Hassocks Goes Gold 2024

Hassocks Goes Gold poster competition - 2024

By Rachel BartlettBundy

Hassocks Goes Gold returns for September 2024, but the fun starts now! This year’s theme is dragons! We are kicking off with the annual drawing competition for the gold poster, open to all ages! Adults included. Who doesn’t love a dragon? Be they f ierce, fire-breathing ferocious beasts jealously guarding their shimmering treasure or their cuter, animated, magical, guardian spirit cousins, there is a dragon to suit every mood!

Draw your very own dragon or colour in the pre-printed one… In September, winners from each age category will receive fabulous prizes, and feature on the Hassocks Goes Gold poster! Plus, all entries will be included in the annual Parklands Road Art Gallery.

Entries must be on official entry forms, available to download on the Hassocks Goes Gold Facebook page, via the village schools or in good old-fashioned printed paper form from QD Stationers! The deadline for entries is Friday the 5th July.

But, of course, it’s never just about the poster! The Sunflower Competition is on right now and, in September, the sponsored trail of Giant Gold Bows will be back, along with the ever-popular daily Facebook auctions, the village market craft, face painting and tombola stalls, as well as the Golden Gala finale extravaganza on Friday the 27th September.

The #PearlPower fund for research to fight childhood cancers stands at nearly £105K. It’s a fantastic achievement and we’re so proud that it has already funded two new research projects, but there is so much more that needs to be done, and so much more awareness that needs to be raised.

September in Hassocks is all about gold, it’s all about raising awareness and research funds for the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group, it’s all about Community Fun and this year it’s all about dragons! Find out more: www.facebook.com/groups/hassocksgoesgold/

Hassocks Goes Gold Sunflower Competition 2024

By Rachel Barton

We are delighted to announce our 5th annual Hassocks Goes Gold Sunflower Growing Competition. Could you be the lucky winner of the tallest or prettiest sunflower in 2024?

The competition is open to all ages and to anyone living in Hassocks. Also eligible are any children who attend a school in Hassocks (whether they live in the village or not). We encourage entrants to plant sunflowers in front gardens if possible so that Hassocks residents can enjoy the flowers. Many thanks to our sponsor Matt from Maple Leaf Gardens who has generously agreed to support this competition again.

To enter, post your sunflower photo (and sunflower height in centimetres if entering the tallest sunflower category) on the Hassocks Goes Gold Facebook page or email to sunflowers4hassocks@gmail.com. The closing date is 24th August. Winners will be announced on 1st September to mark the beginning of Hassocks Goes Gold month. Good luck!

Tips for successful sunflowers!
By Matt of Maple Leaf Gardens

• Plant outside six inches apart for smaller varieties, 12 for larger
• Plant one to two inches deep
• Protect from frost, if forecast, and slugs (use grit, strulch, coffee grounds, and secateurs!)
• Sow in nine cm pots in greenhouse or cold frame to get a head start and greater protection. They can be potted on once more before planting out
• Choose a sunny position, water regularly and feed with tomato feed
• Stake securely especially for tall varieties
• Seek out orange and red varieties for something a little different