      Provider
      Tutor/Leader
      Open 
      to
      More
      information
      16.05.15 10.00-16.30 Snails in Archaeology Worthing Archaeological Society Mike Allen/  
      Connie Shirley      		 WAS members  
      26.06.15 10.30-15.30 Dewponds Walk & Talk South Downs Society & Sompting Estate Mike Tristram
      & Peter Harris      		 SDS 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
      Date
      Time
      Course
      Provider
      Tutor/Leader
      Open 
      to
      More
      information
      12.06.14 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-
      21.30      		 Pastfinders 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
      Date
      Time
      Course
      Provider
      Tutor/Leader
      Open 
      to
      More
      information
      12.05.13 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 £20

      		 01798 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 Shirley

       WAS 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-
      21.30      		 Pastfinders 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/PC      		  All  
      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-
      21.30      		  Pastfinders 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-
      16.30

      Conservation, 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 
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    • The Sompting Estate
      has for 250 years combined farming, residential, business and conservation. 

      The Downs Barn is used for estate meetings and as an environment education centre. 

      Hiring the Downs Barn
      for Environment Education

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