In view of the interest generated by the recent High Weald Wild about Dark Skies Festival (28 Oct-10 Nov), the editorial board of The Messenger Magazine have decided to extend the deadline for our  Children’s Creative Writing competition (previously announced in the September issue of the Messenger) to 15^th November, 2024

The Festival aims to celebrate the High Weald’s dark skies and raise awareness about the negative impacts of light pollution – on wildlife, climate change and our own wellbeing – and how we can help reduce it.

Our writing competition  is designed to inspire and celebrate children’s responses to this topic. It is open to all children aged 5-11 living or attending school in the area served by the Messenger. We  invite entries of poems, or short stories or articles (maximum 250 words) on any aspect of the theme of Dark Skies. Here are some questions to get them thinking:

• • What’s special about dark skies and why do they matter?
  • What are your own experiences of the dark?
  • What  can you see in the night sky?
  • What do you like about the moon and stars?
  • What are the stories behind constellation names?
  • Why is darkness important to wildlife?
  • What would happen to animals, birds and insects if it stayed light all the time?

The new deadline for entries is  15^th November, 2024 and results will be announced in the new year. Prizes will be awarded in the two age categories:
– Young 5-7 years
– Junior 8-11 years.

The winners in each age category will each receive a £20 book token from Rother Books and their entries will be published in The Messenger. Runners up from each of the four villages will receive a £10 token.  All entrants will receive a special Dark Skies bookmark.  Your school may be taking part in the competition but individual entries are also very welcome.

Competition Rules

• Subject: “Dark Skies”
• Word count: Up to 250 words (excluding title)
• Judging criteria: Originality, engagement with theme, language (entries will not be judged on spelling and grammar)
• Only one entry per child
• Entries must be the original work of the child and should be submitted by a responsible adult (parent/guardian or teacher with parental consent).
• By submitting, the responsible adult grants permission for winning entries to be published in The Messenger. Copyright remains with the author
• Child’s name & age on 15^th November 2024 should be included with their entry, along with address and contact details (which will not be published) for notification of results.
• Entries may be handwritten or typed and submitted by email to [email protected] or by post to
  The Messenger Children’s Writing Competition,
  Hunters Farm, Kent Lane, Brightling TN32 5HU
• Entries must arrive by midnight  15^th November 2024; late entries cannot be considered
• The judges’ decisions are final

Repair Café this Saturday 9 November – Robertsbridge Village Hall By Chris Wing on 7th November 2024 The Repair Cafe will be open again this Saturday from 9am until midday – last items accepted 11.45am but please arrive early to allow volunteers enough time to fix your item. We will have all our usual volunteers this month – sewing, electrical, sharpening, woodworking, but our clock man has a backlog so may not be able to help you this month, and we don’t have anyone to look at bikes. We are trialling an upcycling workshop for teenagers where they can learn a few sewing techniques to transform an old t-shirt. They will also be shown around the Repair Café so that they can get an idea of what we do, and what can be repaired rather than just thrown away. We are still collecting specs for Peep and tools for Tools With a Mission. For more information about what we can collect pop into the Repair Cafe to pick up a leaflet or click on this link to our Facebook page which will give you all the details: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=406735548692851&set=a.163275739705501 DATES FOR 2025 This is our last Repair Café of 2024, but the dates for 2025 are: SATURDAY 8 FEBRUARY SATURDAY 26 APRIL SATURDAY 19 JULY SATURDAY 20 SEPTEMBER SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER We hope to see you this Saturday. If you haven’t been before, feel free to just drop in to see what we do.

The Messenger Magazine Annual Readers’ get-together will start at 7:00 pm on Thursday (7 November 2024) in Brightling Village Hall

ALL readers of the Messenger Magazine are warmly invited.

There will be FREE DRINKS (alcoholic and soft) and nibbles. This is partly a social occasion – an opportunity to have a relaxing chat with neighbours and others in Brightling, Dallington, Mountfield, and Netherfield. It is also our AGM (Annual General Meeting) so there will be some brief formalities (very brief, we promise!) including electing the committee that runs the magazine between parties (sorry, AGMs).

The committee hopes that as many people as possible will come. It’s an opportunity to show your support for the magazine (if you like it) or tell us what’s wrong (if you don’t like it!) – or just a relaxing evening with a glass of wine or something.

See you on Thursday.

 

We are currently looking for tombola items and cakes! They will be much appreciated.