News and events

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For the sake of public safety, action continues to be taken to remove trees affected by Ash Dieback along our West Sussex major road network.

Ash Dieback is a highly destructive disease which, sadly, is predicted to kill up to 95 per cent of our Ash trees in this country: leaves start to wilt/die, trees become weak and brittle and have the potential to shed branches or even fall.

Last year, 1,500 Ash trees were felled on A and B roads in West Sussex. Now, on high-speed and high traffic-flow routes, we plan to remove more in the felling season – ie, outside of the main bird nesting season.

A West Sussex County Council spokesperson said: “We are committed to ensuring we have a healthy and diverse tree population to support wildlife and, where practicable, we will do all we can to save trees, for example, those showing resilience which we will monitor yearly when in leaf. We will also, where possible, only remove the risk elements of the tree to retain viable wildlife habitat where it won’t cause a risk to safety.

“However, Ash Dieback is dangerous to our highway network and its users, and we are taking steps to remove severely-infected Ash trees on County Council-owned land that pose a risk, as well as inform the bordering landowners of their own responsibilities.”

In the 2022/2023 felling season (September 2022 to March 2023, dependant on seasonal weather conditions and subsequent bird nesting) we shall be working on the following major roads, amongst other sites and routes within the County:

• A24 – Southwater area
• A281 – Horsham to the county boundary
• A283 – Shoreham Flyover to the Washington Roundabout
• A285 - to be confirmed
• A29 - to be confirmed

Arboriculturists are also currently undertaking surveys on C and D-classified roads. 

The spokesperson continued: “Private landowners are strongly advised to check their trees for signs of Ash Dieback. If dark coloured, dead leaves are present among live foliage, this is an indication that Ash Dieback could be taking hold. If the crown of your Ash tree is looking thin and bare, suspect Ash Dieback disease.”

The Tree Council has produced a downloadable Ash Dieback Guide , with pictures, for homeowners and those with Ash trees on their land. For people without online access, the Tree Council can be contacted on 0207 4079992.

If still concerned or unsure, Ash tree owners should seek advice from a qualified arboriculturist.  People without online access can contact the Arboricultural Association on 01242 522152 for a list of approved contractors in the local area.

Sunday 2nd October from 1-3pm

Proposed locations in phase one of the on-street electric vehicle (EV) chargepoint rollout in West Sussex have been revealed.

A leaflet has been distributed to residents and businesses near the sites in 78 locations across the county, inviting feedback on the proposed locations and giving the opportunity to ask questions or share comments.

To view the proposed locations, please go to: https://www.connectedkerb.com/west-sussex-chargepoint-network-residents

This is the first phase in the largest-roll out of electric vehicle chargepoints by a UK council, with subsequent phases taking place over the next decade, making it easier for electric vehicle (EV) users without driveways in West Sussex to charge their vehicles.

West Sussex County Council, Adur and Worthing Councils, Arun District Council, Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council and Mid Sussex District Council have signed a contract with Connected Kerb, one of the country's leading providers of EV charging solutions to install and maintain thousands of new chargepoints across the county.

The project is fully funded by Connected Kerb, meaning zero cost to the councils, and will be particularly beneficial to EV users without off-street parking. We will soon be engaging with residents who live near the proposed locations.

HELP US MAP OUT THE NETWORK

Residents can help us plan a network that works for them by sharing their views of where more chargepoints should be located across West Sussex.

Whilst we cannot guarantee that a chargepoint will be installed in the location suggested, it will help us see where there is demand and plan for future EV charging in the county. To suggest a location, or to find out more about our plans, please visit the Connected Kerb website: https://www.connectedkerb.com/west-sussex-chargepoint-network-residents

ShopAppy will go ‘live’ in Haywards Heath, Lindfield and Cuckfield this September!

With ShopAppy.com, customers can browse, book, buy, or get a convenient home delivery from numerous local shops and businesses in their area. Shops and businesses who join ShopAppy are given their own “online shop” within their location. It is simple to use for both businesses and shoppers. The platform acts as a digital shop window to influence local footfall, ensuring people can see all of the things they can do and places they can shop locally all in one place, it also enables people to order items from home, if they feel less comfortable or are not able to go out and visit in person.

The partnership with Mid Sussex District Council is enabling independent shops and businesses right across the area to join the collective, local shopping and business website, Shopappy.com.  So far, over 100 businesses of different sectors across the district have signed up. As the Council and the ShopAppy team continue to work with more businesses, the number of local options for this online service is expected to grow.  Local businesses that are yet to join the platform are being encouraged to find out more about ShopAppy at https://landing.shopappy.com/en/productloading in order to take advantage of the platform which comes complete with marketing support.

Following a successful launch in Burgess Hill, Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint in July, the ShopAppy team are turning their attention to Haywards Heath, Lindfield and Cuckfield with a launch date of 1^st September. This will be followed by a further launch in the north of the District in East Grinstead later in September. To celebrate the launch the ShopAppy team will be in The Orchards Shopping Centre in Haywards Heath on Thursday 1^st September talking to customers and businesses – join them between 10am and 2pm for the chance to win a ShopAppy voucher, learn more and pick up a free Pop to the Shops tote bag (while stocks last).

ShopAppy.com is a multi-award-winning digital platform founded by Dr Jackie Mulligan in 2016 (long before the pandemic) to revive British High Streets by providing a local, town-based online platform with its own “shops” so that small businesses could compete with the online retail giants. It enables local shops and businesses to show information, products, and services in one place. The scheme is enabling more communities than ever to support local more easily through click and collect, bookings and home delivery. In addition as well as the local site, businesses that have products available for post, can have their items automatically available nationally too on ShopLocalOnline.org

Tuesday 6 September: Bobby Palmer, Isaac and the Egg 

Debut novelist Bobby Palmer will be at Worthing Library on Tuesday 6 September, at 7pm, to celebrate the launch of his much-anticipated debut novel ‘Isaac and the Egg’.

The Sussex author, who also works as a freelance journalist writing for various publications including GQ, Time Out and Cosmopolitan, will be discussing his first book and the inspiration behind his writing.

Isaac and the Egg is a story of a young man who reaches his lowest ebb when he hears a scream and finds that it belongs not to another person…but a giant egg.

It is a novel about grief but ultimately hope and is ideal for readers of Joanna Cannon, Patrick Ness and Matt Haig.

A book sale and signing will take place after the event and some cold refreshments will be provided.

Tickets are £3 and can be purchased from Worthing Library or by calling 01903 704809.

Wednesday 14 September: In conversation with Cara Hunter

Join author Cara Hunter to celebrate her new novel ‘Hope to Die’ at Horsham Library on Wednesday 14 September at 7pm.

Cara will be discussing her journey into reading and writing and talking about her new novel, the latest instalment in the DI Fawley series, and the inspiration behind it.

A book sale and signing will follow the event.

Cara Hunter is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling crime novels featuring DI Adam Fawley and his Oxford-based police team. She has sold more than one million copies worldwide.

Tickets cost £3 and are available from Horsham Library or by phoning 01403 224353.

Tuesday 20 September: An evening with Jessie Keane 

Join multi-million copy Sunday Times bestselling author Jessie Keane from 7pm at Bognor Regis Library on Tuesday 20 September as she talks about her epic historical crime novel, 'Diamond'.

For fans of Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers, Diamond is the compelling story of a strong woman’s journey from desperate young girl to feared gangland queen.

Jessie was born in the back of a traditional gypsy barrel-topped caravan at the insistence of her Romany grandmother, who also pronounced from a tarot reading that Jessie, aged three, would become a famous author... Diamond is her 16th novel.

A book sale and signing will follow the talk.

Tickets cost £5 and are available from Bognor Regis Library or by phoning 01243 382470.

Tuesday 27 September: MacDonald Gill: Charting a Life 

West Sussex Record Office will be hosting its monthly Tuesday Talk on Tuesday 27 September at 7pm.

This month, the in-person event at 3 Orchard Street, Chichester is focused on famous 20th Century artist MacDonald Gill.

This fascinating talk is based on research carried out by his great-niece, Caroline Walker, and Gill’s nephew and his wife, Andrew and Angela Johnston, who discovered a treasure trove of memorabilia and artwork in the remote Sussex cottage they inherited from the artist in the 1980s.

Gill, known to all as Max, was born in 1884 and lived most of his life in Sussex: in Brighton, Chichester, Bognor and West Wittering.

Originally training as an architect, he later developed into a versatile and talented graphic artist, turning his hand to a wide range of commissions from lettering to murals.

He is best known for creating a distinctive range of decorative map posters for organisations like the Post Office and the London Underground.

Doors to this event will open at 6pm so visitors can view an exhibition of items related to Gill and his work which will be on display at the Record Office until Friday 14 October 2022, during normal opening hours.

Tickets cost £8 or £7 for West Sussex Archives Society members, and the price includes refreshments.

Tickets need to be booked in advance by calling 01243 753602, where payment will be taken by debit/credit card.

Find out on the government website below what support you might be able to get with the cost of living.

There's information on income and housing support, how to get help with energy bills, childcare and transport costs, and advice if you're looking for work.

https://helpforhouseholds.camp...

Starting this month, libraries across West Sussex will be holding free events to smash conventional library stereotypes and help people discover what libraries have to offer beyond books.

The ‘Love Your Local Library’ campaign aims to pull back the curtain on West Sussex libraries and let residents see the endless possibilities on offer. 

From family-friendly toddler time to board games and author evenings, plus free ancestry history meetings and digital subscriptions, West Sussex County Council is emphasising that the library is a shared social space for all to enjoy.

There are five Discovery Days running throughout August and September which are absolutely free to attend:

• Saturday 20 August at Crawley Library
• Wednesday 24 August at Haywards Heath Library
• Saturday 27 August at Worthing Library
• Wednesday 31 August at Bognor Regis Library
• Saturday 3 September at Horsham Library

All events will be running between 11am and 3pm and are open to everybody.

The first Discovery Day event taking place at Crawley Library will have a range of activities, including Bollywood dancing, a steel band, face painting, a visit from the local fire engine, sensory items and displays, free business development meetings, a cinema room and much more. Just turn up, relax and enjoy.

Duncan Crow, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said: “There is a common misconception that libraries are silent spaces just for reading, but this couldn’t be further from the truth and our library staff and volunteers already do a lot to make sure visitors have a fun and enjoyable time; but our visitor numbers are not yet back to pre-pandemic levels. 

“By holding these Discovery Days across the county, we would love everyone to come along, have some fun and be confident that the library is both a safe and sociable environment. Whether you’re a resident, just passing through, or you’re a fully fledged user of one of our libraries, we want you to come along, see beyond the books and expect the unexpected.”

All 36 West Sussex County Council owned libraries are free to join for those who live, work and study in the area. There are also plenty of digital options for members to enjoy 24/7, 365 days a year, choose from books, magazines, audiobooks, comics and newspapers to read and listen to on the go.

For the full list of where and when the free Discovery Days are being held, visit: www.westsussex.gov.uk/discover... 

The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) initiative is still encouraging you to plant trees to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, and this coming autumn is the perfect time!

We are pleased to announce that the winning Platinum Jubilee posters have been put up in the Queen's Hall for anyone who wishes to see them! Come and have a look!

Plant a tree for the Jubilee 

Local families affected by dementia are being invited to take part in an award-winning programme, to help train the healthcare professionals of tomorrow and improve dementia care. 

The Time for Dementia project, supported by Alzheimer’s Society, pairs families affected by dementia with undergraduate students, helping to better educate them about life with dementia and the challenges that come with it. 

This autumn a new cohort of Brighton and Sussex Medical School medical students will be taking part and Alzheimer’s Society are now seeking families in the area who would like the opportunity to make a difference to training health professionals. 

Time for Dementia is a fantastic way for the next generation of healthcare professionals to gain first-hand knowledge of what it’s like living with dementia. 

If you would like to know more about the project, or you know someone with dementia and a family carer who would like to take part, please get in touch with us at [email protected] or call 07483 137539. More information can also be found at alzheimers.org.uk/timefordementia

An Extraordinary Meeting of Mid Sussex District Council was held on Wednesday 10 August. At the meeting the Council reaffirmed its decision to adopt the Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD).

Mid Sussex District Council formally adopted the Site Allocations DPD at a meeting of Full Council on 29 June. Earlier in the year, an Independent Planning Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State concluded that the Sites DPD was legally compliant, sound, and capable of adoption. Following that meeting the Council received a Letter before Claim from Councillor Robert Eggleston challenging that decision on the basis that there was an error in law; in that Members were not expressly directed to read the final Sustainability Appraisal and consultation responses to it. The Council’s legal advisor considers it was clear that Members had access to all the relevant documents via an electronic link on 29 June, however, to avoid unnecessary expense to the taxpayers and to expedite procedures should the matter be taken further by the Claimant, the Council met again on the 10 August to reaffirm its decision to adopt the Plan. At the meeting Cllr Eggleston’s tabled an amendment to ask the Council to write to the Secretary of State to revoke the Plan. Members rejected this proposal.

Councillor Robert Salisbury, MSDC Cabinet Member for Planning said:

 “It is regrettable that Councillor Eggleston, acting with the South of Folders Lane Action Group, is threatening the Council with legal action over such a minor matter."

 “We were very disappointed that it was necessary to call the Council back to the Chamber to consider a matter it discussed only a few weeks ago. It is additionally frustrating that Councillor Eggleston did not raise this minor technical matter when he spoke during the debate on the 29 June. Had he done so, this additional work and expense might have been avoided.” Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council said: “The Secretary of State’s Inspector was satisfied the Plan was legally compliant. Revoking the entire Plan would be a completely disproportionate response. It would leave Mid Sussex without a Plan, and remove the protections we have in place against speculative development, as the Council would have to re-start all the work we have done over the last three years at great cost to the taxpayer.

“It is rarely the case that everyone agrees on every site in a Plan. But the only way to keep Mid Sussex special and avoid a developer led free for all is to have a Plan in place and to keep it updated”.

Do you have a question for the Police and Crime Commissioner about strategic policing in Sussex?

The deadline to submit public written questions for response by Commissioner Bourne is midday on Friday 9 September 2022.

Questions should be emailed to: [email protected] 

The next meeting of Sussex Police and Crime Panel will take place on Friday 23 September 2022 at County Hall, Lewes.

 Sussex Police and Crime Panel 

The prolonged hot weather has vastly reduced grass growth and prompted the cancellation of the fourth urban grass cut of the year in West Sussex.

Staff from the County Council’s grass cutting contractor will be redeployed to other highway-related tasks, including:

• Clearing overgrown vegetation
• Clearing vegetation from signs and cleaning the signage
• Watering the County Council’s 450-plus young trees, which have become stressed in the extreme heat and would otherwise be at very high risk of not surviving these exceptionally dry conditions
• Digitally mapping rural grass cutting areas

A full cut of our urban grass areas would normally take around seven weeks, so these temporary arrangements will be in place for that maximum duration. 

A West Sussex County Council spokesperson said: “Cancelling the fourth cut could mean that we need to bring the fifth and final cut of the year forward slightly to compensate and we will closely monitor the situation.

“We would like to assure residents that safety-related grass cutting on the highway, for visibility reasons, will not be affected.”

Grass fact file
Urban cuts: In towns and other built-up areas, we cut and maintain grass verges during the growing season, which is between March and November. In typical years, the verges are still cut five times per year.

Rural cuts: Verges in rural areas receive cuts in the following order:

• one visibility splay cut for safety - five weeks during April and May
• one, one-meter-wide cut to stop grass and vegetation overhanging the road - from July to September
• one overall cut a year - from the end September to the beginning of December.

In the countryside, or where there are no pavements, the County Council only maintains verges from a highway safety perspective.

The Fairbridge Way roundabout works in Burgess Hill are nearing completion. Overnight resurfacing of the Marchants Way roundabout is programmed to start on Monday 22 August and is due to take seven nights (22-26 and 30-31 August).

Vehicles will be able to use the A273 through this roundabout, but both the London Road (B2036) and Marchants Way will be closed between the hours of 8 pm and 5.30 am to through traffic. Emergency and home owner access to Marchants Way and London Road however will be maintained.

An FDL spokesperson said: “Our contractors aim to do the noisiest works, namely the planing off of the old surface, before midnight to minimise disruption to local residents. Once the resurfacing and road marking works are completed the temporary lights will be removed. Any works thereafter will require minimal traffic management.

“It is worth highlighting that if the current dry weather breaks, heavy rain could delay the tarmacking and road marking. However, light rain would only prevent the road markings being painted, which is scheduled for the final two of the seven nights. If rain stopped the overnight works, our contractor may have to reschedule for further night/s as appropriate.”

“We apologise to residents, local businesses and motorists for the inconvenience and thank everyone for their forbearance during our works.”

The Bentswood Hub and Mid Sussex District Council have teamed up to help with the cost of living by holding a Pre-Loved Uniform Giveaway on Saturday 20 August at 12.30pm at the Hub on America Lane, Haywards Heath.

The community have come together to make the event a success by donating uniforms, mending, and repairing, washing, ironing, and organising collections. 

Most Haywards Heath schools are represented in the uniforms donated which will be laid on neatly on hangers to recreate the back-to-school shopping experience. 

Councillor Rachel Cromie Mid Sussex District Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services said:  “My son is starting school in September, so I know full well the cost of kitting children out. Times are hard for everyone at the moment and this event could really help families who may be struggling at the end of the summer holidays. It has been heart-warming to see all the community come together to help and my huge thanks goes to the volunteers who made this event possible.”

Anna Sharkey, Bentswood Hub Development Officer added: “The great thing about reusing and recycling school uniform is not only are you helping out families, but you are helping the environment as so many unwanted clothes just end up in landfill.”

School uniform can still be donated to the Bentswood Hub all week or can be dropped into Morrisons on America Lane and Haywards Heath Town Council.  

The Back-to-School event is open to everyone from 12.30pm on Saturday 20 August. 

Residents can contact Cllr Rachel Cromie on [email protected] for more information or to donate uniform.

Following a successful trial, the majority of West Sussex Recycling Centres can now accept hard plastic items.

These items, such as garden furniture, coat hangers and plastic piping, have been accepted at some sites since the trial started in February, with around 70 tonnes collected each month. Some items are separated for re-use, while the remainder are broken down to pellet form, to make new plastic components.

Now, following positive feedback from residents, the scheme has been extended to all Recycling Centres, except Midhurst, which is unsuitable for these items to be collected there, due to the size of the site.

Staff at the centres will be able to direct residents to the new collection bins to deposit their hard plastic items, as some site layouts have changed to accommodate the extra bin. This extension will mean less reusable material is treated as waste, and broken or unusable items will get a new lease of life through recycling.

Deborah Urquhart, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “We are very pleased to be able to extend this service to more Recycling Centres as the trial scheme proved very popular. We are always looking at ways to help residents reduce their waste, and with this new addition we are helping residents to recycle more.”

Hard plastic items, like those described above, are not collected in the household kerbside collections. However, plastic bottles and food packaging items like pots, tubs and trays are already accepted in kerbside collections and can continue to be placed there - just please make sure they are clean, dry and loose.

Our website includes an A to Z guide to recycling in West Sussex.

If you need advice and support about how to be safe online or are interested in learning more about digital safety and current online scams, then the Get Safe Online West Sussex Digital Ambassadors are ready to help.

Based all over the county, these 24 fully trained Digital Ambassadors can offer residents 1:2:1 sessions at a local library, presentations and informal chats at community groups, or attendance at community events to talk about all things digital.

The programme, which started in September last year, is a partnership between West Sussex County Council and Get Safe Online which aims to work with the local community and community networks to improve and encourage safer use of online devices and the internet.

Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said: “In September 2021 we were asking people to volunteer for this new programme, which was the first to go live in the UK, and it has been so encouraging to see people pick up the baton to support individuals and their community as a whole to stay safe online.

“To those residents who don’t feel confident at spotting a scam, or who may just need more general help with using the internet safely, our advice would be to get in contact with one of our friendly and patient volunteers who will be able to provide all the support and guidance you need to stay safe online.”

The role of the Ambassadors is becoming more important as new research by Citizens Advice has found that more than three quarters of UK adults said they had been targeted by a scammer this year – a 14% increase compared to this time last year.

As part of their role the Digital Ambassadors can talk to individuals and groups about many things free of charge, including how to avoid being a victim of online scams, safe online banking, strong passwords, software updates and shopping safely online.

If you or your local community group would like some free digital safety support, you can call 0330 222 3185 or email [email protected].

For anyone interested in becoming a Digital Ambassador and helping prevent people becoming a victim of online crime, you can also email [email protected].

Pictured: Digital Ambassador Liam Dasey handing out leaflets on how to stay safe online and the Digital Ambassador offer at the Broadwater Carnival and Worthing Fire & Rescue Station Open Day in July.

Greetings from Rain or Shine Theatre Company.

Please be aware that the performance on Friday has relocated to the new Angela Fox Nature Garden (behind The Queen's Hall). The entrance is still from the recreation ground car park. The Parish Council staff are also planning to run a bar and sell ice creams from the garden gazebo. 

We look forward top seeing you there on Friday. Best wishes The Rain or Shine team.

The West Sussex Care Guide is now available and provides a wide range of useful information that will enable people to make informed decisions with regard to their preparations for later life as well as maintain their independence.

‘Living well in your community: Your West Sussex Care Guide 2022/23’ outlines options and organisations which can support people with care needs to live well in their own homes.

It also offers details of services including domiciliary care, day services, extra care housing and residential care for when people need more help, as well as a comprehensive list of providers.

Councillor Amanda Jupp, Cabinet Member for Adults’ Services, said: “There are a considerable number of care options available to suit a wide variety of needs. Our care guide explains the different types on offer and is full of useful information about the many service providers in West Sussex. It is an excellent starting point for those who are thinking about care for the first time, either for themselves or a loved one, or if they are already accessing support but want to know what other options are available to meet their changing needs.

“The care guide reflects the feedback we have received from people, what they have told us is important to them and that most of them would like to continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible.

“That is why one of the key priorities of our adult social care strategy is to give residents the information they need to make decisions that can support their wish to stay independent, living the life they want to lead.”

You can view 'Living well in your community: your West Sussex Care Guide 2022/23' online as an interactive eBook and browse through it electronically.

Alternatively, you can request a printed copy by emailing [email protected] or calling 01243 642121.

Since the Summer Reading Challenge started last month, West Sussex Libraries have seen more than 7,800 children and their families sign up to become ‘Gadgeteers’ over the holidays.

The challenge runs until Saturday 10 September and is completely free to join, which means there is still plenty of time for families who haven’t signed up to get started at their local library.

For those families who have already completed the challenge, medals and certificates are available to collect from any West Sussex County Council library, where children can also talk to staff and volunteers about what they have been reading.

There are also plenty of events happening over the summer as part of the Reading Challenge. These include:

• Summer Reading Challenge storytime, where staff will be sharing stories and encouraging children to become innovators with some brilliant craft activities.
• Construction Clubs which are taking place at selected libraries in West Sussex where children will have the opportunity to explore a range of materials, designing and building something of their own creation.
• Book Chat which will also be taking place at various libraries so children can talk about the books they would recommend.

The full listings of when and where these Gadgeteers events are taking place are available by visiting www.westsussex.gov.uk/src and clicking on the Summer Reading Challenge events and activities page link. Booking is essential but all activities are free.

A popular event with families is the annual ‘Hunt the Character’ challenge which takes place in all libraries and children and families can participate in this at any time whilst the library is open. This activity will run until the Summer Reading Challenge closes on Saturday 10 September.

Duncan Crow, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said: “The Summer Reading Challenge is something many children look forward to as the end of the school year approaches. They love coming into their local library, talking to staff and volunteers about what they have been reading, looking through the shelves and finding new things to read and the fact that eBooks and eAudiobooks from the eLibrary can be counted towards the challenge makes everything even more up-to-date and exciting.

“As all our staff in libraries know, reading is so important, not just for children but for people of all ages, as reading can enhance empathy, calmness, confidence and self-esteem. It has also been known to stop people from feeling lonely. By participating in the challenge, children are not just improving within an educational context, they are learning important life skills from an early age which will no doubt help them develop and grow into more confident and understanding adults.”

For anyone who hasn’t started the challenge, but wants to get involved, all children and their families need to do is sign up online at www.westsussex.gov.uk/src and get the secret code word.

Once they have the code word, they can head to their local library and pick up a goody bag which contains a Gadgeteers fold-out map, three sets of scratch and sniff stickers, a Reader Review activity sheet and a surprise treat.

The last step is to borrow some books. There is no minimum number of books to read this year, so children can set their own targets, and it doesn’t just have to be books, it could be comics, magazines or anything from the eLibrary.