The Guide

Bates Green Garden, located adjacent to the renowned Arlington Bluebell Walk on Tye Hill Lane in Arlington, reopens its gates to visitors later this month, showcasing an impressive array of late winter colours.

St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Eastbourne has proposed changes to its services as part of its drive to make sure the hospice is here for the future.

The Wealden Community Sports Hub has been making huge progress as facilities at the site are being completed.

Mid Sussex District Council has officially announced The Digital Picture House Limited as the operator for the new cultural development at the Clair Hall site in Haywards Heath.

TWO rare and historically significant early works by Bansky are being sold at auction later this month.

With thousands of households across Sussex sharing their homes with cats and growing pressures on pet owners amid rising living costs, Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare is inviting the local cat-loving community to its upcoming All About Cats Day on Saturday 7 March 2026.

The latest local sports news

A SUSSEX charity supporting more than 1000 disabled people has received funding to help with its digital activities and online groups.

Hailsham Town Council is reminding residents to save the dates for two exciting summer community events: Prom in the Park on Sunday 7th June and the Sussex Day Celebration on Saturday 20th June

Hailsham Town Council has approved plans to install a new beacon at Western Road Recreation Ground, marking an important addition to the town’s community facilities.

Mims made the call as she joined the RSPCA at a special Parliamentary event.

On 15 February 2026, Sussex Police seized a vehicle in Eastbourne after a routine traffic stop escalated into a more serious legal issue.

A West Sussex primary school teacher has been charged with the sexual assault of two children.

The Crowborough Birthing Centre has temporarily paused birthing services until May 2026 as part of a strategic review of maternity services.

Anne Cross, a Green Party councillor on East Sussex County Council, sparked controversy after announcing she and her grandchildren painted Valentine's cards to welcome asylum seekers at a camp in Crowborough

Matt Weston won Team GB's first gold medal of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Friday, 13 February 2026, in the men's skeleton.

A 30-year-old man has been charged with driving offences after a pursuit in Eastbourne.

A Manchester City fan who committed an unprovoked assault on a Brighton and Hove Albion supporter has been given a Football Banning Order.

Did you a witness a boy be hit by a vehicle in London Road, Hurst Green?

A 20-year-old man has received an indefinite hospital order following the death of a man and the serious injuries inflicted on two others.

Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed it will shut four additional branches across Sussex as part of a wider announcement to close 95 sites nationwide.

The latest local sports news

We are delighted this afternoon to announce that Ashdown Retro is coming on Friday 27th February!

The Mayor of Hailsham, Cllr Chris Bryant, will be taking part in the Hailsham Community Run - raising funds for his two chosen charities, while supporting one of the town's flagship community events.

Tribute acts, party bands and 90’s rave will headline this year’s Beer and Cider by the Sea festival, which returns to the seafront Western Lawns from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 May.

Mims has publicly tested for HIV to encourage residents of East Grinstead, Uckfield, and the villages to follow her lead and get tested for the virus during National HIV Testing Week.

The leisure pool at the Sovereign Centre in Eastbourne is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, 14 February 2026, following extensive maintenance and the installation of new interactive features.

After 20 years of working in admin and accounts, Natalie Parker was forced to make a career change when she was sadly made redundant in 2019. Determined to bounce back, Natalie, 46, embarked on an intensive course in property maintenance and used her new trade skills to successfully apply for a Skilled Maintenance Operative role with GTR.

This Valentine’s Day, Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare is searching for loving adopters for a variety of cats, dogs and other animals who are hoping to meet their perfect match and settle into their forever homes.

Take part in The Great St Wilfrid’s Quiz Night Final, a fundraising quiz evening in support of St Wilfrid’s Hospice.

A review of the weekends action

A teenager who volunteered at St Wilfrid’s Hospice had a full circle moment when she returned 10 years later as part of her doctor training.

Mims Davies MP was thrilled and honoured to join the ribbon cutting and re-launch for The Engine Room in East Grinstead during the weekend.

Madness will headline the On The Beach festival in Brighton on Friday, 24 July 2026. The legendary British band, often called the "Nutty Boys," will perform a special show titled Madrophenia, featuring a setlist of their greatest hits on the iconic Brighton seafront.

Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde OBE stated he was "absolutely honoured" to receive the New MP of the Year Award (specifically the "New Other Party MP of the Year" category) at a ceremony held on 28 January 2026 at Speaker’s House in the Palace of Westminster

The family of a man who sadly died following a collision in Camber, have described him as “loving, caring, fun and happy”.

Wealden District Council has this week transferred £1.1million of funding to East Sussex County Council (ESCC) to drive forward a package of highways improvements focussed on the A22 around Hailsham.

Sussex Police reported that increased visible patrols under the national Safer Streets Winter of Action initiative have significantly enhanced community safety across town centres this winter.

Phillip and Christine Straker, a retired couple living adjacent to Crowborough Training Camp, have voiced their distress, describing themselves as feeling "under siege" after asylum seekers were moved into the former military site.

Businesses across Wealden can benefit from tailored business support from The High Street Experts visiting them to gain a clear understanding of the challenges they face.

Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde has secured a commitment from Southern Water to provide the remaining funding required to re-open the Prince’s Park Splash Pad.

The latest local sports news from across the area

William the Composter has been announced as the public’s ultimate favourite name for the new vehicles collecting the food waste in Wealden, Hastings and Rother.

The winners for the Wealden District Council Nature Photo Competition have been announced earlier this month.

This March, Chelsea will be undertaking the Eastbourne Half marathon to raise funds for Forward Facing

Ashdown Radio's breakfast show host and director to host the awards at The Glass House in Eastbourne

The Horder Centre, a specialist orthopaedic hospital in Crowborough, East Sussex, recently celebrated the clinical milestone of treating its 200th patient with Arthrosamid® for knee osteoarthritis.

A man in his 20s was confirmed deceased on Wednesday afternoon, 4 February 2026, following an emergency search operation near the cliffs in Eastbourne.

Sussex Police have launched an investigation following multiple reports of vehicles being broken into in Eastbourne between the night of 3 February and the morning of 4 February 2026.

A six-week public consultation will start on 6 February 2026 until 20 March 2026 regarding the revised Wealden Local Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Tourism at Eastbourne Borough Council has confirmed that the authority will ‘fast track’ an application to the government’s new £1.5 billion fund for cultural venues.

Vehicle entries are now open for Magnificent Motors, which gears up for a return to Eastbourne from 2 – 3 May.

HERE'S your opportunity to work on Ashdown Forest - and enjoy everything that makes the iconic site so special.

The Bishop of Chichester, Dr Martin Warner, has announced today that he will retire from office at the end of May 2026.

South East Water customers in parts of Kent and Sussex can use their hosepipes again as restrictions on their use have been lifted today (Thursday, 5 February).

Every year, 45 people are killed and almost 1,000 are seriously injured on Sussex's roads.

Sussex Police arrested a 30-year-old man on 30 January 2026, following a 40-mile tactical pursuit of a stolen Asda delivery van.

Plans have been approved to transform a former public toilet in Eastbourne’s Old Town into a new venue called Little Mexico, which will house both a Mexican restaurant and an artisan shop.

Mims and her team have been working hard to bring a Banking Hub to East Grinstead and Uckfield for residents who need that extra support and help when banking.

Starting next week, most homes in Lewes district will move to alternate weekly bin collections.

The latest local sports news from across the area

The Sussex Police portion of the 2026/27 council tax bill is set to increase by £15 for a Band D property, the maximum amount allowable without a referendum.

The local community is being invited to unleash their creativity and help shape a new art installation at St Wilfrid’s Hospice.

Eastbourne Borough Council has temporarily closed the Holywell steps as of 2 February 2026

Police are urging residents to be vigilant after reports of attempted break-ins in East Grinstead and Maidenbower.

A serious collision involving a car and a motorcycle occurred in Eastbourne on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, resulting in serious injuries to a 65-year-old motorcyclist.

Thames Valley Police have launched an urgent manhunt for Darnell Smith, a 27-year-old prisoner who absconded from HMP Springhill in Buckinghamshire around 11:30 am on Wednesday, 28 January 2026.

The Original Factory Shop has fallen into administration, putting the future of the chain’s 137 stores and 1,180 staff at risk.

The two day music event is organised by local MC and artist Miss Melody, who was behind the Bexfest Festivals at The De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill and will be fronted by Ashdown Radio's Ryan Millns & Martyn Grenfell

The Ashdown Room was officially opened at the High Broom Care Home in Crowborough.

Sussex Police have named 18-year-old Oliver Durrant as one of the latest 15 individuals convicted during their winter drink and drug-driving crackdown, Operation Limit.

The government has officially confirmed a £250 million investment to build a new, state-of-the-art Sussex Cancer Centre at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton

On 30 January 2026, Sussex Police announced the charging of two men for drug supply offences following proactive patrols in the North Laine area of Brighton.

Sussex Police is joining other forces across the country in a four-week Firearms Amnesty for five types of BRUNI-manufactured side / top-venting blank firers (TVBFs) which are now illegal to possess following testing by the National Crime Agency and policing.

The latest local sports news from across the area

The charity Diabetes UK is providing support and advice for people in the Muslim community who live with diabetes to help them stay healthy during Ramadan.

Josh Babarinde, Member of Parliament for Eastbourne, has met with Southern Water’s Chief Executive, Lawrence Gosden, to negotiate wider community payback following the company’s repeated failures in the town.

Throughout this experience, Mims has been keeping constituents as updated as possible on Facebook and has been speaking out massively on this issue and also wrote to the Chair of South East Water demanding new leadership.

The estimated cost for policing the Crowborough migrant camp in East Sussex is £5.6 million for the next 12 months.

Piltdown Golf Club has been named one of three national finalists for the Women in Golf Charter Club Award at the upcoming 2026 England Golf Awards.

A 39-year-old man from Maidenhead was arrested after a flatbed van crashed into the front of the Horse & Groom Harvester in Polegate late on Wednesday night, 28 January 2026.

Southern Water has announced that average household bills will increase again starting in April 2026.

Sussex Police are currently appealing for the public's help to locate Gordon McGinn, who is wanted on recall to prison