MSANT stands for the Mid Sussex Association of the National Trust. This is the local supporter group for National Trust properties in this area.

By Anne Tucker, Membership Secretary

We support Nymans, Standen, Sheffield, South Downs NT and Batemans; fundraising to enable those properties to purchase items from their ‘wishlist’. For example, we have provided croquet sets for Nymans, deck chairs for Standen, bee hives for Batemans, also barn doors for the NT learning centre at Saddlescombe Farm in the South Downs. We also replaced one of the palm trees on the palm avenue at Sheffield Park.

All of our surplus funds are donated to our local properties. We have been in existence since 1976 and to date have raised over £130,000. Every year we pledge our surplus to be shared between the local properties, who tell us what item they would ideally like to have, and how much it would cost. At our AGM we usually have representatives from the properties come to tell us what they have spent their pledge on, and also to tell us their future plans.

For our supporters we offer monthly talks by professional speakers from September to May, and outings during the summer months between April and September. We also hold social events such as lunches, or tea parties. We meet for our talks on the second Thursday of the month between 2pm to 4pm. Our new venue is the Wesley Hall, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath.

Our next meeting is on Thursday 13th October at 2 pm at Wesley Hall, on Kenwood House, London, by Tim Kidd. We offer refreshments and a book/ jigsaw/plant stall at every meeting. Our subscription costs £30 per annum for entry to all talks and meetings during the year, with advance notice about the summer trips. There is a charge of £5 to non-members for the talks. You do not have to be a National Trust member to join the Association.

We welcome all new and previous members as we restart. Please come along to join us and support the local NT properties. For membership enquiries contact Anne on 01444455803.