Bognor best entrant in coastal category of in bloom awards

The town was judged to be the top entrant in the coastal category of this year's South and South East in Bloom competition.

Its array of colourful displays and eco-friendly practices also saw the award of a silver-gilt prize in the overall competition to improve on last year's silver status.

A hat-trick of successes at the awards ceremony was topped by a Water Wise discretionary award from the judges for the 'new' Hotham Park as it emerges from a 2m-plus makeover.

Rainwater is collected off the roofs of buildings within the park's old coachyard and stored within large containers before being used around the site to water in the thousands of new shrubs and trees being planted for the restoration.

The town's In Bloom is a partnership between a working party of volunteers, Bognor Regis Town Council and Arun District Council.

Working party chairman, and town councillor, Jason Passingham, said: "We are thrilled to have achieved such great results and the additional discretionary award was unbelievable.

"It goes to show that great things can happen when people work together."

Phillipa Dart, Arun's head of parks and green spaces, stated: "This is a wonderful result for the town. We hope we can improve on this still further next year by entering Hotham Park for a Green Flag award.

"The restoration will be finished and it would be a great ending to a project that has been several years in the making."

The awards were announced at a ceremony in Crawley last week.

The In Bloom competition has become an environment audit rather than being just about flowers.

The judges, who visited Bognor in July, were particularly impressed with the partnership between the working party and the councils.

They also liked the use of modern media such as Facebook to further spread the In Bloom message.

The working party are now finalising arrangements for their town awards in October. These will celebrate the effort made by residents and businesses around the town for Bognor in Bloom.

Support for the cause can also be given by buying a Bognor in Bloom tote bag from Unique Promotions in The Arcade for 2.99, of which 90p goes towards the working party's efforts.

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