Table Tennis Club
2028-11-13 19:30 - 21:30, 2028-11-15 19:30 - 21:30, 2028-11-16 19:30 - 21:30, 2028-11-20 19:30 - 21:30, 2028-11-22 19:30 - 21:30, 2028-11-23 19:30 - 21:30, 2028-11-27 19:30 - 21:30, 2028-11-29 19:30 - 21:30 (Europe/London) | Forest Row Village Club, Station Road, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5DW, United Kingdom
Table tennis at Forest Row Village Club, three evenings a week — Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Friendly, competitive, all levels. Just turn up.

Takemusu Aikido Forest Row
2028-11-14 19:30 - 21:30, 2028-11-21 19:30 - 21:30, 2028-11-28 19:30 - 21:30 | Forest Row Village Hall, Lewes Road, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5ES, United Kingdom
Takemusu Aikido Forest Row is a not-for-profit club, and has been dedicated to weekly traditional Aikido practice since 2009.

Classes are suitable for both men and women aged 16 and over.

Students are taught in the Iwama-Ryu pedagogy after Morihiro Saito Shihan, and under the guidance of Dr. Paolo Corallini Shihan.

This means that there is a balanced emphasis on Buki Waza (weapons techniques) and Taijutsu (body techniques), as well as a strong focus on basic techniques and their detailed application.

What is Aikido?

Aikido is a Japanese martial art, or Budo, created by Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969). It literally means “the way (-do) of harmony (Ai-) through universal energy (-ki-)”.

Nicolas de Knoop, Instructor

Nicolas de Knoop began studying Aikido in 1990 at Rhodes University, South Africa.

He achieved Iwama-Ryu Aikido dan grades in taijutsu (empty handed) and buki-waza (weapons) in 1996 & 1997 respectively, through Dr. Paolo Corallini Shihan and Morihiro Saito Shihan.

Nicolas currently holds a 4th Dan in Iwama Ryu Taijutsu (empty handed), Aiki Ken, and Aiki Jo (weapons), is fully insured, and a registered Aikido coach with the British Aikido Board (BAB).

Coming for the first time?

Please note: Aikido is a martial art which requires a certain level of fitness. If you have any health concerns, please consult your doctor before coming to practice. Aikido involves wrist, elbow, shoulder, lapel (etc) grabs and strikes, and involves falls and joint locks. Every effort is made to ensure safe and enjoyable practice, with a step by step approach geared to all levels of practitioners. If you have any concerns, please get in touch.

The first lesson is free.

Forest Row – Tuesday Evening: Please arrive at the Village Hall (Peter Griffits) for 7.20 pm. Mats are laid out for a 7.30 pm start.

If you do not have a keiko-gi (training uniform), please wear comfortable but sturdy clothes, e.g. track suit.

Membership, Insurance, & Fees

Membership

Forest Row: Upon expressing a wish to continue to practice after an initial training session you will be required to complete a “New Membership Application Form”. This form must be along with the annual insurance and registration fee of £30. Students under the age of 18 will require a parent or guardian to verify the application.

Insurance

It is a requirement for all individuals who wish to train at TAFR that they have suitable insurance. When first joining there is a registration and insurance fee of £30, which covers a practitioner for 1 year.

Thereafter there insurance renewal is £20 per annum. TAFR is a member club of the Aikido Development Society, which in turn is a full member of the British Aikido Board, a National Governing Body of Aikido within the UK.

Fees

Forest Row: The first lesson is free. Thereafter it is £32 per month, or £12 drop in. Fees can be paid via standing order.

Singing Mamas Forest Row
2028-11-15 09:15 - 10:45, 2028-11-22 09:15 - 10:45, 2028-11-29 09:15 - 10:45 | Forest Row Village Hall, Lewes Road, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5ES, United Kingdom
Singing Mamas sessions are a space where all women, no matter their singing skill, can come together in a supportive community. Whether you’ve sung for years or feel a bit hesitant, our relaxed environment welcomes you and your little ones to connect, sing, and find joy in shared melodies.

No auditions, no solos, just a community coming together in song!

More info:

https://forestrowvillagehall.org/organiser/singing-mamas/

https://www.singingmamas.org/

What To Expect

Community Connection: A warm, welcoming space where you can connect with other local women and share experiences.

Guided Singing: Our sessions are tailored to every level. You’ll be introduced to simple songs taught by ear, ensuring everyone can participate, regardless of prior singing experience.

Child-Friendly: We understand the demands of motherhood. Feel free to bring your little ones along. We foster a family-friendly environment where kids are part of the joy.

Supportive Atmosphere: Nervous about singing in a group or worried you’re not ‘good enough’? Don’t be. Our main goal is to uplift each other and find joy in the process, not to perform perfectly.

Refreshment Break: We always make time for a little break, allowing you to relax, chat with fellow mamas, and enjoy some refreshments.

Benefits

Inclusive Environment: Being part of a group where everyone is welcome, regardless of singing ability or experience, boosts confidence and self-worth.

Emotional Boost: Singing has been shown to release ‘happy hormones’, acting as a natural mood enhancer.

Stress Reduction: The act of singing, especially in a group, can help soothe the nervous system and decrease levels of stress.

Enhanced Connection: It’s not just about the songs. It’s about forging meaningful connections with fellow mamas, providing a sense of community and belonging.

Cognitive Stimulation: Learning new songs and harmonies stimulates cognitive functions, keeping the mind sharp and engaged.

Physical Well-being: Singing involves deep breathing and good posture, which can help in reducing muscle tension and promoting physical well-being.

The Shed at Forest Row
2028-11-15 10:00 - 14:00, 2028-11-18 10:00 - 14:00, 2028-11-22 10:00 - 14:00, 2028-11-25 10:00 - 14:00, 2028-11-29 10:00 - 14:00 | Forest Row Community Centre, Hartfield Road, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5DZ, United Kingdom
The Shed at Forest Row is a thriving hub for people of all ages to get together in a creative, safe environment to build and repair things, assist other residents, and form new connections and friendships.

What is The Shed at Forest Row?

We are a community workshop, inspired by the Men’s Shed movement, which started in Australia in the 1990s.

Those grassroots sheds were set up as woodworking workshops, but also as a place for people to connect with others. The Shed concept offers people the opportunity to ‘potter’ much as they would in their own garden shed – but the difference is that they would not be alone.

The ability for people to share their skills, learn from others, undertake small and not so small projects in the company of others is central to the philosophy of the Shed movement.

The idea is to combat loneliness and to offer a space to chat and boost mental health, whilst also giving attendees the opportunity to repair / upcycle / make things for the community or themselves.

The Shed at Forest Row is open to all aged 18 and over, not just men.

Our initial focus is on woodwork, but we also want to have other crafts onsite, such as knitting and crochet. We are in the process of registering The Shed at Forest Row as a charity.

The idea has spread and, according to the UK Mens Shed Association, there are now over 400 shed projects up and running in the UK.

Our Shed in Forest Row works in tandem with other well-established initiatives in the village including the Repair Café, the VENUe on the Green, FRow Resource and the Second Life community shop.

Where?

The Shed at Forest Row is located just behind the Community Centre on Hartfield Road, Forest Row, RH18 5DZ.

When?

We launched in Spring 2025, and currently host two sessions a week:

10am – 2pm Wednesday

10am – 2pm Saturday

We hope to add more sessions once we’re more established.

How much does The Shed at Forest Row cost?

The first three taster sessions are free. After that, we ask for a £3 contribution per session (which includes all hot drinks and biscuits), or you can become a member at £35 a year.

We wish we didn’t have to charge, but we have all sorts of overheads (rent, utilities, woodwork supplies, safety equipment and training).

We are applying for grants, but we also need an ongoing revenue stream to make it viable.

How can you join?

If you’re interested in coming to the Shed to make/repair your own projects, or join ours, or just hang out, please send us an email or a DM. We can send you our membership form. theshedforestrow@gmail.com

How can you help?

VOLUNTEERS: We’re always open to volunteers with craft skills who would be happy to facilitate sessions. Please email if you’re interested.

TOOLS: We would very much welcome donations of good-quality tools that you don’t need any more. Please email if you would like to donate anything.

theshedforestrow@gmail.com

Who’s behind The Shed at Forest Row?

Our committee comprises Tony Lewin (chair), Alex Waters (treasurer), Helen Munro (secretary), Kevin Brockbank (health & safety officer),Liz Brockbank (accountancy) session leaders David Loveday and Neil Woolley, and Christine Luke (membership secretary).

Join The Shed at Forest Row

Know someone that would like to be part of The Shed? If you would like to become part of the team to help build, manage or support this exciting initiative, or if you’d like to become a Shed member, please register your interest at theshedforestrow@gmail.com

Sketchbook Cafe
2028-11-15 13:00 - 17:00, 2028-11-22 13:00 - 17:00, 2028-11-29 13:00 - 17:00 | Community Art Studio, 22 Hartfield Road, Forest Row, RH18

Dance Classes for Children with Miss Sophie
2028-11-16 15:45 - 18:00, 2028-11-23 15:45 - 18:00 | Forest Row Village Hall, Lewes Road, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5ES, United Kingdom
Ballet/Modern Dance/Tap Dance

Classes held every Thursday at the Village Hall (Peter Griffits Hall)

Thursdays:

3.45pm: Primary Ballet

4.15pm: Grade 1 Ballet

5pm: Grade 3 Ballet

The Sophie Eastwood Dance Academy has been established in Forest Row since 2002.

Classes are taught by Miss Sophie in a fun and relaxed manner.

The children are given the opportunity to take dance exams with Royal Academy of Dance and Imperial Society of Dance organisations.

Every few years the children perform in a fabulous production at Chequer Mead Theatre in East Grinstead.

Pop along for a free trial class between Mondays – Saturdays during term time.

Children’s dance classes for all children aged between 3 and 18 years old

Repair Cafe Forest Row
2028-11-18 10:00 - 13:00 | Forest Row Community Centre, Hartfield Road, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5DZ, United Kingdom
The Forest Row Repair Cafe aims to help reduce waste by encouraging a repair culture in our community. A repair can save time, money and waste.

The Forest Row Repair Cafe is held in The Forest Row Community Centre, Hartfield Road, Forest Row on the 3rd Saturday of every month except December.

Items we can repair include electrical, fabrics, computers, bikes, wood work, small furniture items, clocks, ceramics and inflatables.

Whilst you wait for a repairer we have a delicious cafe for you to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a piece of homemade cakes made by our volunteer team.

What are the items that are brought most frequently to the Forest Row Repair Café?

Customers bring in an enormous variety of items for repair each month – everything from lawn mowers to CD payers, wristwatches and precious vases. But over the years we’ve noticed a pattern emerging, and overall the items that we see most frequently are toasters, coffee makers and vacuum cleaners.

Some brands are easier to fix than others, and for many it’s possible to source spare parts online. Generally, the customer will order these and bring the item back the next month to have the parts fitted. In other cases it’s simply a matter of small adjustments, or helping the customer understand the device more thoroughly. That applies especially to laptops and tablet computers.

Developments on the world stage affect what we buy and how we treat our belongings. For example, electric heaters have begun to appear more frequently at Repair Cafés since the recent sharp rise in gas prices.

Sunday Roast at The Hop Yard
2028-11-19 12:00 - 16:00, 2028-11-26 12:00 - 16:00 | The Hop Yard, Restaurant, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18, United Kingdom
Join us every Sunday for The Sunday Joint.

The Yard Kitchen serves the best roast dinners with perfectly cooked meats, golden potatoes and all the trimmings – paired with live music that sets the tone for a cozy afternoon.

Build your perfect kick start to the day at our Bloody Mary station and play board games with your family and friends.

Yoga By Donation
2028-11-20 09:30 - 10:45, 2028-11-27 09:30 - 10:45 | Forest Row Village Hall, Lewes Road, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5ES, United Kingdom
Yoga by donation. All levels welcome.

These classes are an opportunity to gather with others in a welcoming space.

We move, breathe, centre ourselves and track the sensations that the body uses to communicate its aliveness.

A life affirming ritual that combines challenge with surrender.

Forest Row Women’s Institute (W.I.)
2028-11-21 07:00 - 22:00 | Forest Row Village Club, Station Road, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5DW, United Kingdom
Our lively, busy, popular and welcoming WI meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 7pm in the spacious function room at Forest Row Village Club.

With well over 80 members we run a wide range of activities, visits/outings and groups in addition to our monthly programme of talks from visiting speakers, together with a Christmas Party, Summer Games and cream tea afternoon and evening BBQ. We have a range of sub groups with activities open to all members of the WI. Our smaller groups are a great way to get to know people when you join.

Our enthusiastic committee meets regularly to plan and review our activities and we encourage members to come and join us always welcoming new ideas and offers to organise events.

At our monthly meetings we ask for volunteers to be on the Welcome Desk signing in members and to help in the kitchen serving refreshments. Doors open at 7pm with the speaker usually starting at 19.30. Notices may happen before or after the speaker depending on their schedule.

We support WI campaigns debating the proposed resolutions at our spring monthly meeting in April or May. We continue to take an active interest in our local environment.

Our members are kept informed about our activities through a monthly email newsletter. Members also receive the East Sussex Federation (ESFWI) monthly emailed newsletter and the national WI magazine ‘WI Life’ by mail. There is also an active private Facebook group for those who wish to use it.
