Your local magazine in Steyning, Bramber & Beeding

25/08/2025

🐾 August’s Pet of the Month: Melodie!
Kindly Sponsored By Hawthorn Veterinary Surgeries

Melodie is a Shetland Sheepdog, or Sheltie, bred to herd sheep and look after the crofts in the Shetland Isles.

What’s Melodie’s quirkiest habit that always makes us smile?

Since moving to Steyning a year ago, she’s become a true local — she knows exactly which shops hand out the best treats! She marches straight to the counter and refuses to budge until she gets what she came for. A girl with goals!

📸 Every month, we feature a local pet as our Pet of the Month.

Want your furry friend in the spotlight?
📧 Email: [email protected]

👉 Head to page 34 of this month’s issue to see Melodie’s full feature!

24/08/2025

❤️ Love Local – Steyning, Bramber & Upper Beeding

From the independent shops of Steyning High Street, to the historic charm of Bramber, and the riverside walks of Upper Beeding — there’s so much to love right on our doorstep 🌿

Whether it’s grabbing a coffee from a local café, browsing handmade gifts, visiting the community orchard, or supporting an artist or grower at a local market — every choice to shop small and support local makes a big difference 💚

Let’s keep these villages vibrant by showing some love to the people, places and businesses that make them special.

🛍️ Eat local
🎨 Buy handmade
🌸 Celebrate community
🏡 Love where you live

Tag your favourite local spot or business below 👇

📸: Monika Redding

21/08/2025

🎨 Spotlight on our August Cover Artist 🎨

I am a local illustration artist working from my shop/studio, LydiaMae, located between the Bookshop and Victoria's Sponge Café in Steyning.

I create my pieces using gouache paint and use them to design greeting cards, wrapping paper, gifts, as well as Art prints and original paintings.

I am predominantly inspired by nature, children's books and loved ones, with a particular interest in creatures that fly.

I would like to illustrate children's books, so I aim to make that a reality in the near future.

📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: lydiamae.co.uk
📸 Instagram: Lydiamaedesign
📘 Facebook: Lydiamaedesign

18/08/2025

🌳✨ Deep in a quiet allotment in Washington village grows a tree like no other — the Washington Scarlet. A once-unknown apple, found in a trunk hollowed with age and wonder, has revealed a story stretching from Sussex to Ireland.

DNA testing uncovered a match across the sea, linking it to Dunsany estate in County Meath — a place once part of a replacement scheme that erased native apples. Yet somehow, the Washington Scarlet survived.

Bound not just by genetics but by the quiet care of generations, this apple has lived on because people chose to notice, to wonder, to care.

We’ve grafted new life from the original tree. You’ll now find Washington Scarlet growing in our main orchard and at Bramber Castle. Want one of your own? We graft to order – message us or email [email protected] 🌿🍎

📸 Tallulah Brennan

Read more on our website or page 10 of this month's issue!

https://www.yourmag.co.uk/news/the-curious-case-of-the-washington-scarlet Sea Stuff Community Orchard

15/08/2025

📢 Stay Connected with Local News & Events! 📢

Want to stay up-to-date with everything happening in your community?

📰 Sign up today and join the Your Mag community online! Get the latest local news, find out about exciting events, and keep up with everything in between.

You’ll also catch special offers from local advertisers! 🎉

👉 Scan the QR code or click the link in our bio to sign up and stay in the loop! 📲

11/08/2025

🚨 First-Time Offer Alert 🚨

New to advertising with us? We’ve got something special just for you! 🌟

👉 Book your first ad with us and get:
✨ A FREE featured post on our page
💸 10% off when you book 3 months up front

Don’t miss out on this exclusive deal!

📩 Get in touch with Melanie to find out more:
[email protected]
01903 372 449

10/08/2025

Shhh... did you hear that? 👂💧

There’s a hidden world along our rivers and reedbeds, and one of its most elusive residents is making a quiet comeback. Spotting a Water Vole is no easy feat – but with a little local know-how, you just might get lucky.

If you’re on a reedbed ramble and hear a ‘plop’, you might have just missed one. Although active during the day, Water Voles are extremely shy and quiet. Given their rarity and secrecy, it’s a wonder how anyone even knows they are there.

Want to know what signs to look out for? Turn to page 32 in this month's issue for the full guide! 🦫🌿

👉 https://www.yourmag.co.uk/magazines Sussex Wildlife Trust

Let’s celebrate and protect these charming creatures – and maybe even catch a glimpse on your next countryside walk.

05/08/2025

Steyning Community Raises £5000 on Fun-Filled Race Night for Sussex Cancer Fund 💖

Steyning once again shows just how strong, generous, and fun-loving it can be. From laughter and cheering to heartfelt gratitude, this event brought people together for a truly meaningful cause — and made a real difference.

The local community came together in style on Saturday 7th June for a lively and heartwarming Race Night fundraiser at The Steyning Centre, organised by Lesley, Sue, Sally, and Deb in gratitude to the Breast Team from University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UH Sussex). The event raised
an amazing £5000, all in support of Sussex Cancer Fund.

Huge thanks to everyone who turned up, donated, and cheered on the night 🎉🎟️

Moments like these remind us of the power of community – when we gather for good, incredible things happen.

Read more on page 38 👉 yourmag.co.uk/magazines

01/08/2025

Who's hungry?! 😋🍽️ The Steyning & District Food & Drink Festival is on its way!

It’s nearly that time again when Steyning fills with the delicious smells, flavours, and buzz of one of our most-loved events of the year. Whether you're a foodie, a family on the hunt for a great day out, or just love supporting local producers – there’s something tasty for everyone coming soon!

The Steyning Food & Drink Festival 2025 is taking shape – due to run from 30th August through to 6th September. Last year saw a brand new event join the agenda – the Street Food Piazza; it was a tremendous success and this year it is set to be even bigger & better!

Read more on page 36 of this month's issue. 🎉

👉 https://www.yourmag.co.uk/magazines

31/07/2025

Welcome to the August issue! 🌿☀️

This month we’ve got loads going on - from summer activities for kids to fascinating local stories, wildlife updates, and a full diary of community events.

I really enjoyed reading about the bug hunts and bat walks happening with Greening Steyning and Weald to Waves - a great reminder of the nature right on our
doorstep 🦇🐞.

There’s also a brilliant piece on the mystery of the Washington Scarlet apple 🍎, plus
a lovely Q&A with Nicola Mason, who many of you will know from the Steyning Festival 🎭.

Thank you to everyone who helped raise £5,000 for the Sussex Cancer Fund – what a fantastic effort from our local community 💛.

Don’t forget the Street Food Piazza on Sunday 31st August and the Steyning Food & Drink Festival running into early September – both worth popping in the diary 🍔🍷.

And finally, a big shoutout to Melodie, our Pet of the Month 🐾, who clearly runs the show in her household!

Enjoy the rest of summer,
Melanie

👉 https://www.yourmag.co.uk/magazines

31/07/2025

Don't miss Hawthorn Veterinary Surgeries open evening in ! 🐾

🐾💚Come along to our Hassocks open evening! We want to celebrate our first month opening and would love to see our clients- new, existing and future- and local Hassocks residents there! Whether you have already registered, are thinking of registering or simply want to see what Hawthorn is all about we’d love to see you. Have a look behind the scenes, chat to our team and enjoy a glass of fizz. As sponsors of More Radio’s breakfast show we are delighted that Hawthorn friend Jack The Lad will be cutting our ceremonial ribbon. Please use the form here https://forms.gle/7DdrHC4eA5mUUPdD8 to indicate you are coming as spaces are limited . See you on Thursday August 7th between 19.00 and 20.00 🐾💚

31/07/2025

Stuck for things to do this week with the kids / grandkids?
We have a few spaces left for our Creating Magical Maps workshop with talented children's fantasy writer which is tomorrow (Thursday 31st July) at 2.30pm. The workshop will be inspired by the maps and characters in Kieran's brilliantly immersive and exciting new historical fantasy novel Jed Greenleaf, just out in paperback.

And a few spaces also for our fun event with on Friday at 11am, which will involve lots of drawing, doodling and giggling, based around her zany, colourful HAPPY HILLS graphic novels, book 3, Mr Big Fluff Rules, is out now in paperback.