Most of us enjoy the warm weather when we finally experience it but hot weather can be a serious problem to many vulnerable individuals.

Saturday 29th June 2019 has been predicted to be extremely hot in parts of England.

The very young, the elderly and the seriously ill are the groups who are particularly at risk of health problems when the weather is very hot. In particular, very hot weather can make heart and breathing problems worse.

Please follow this advice to keep cool and comfortable and reduce health risks:
• Shut windows and pull down the shades when it is hotter outside. If it’s safe, open them for ventilation when it is cooler.
• Avoid the heat: stay out of the sun and don’t go out between 11am and 3pm (the hottest part of the day) if you’re vulnerable to the effects of heat.
• Keep rooms cool by using shades or reflective material outside the windows. If this isn’t possible, use light-coloured curtains and keep them closed (metallic blinds and dark curtains can make the room hotter).
• Have cool baths or showers, and splash yourself with cool water.
• Drink cold drinks regularly, such as water and fruit juice. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol.
• Stay tuned to the weather forecast on the radio or TV, or on the Met Office website.
• Plan ahead to make sure you have enough supplies, such as food, water and any medications you need.
• Identify the coolest room in the house so you know where to go to keep cool.
• Wear loose, cool clothing, and a hat if you go outdoors.
• Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves.

For more information visit http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/dealingwithheatwaves

North Horsham Parish Council has been given some wildflower seeds to sow at the parish owned Open Space at Earles Meadow as part of the West Sussex County Council Pollinator Action Plan. The plan aims to help reduce the threat to our bees and other pollinators that are vital to our crops, gardens and countryside, as well as improving awareness and increasing the number of pollinator habitats in West Sussex.

The seeds include Strong Creeping Red Fescue, Chewings Fescue, Slender Creeping Red Fescue, Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass, Browntop Bent, Clover, Oxeye Daisy, Foxglove, Corn Poppies and Corn Marigolds along with several other species.

The Earles Meadow Conservation Group has kindly offered to plant the seeds on behalf of the Council and to give the Parish Council an update as they germinate and progress. Photographs of the sowing and hopefully the final display will be submitted to West Sussex County Council to demonstrate that North Horsham parish is playing its part in this initiative.

Wild flowers are planted for all to enjoy, so please don’t pick them, instead leave them for others to enjoy and for them to play their vital part in bringing the benefits that natural pollinators have on our environment.

More details about this initiative and West Sussex County Council’s Pollinator Action Plan can be found at https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/12616/pollinator_action_plan.pdf

If you see incidents of anti-social behaviour or begging on trains please report it.

Southern Railway has a page on their website about reporting vandalism, fare evasion and anti-social behaviour.
https://www.southernrailway.com/help-and-support/journey-problems/eyewitness
Govia Thameslink has a similar page on their website. https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/help-and-support/journey-problems/eyewitness
Both trains have a regular service announcement explaining how to report incidents and posters displaying the telephone numbers to contact.

Guidance given by the British Transport Police is to report any issues or incidents on the train or at a railway station as soon as possible on 0800 405040 or text 61016. If someone is in danger then call 999 immediately. Those numbers can also be used to seek crime prevention advice or to make the Police aware of issues affecting your local station or your journey on the rail network.

The train companies and British Transport Police rely on people reporting incidents in order to tackle issues and enable officers to target the areas where there is the most need. The most effective action to reduce instances of anti-social behaviour or begging is to report any incident as soon as possible so that whoever witnesses it can give as much information to the train company or Police as possible. The more people report incidents and give descriptions, times, trains etc., the more likely the Police are to catch the perpetrators.