Get ready for census day

Residents across the Horsham district will soon be asked to take part in the 2021 census.

The once-in-a-decade survey has been carried out every 10 years since 1801, with the exception of 1941.

This year it will be the first census to be run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets.

Census day will officially be on Sunday March 21, but there will be an extensive window in which to complete the survey for households both locally and across the country, who will receive letters with online codes allowing them to take part from early March up to the beginning of May.

The census will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity.

And, for the first time, there will be a question asking people whether they have served in the armed forces, as well as voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over on sexual orientation and gender identity. Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, to be kept safe for future generations. For more information visit www.census.gov.uk or call 0800 141 2021 from February 22.

Grants of between £500 and £10,000 are now available for small-scale conservation projects in and around the

High Weald area of outstanding natural beauty. Visit www.highweald. org/sussexlund for more information.