Results of Storrington in Bloom announced

At a well-attended presentation of the awards at the Squires Garden Centre in Washington, Lady Emma Barnard congratulated all the winners as she presented them with their certificates, plaques and trophies.

The top three front gardens, and top three allotments, community areas and business/pub displays have been publicised since mid July, but the order has been kept secret, so that residents can form their own ideas of who are the winning entries!

Chris Dartnell, manager of the Squires Garden Centre, and main sponsors of the Storrington In Bloom event, welcomed everybody to the centre, and introduced Jo Newington, Village Florist and coordinator of the Storrington in Bloom team Jo broke the news that the town had won a Silver Gilt in the South & South East in Bloom.

Other entries from the Storrington area included the St Mary’s Churchyard, which also won Silver Gilt and was the winner of its category!

Sussex Down Care Home were awarded as “ Establishing”, Bramber Avenue Residents, achieved an “ Improving” listing, and both Brewers Yard, and Friends of Meadowside gained a “Developing”

The star for the Area was Parham House & Gardens, achieving a Gold in the Heritage Parks & Gardens section.

Jo announced the local prize winners, including the children who had entered the Sunflower Challenge and Wheelbarrow Challenge. She then thanked all the volunteer team, and the many other supporters of In Bloom.

The winning entrants were presented with their certificates and plaques as follows -

Best Front Garden - Marilyn Dadds, 9 Bramber Avenue

Best Allotment - Gill Ions, Plot 23 of Amberley Road allotments

Best Community Area - Val Harber, Hanover Walk

Best Business External Display - Peter and Mandie Harman Wood n Pots n Things

Best Business Window Display - Jayne Lord Oxfam

Children’s Challenge - Sullington Brownies

Tallest Sunflower - Polly Summers - 11 Feet 5 inches!

Lady Emma was very complimentary about the amount of work put in by the volunteers for the town’s entry in SE in Bloom, as well as the efforts by all the entrants to the local competition.

The competition’s sponsors, Squires, Waitrose, Chanctonbury Lions, Tribes, Costa, David Wilson Homes, McCarthy & Stone, The Village Florist and Village Nurseries were also thanked for their support.

The whole event was very convivial, with questions being asked, and useful ideas given by entrants for the future. Lady Emma Barnard, Sarah Squire, and all those involved were thanked for their contributions.

Some changes are taking place within Storrington in Bloom, and volunteers with new ideas and energy will be very welcome - please contact the group at storringtoninbloom@gmail.com

Report and pictures contributed by David Wright.