Your Weekly Local Newsletter on everything going on in Horsham District
Thursday, 16th April 2026
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the HD Loop! This is the first edition of a new project we’re launching for the local people of Horsham District. Our goal is to bring you local news, events and good experiences for you and your family. We have no plans to talk politics or world views; we plan to ship this newsletter every Thursday to bring you something different to your inbox. Something local, of value, fun and aligned with elevating people’s week/weekend. Thanks for reading.
Let’s get to it.
📰Digest
Your New Food Waste Bin Is Coming - One of the biggest changes to daily life in the district is now underway. Horsham District Council is rolling out weekly food waste recycling collections across the district from March 2026, with starter packs being delivered to every household up until end of April. Read more.
Horsham is getting its first ever Town Council — A brand new Parish Council came into being on 1 April 2026, with elections for 18 new parish councillors scheduled for 7 May. Once elected, it's expected the council will be named Horsham Town Council, representing over 22,000 residents and building on more than 50 years of Neighbourhood Council work. Read more.
Local elections: register to vote by 20 April — West Sussex County Council and the new Horsham Parish Council elections take place on Thursday 7 May. The deadline to register to vote was midnight Monday 20 April. If you're already registered, you're good — just remember to bring photo ID to the polling station. Read more.
Local Plan hearings underway — Horsham District's housing Local Plan examination reopened this week, with hearings running from Tuesday 21 through Friday 24 April. Stage One focuses on housing requirements for the district through to 2040. The outcomes will shape where and how the district grows. Read more.
Council tax increases - Horsham District Council has balanced its budget for the 2026/27 financial year whilst securing the lowest Council Tax rate in Sussex. Read more.
🏡Local Business Spotlight
Cornerstone Roofing Ltd are a local roofing company with a clear commitment to quality, honesty and community. All work is carried out to British Standards and in line with manufacturers' recommendations, giving customers confidence in both the service and the result. Whether you need roofing solutions large or small, Cornerstone pride themselves on transparency and doing the job right — no shortcuts, no jargon, just reliable local service you can trust.
🗓️ What’s Happening
Events are subject to change. Please confirm details with the host.
Sussex Guild Contemporary Craft Show – Henfield 📅 Sat 18 – Sun 19 Apr, 10am–5pm | 📍 Henfield Hall, Coopers Way, Henfield, BN5 9DB | £4 on the door The Sussex Guild Show season opens at Henfield Hall. Meet contemporary craft makers and buy handmade ceramics, textiles, jewellery, leatherwork, pewter, wood, glass and printmaking directly from the designers. Café with home-cooked refreshments and free parking. Sussex Living
Henfield Day of Action for Nature, Parks & Green Spaces 📅 Sat 18 Apr | 📍 Henfield, West Sussex | Free A community day of action for residents concerned about unplanned development across Sussex villages. An opportunity for local people to share experiences and strategies. Follow on Facebook: Campaign to Protect Rural Henfield. Page here
Chicken Run at Macs Farm 📅 Sun 19 Apr | 📍 Macs Farm, Ditchling, East Sussex Junior 1.1-mile race at 10:30am (£1) and Adult 5.15-mile multi-terrain run at 11am (£5–£10). Food, bar and cake stall on site. Advance entries close 17 April. Wsfrl
Bluebell Spectacular & Woodland Walk 📅 3 Apr – 10 May | 📍 Arlington, East Sussex A stunning seasonal walk through bluebell woodland in East Sussex — one of spring's most magical experiences in the region. Visit South East England
Pure Pace Run Club – Horsham 📅 Sunday 19 April (weekly) | ⏰ 9am | 📍 Gail's Bakery, Carfax, Horsham | 💷 Free 3k and 5k routes for all abilities, followed by coffee. Instagram: @purepace.rc
Foodbank Hub Van – Henfield 📅 Every Thursday (incl. 17 & 24 April) | ⏰ 11:30am–12:30pm | 📍 Henfield Library Car Park | 💷 Free
The Sussex Guild Contemporary Craft Show 📅 Sat 18 – Sun 19 April | ⏰ 10am–5pm | 📍 Henfield Hall, Coopers Way, Henfield, BN5 9DB | 💷 £4 (valid both days) thesussexguild.co.uk
Hever Castle Celebration of Spring 📅 20 Apr – 1 May | 📍 Hever Castle, Edenbridge, Kent | 💷 Included with admission 🔗 hevercastle.co.uk
Got an event going down? Share it with us.
🏡House of the Week
Grouse Road, Horsham, RH13. This substantial country house is situated in an enviable position in beautiful grounds, with far-reaching southerly views over the surrounding countryside to the rear. The main house dates from the late 1920s, when it was built for Sir Frederick Rowatt, the former Governor of the Bank of Egypt. It was acquired from the family by the current owners in 2001 and is now on the market for only the second time in its history. Its extensive, well-appointed accommodation is arranged over three floors, providing a versatile layout which is ideally well suited to the needs of modern family life as well as for entertaining on grand scale.
🌤 Weather
This Week's Weather: Horsham District
A mild and mostly dry week ahead for the District! Temperatures hover around 14–15°C throughout, with the best of the conditions on Saturday and Sunday, making it a great weekend to get out and enjoy the markets, walks and live music. There's a slight chance of showers earlier in the week, so it's worth keeping a jacket handy, but overall it's a pleasant spring week for West Sussex. 🌿
Thursday 16 April — Cloudy, 14°C. A slight chance of a shower (20%), but mostly dry.
Friday 17 April — Similar story, 14°C with a 25% chance of rain — maybe keep an umbrella handy.
Saturday 19 April — Brightest day of the stretch! 15°C and just a 10% chance of rain — good news for market-goers and outdoor events.
Sunday 19 April — Largely dry and 14°C, with only a 5% chance of rain — the best day of the week for getting outside.
Monday 20 April — A slight dip to 12°C and a 15% chance of showers, making for a cooler start to the week.
Overall, it's a typically mild and mostly dry April week for West Sussex, not wall-to-wall sunshine, but perfectly pleasant for getting out and about! 🌿
