South & South East in Bloom Awards 2023
Alejandra Teodosio and Felicity Owen collecting at the awards,
photo by Daniel Cool
We are delighted that the Park has maintained the Silver Gilt Award in the Large Park category of the South & South East in Bloom competition for the second year running.
This is a great achievement and recognises the hard work of HDC’s Parks and Countryside Team, Denne Neighbourhood Council and the Friends of Horsham Park in ensuring the Park is a fantastic community asset which we can all enjoy.
The standards are high and comprehensive covering:
- Making Way for People (access and signage)
- Design (appearance and layout of the park)
- Welfare of Park Users (staff/voluntary presence and control of dog fouling)
- Facilities (appropriate provision, accessibility, appearance and maintenance)
- Maintenance of hard landscape features (benches, bins, play areas, artificial surfaces, control of litter, graffiti and vandalism)
- Environmental sustainability (planting schemes that reduce uses of scarce resources such as water and peat)
- Conservation (management of natural features, wildlife and flora)
- Community involvement (volunteering & promotion of the park as a community resource)
The Friends were hoping that the fabulous new skate park facility, the pond project and other horticultural improvements in the park would get us the gold but we were still 5 marks short!
The judge’s comments were complimentary with just three suggestions:
- improvements to the maze,
- removal of a couple of dead/unhealthy trees with explanatory signage,
- the conservation opportunity of wildflower meadows near the skate park.
We were pleased that he commented ‘the herbaceous borders were well tended’ as we know that our Wednesday volunteers contribute greatly to this and that ‘The Park has an excellent Friends Group who do a lot of gardening on a regular basis and also get involved with events’.
The new bed by the pond
It’s Your Neighbourhood Category
We were absolutely thrilled to get Outstanding this year – Level 5 which is the top category. This is the category which focuses on community groups so specifically about the activities of the Friends. For the past two years we were at ‘Thriving’ (Level 4) and in our first year of entry we were only at ‘Improving’ (Level 2) so we have come a long way since 2020.
The award focuses on:
- Community Participation (eg being inclusive; making a difference to local people; getting support eg from local council, grant-aid, sponsorship; planning for the future; working in partnership with other organisations)
- Environmental Responsibility (conservation, composting, recycling, sharing knowledge and skills, addressing issues such as litter, graffiti, dog fouling)
- Gardening Achievement (good plant choice, good maintenance, creativity, innovation, enhancing the area)
Many volunteers, too many to name, have contributed to the achievements listed in the judge’s feedback below. You know who you are – so a massive thank you and congratulations for your outstanding input and effort.
The judge’s feedback
‘Areas of Achievement
- The Friends of Horsham Park is a very active group and carry out a variety of activities within the Park. The regular Wednesday volunteer working group works with a variety of other Groups including Strawford Centre, Samaritans and others.
- The Group consulted with a number of Groups regarding the restoration of the Sensory Garden which resulted in the curved bench being installed.
- At events held in the Park there is strong engagement with schools, scout groups and other local charities and this is also achieving getting bulbs planted and litter picking. A good working relationship remains between the Friends Group and Horsham District Council.
- The group are very active when events are held within the Park. A monthly newsletter is published once a month and distributed to the 350 members of the Group.
- The Strawford Centre come along every Wednesday and do litter picking and have started cleaning bricks in the maze area and are making a real difference.
- Herbaceous plants are split and reused around the site with the addition of seeds grown in peat free compost. There are three different tree trails available and an award winning bee friendly flower bed including a bug hotel is great for pollinators. Other beds are planted to encourage pollinators. The gardening hours from the volunteers amounted to 1775 over the past year.
- Another successful project was Bulbs for Lives field created with the local Samaritans and was very impressive planting 12500 bulbs.
A few of the volunteers who helped to plant the Samaritans’ Bulbs for Lives field.
- The Friends have a very good and informative website and information about the Friends was on noticeboards.
- A regular Park Run takes place.
- Obelisks made from willow from the Park have been made by the Friends and used within the planted borders.
- Around the Park the Friends group have put up some posters to inspire and educate about various issues including Water and Climate change within Horsham Park and how to save Bumble bees amongst others.
Willow play tunnel created by some of the Wednesday volunteers
with guidance from HDC Parks Operations Manager, Sorin Caraiman,
Areas for Development
- The compost area is small for the amount of compostable waste the gardening activity produces. Perhaps it could be increased or taken away by the District Council and brought back as recycled compost to be used on the beds.
- The Human Nature Garden needs to be one thing or the other as vegetables were being grown amongst shrubs.
- It would be useful to Park users if a record of birds seen in the Park, because no doubt migrant birds visit the park, also bat species.’
Join us at the AGM on Tues 10 October
7.30 – 9.30 pm
at Horsham Park Barn
It’s been a busy year in Horsham Park and we’d love to share our news with our Friends, and hear your views on what we’ve done and what we could do next year and beyond. We know that the more of our Friends who get involved, the more we can achieve for our beautiful Park.
So please do join us at our AGM on 10 October. This year we are discussing some important themes so this is your chance to have your say :
- Wellbeing – how can we make the most of the park to support residents’ wellbeing?. Our guest speaker will be Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo who will talk about Wellness Walks and we will consider what else we can do eg to support the new i-Rock mental wellness service for 14-25 year olds.
- The future of the Human Nature Garden – next year the Management Plan for the Park will be renewed so the aim of the discussion is to come up with ideas to be considered as part of the Management Plan consultation.
- Horsham Green Spaces’ pollinator flyways – if you saw the article ‘Grass Routes’ in the September edition of AAH you’ll know about this project. We’ll discuss the latest developments and the role the Park and all our gardens have in creating these pollinator corridors across the town.
It would be lovely to see Friends old and new, so we hope you can join us. We’ll be serving wine, beer and soft drinks and if you’d like to bring a family member or friend who’s interested in our work, they’d be most welcome.
We look forward to seeing you!
Sally Sanderson
RSVP: chair@friendsofhorshampark.co.uk
Promote Horsham Park
The Countryside Charity is running a national programme to promote local green spaces. So now’s your chance to step up and say how much you enjoy Horsham Park. Send a short video (less than 1 minute) of you in Horsham Park, and you could be in with a chance to win a £50 Patagonia voucher!
How to take part :
- Head to Horsham Park.
- Film a short video (under one minute) of you saying why the Park is special to you.
- Send your video to Countryside Charity via WhatsApp – just attach it as a file and send it to 07718 494 647. You can also use this direct-to-Whatsapp link. Include your name and “Horsham Park.”
- Submissions close on Wednesday 11 October at 5pm.
If you want some prompts to help your video: think about why you love the park. How did you discover it and how has it become part of your life? What’s your favourite thing about it? Do you enjoy it alone or with friends and family? Where is it and what’s nearby? Who uses it?
Volunteers clean up in the Park
A group of 25 enthusiastic volunteers took part in the Friends of Horsham Park’s litter pick on 24 September.
The team collected 30 bags-worth of rubbish, some visible on grass and pathways, most of it hidden in the undergrowth. Bottles, cans, fast food wrappings and cigarette stubs were among the debris removed and bagged.
Steve Sandham, Friends of Horsham Park director who organised the litter pick, said: “We were delighted that so many volunteers took the time to help us in this vital task, which really makes a difference.
“There’s clearly a desire to keep Horsham Park free of the rubbish that spoils users’ enjoyment, and can be harmful or even fatal to the birds and other wildlife who share this beautiful space with us. Our litter picks take place every six months or so, as a ‘booster’ to the ongoing great work from the Horsham District Council parks team, and everyone who takes part enjoys it – it’s really rewarding to fill up a bag with rubbish and know you’ve helped to improve the park.”
The Friends of Horsham Park aims to protect, enhance and promote Horsham Park as a place of recreation and enjoyment for the long-term benefit of everyone. Anyone with an interest in the Park is welcome to join the Friends and get involved in their activities, which include a weekly gardening session on Wednesday mornings. For more information, contact [email protected]
Sycamore Gap
We are sure many of our Friends will be dismayed at the brutal cutting of this iconic tree which we featured in our ‘Tree of the Week’ series during lockdown. If you missed it, you can see it here:
Although the Wednesday morning volunteers have a constant battle with sycamore seedlings, this destruction of a mature and beautiful tree reminds us all of need to celebrate, protect and care for the wonderful trees we have in Horsham Park. They are part of our landscape, they contribute to our sense of wellbeing and are a haven for wildlife.
Quiz Night 25 November
Save 25 November in your diary for our annual quiz. It’s always a great evening, very sociable and lots of fun. There will be drinks and snacks for sale, fabulous raffle prizes, and of course our amazing quiz. Start getting your team together!
It will be in our usual venue – Holy Trinity Church hall, 12 Rushams Road Horsham RH12 2NT
A night not to be missed!
Help the Friends and you could win a prize
£25,000 Jackpot every week!
Have a better chance of winning the lottery when you play the local Horsham District Community Lottery, and you will be supporting the Friends!
By signing up to the local weekly draw, you can subscribe any amount from £1 upwards. Each £1 ticket has a chance to win £25, £250, £2500, or £25000. Just match from 2 to 6 numbers to win a prize.
By selecting The Friends as your chosen good cause, 50p from each £1 ticket goes to support much-needed funds for the Friends of Horsham Park; and 10p goes to other local causes.
Why not sign up today? It’s a win for the Friends and could be a bigger win for you!
Sign up HERE |
Events in the Park
- Every Weds & Fri. Walk and Talk in Horsham Park. Meet at The Human Nature Garden Weds 10 -11am and Friday 12-12.40pm
- Every Sat parkrun 9.00am
- 10 Oct Friends AGM at the Park Barn 7.30pm.
- 25 Nov Our Annual Quiz
Volunteering Opportunities
- Ribbon Border Volunteer group – every 2nd Sunday
The RBV group meets every second Sunday in the month at 10am by the entrance to the North Street carpark, everyone welcome.
For more information please contact David at [email protected] - Gardening and Conservation group – every Wednesday
The Wednesday Morning Group” meets at 9.30am at the Jubilee car park next to the entrance sign to the Human Nature Garden. Their main tasks are planting and pruning and generally making improvements to the park’s appearance for all to enjoy. All tools provided.
Please contact“ Sally at [email protected] - Helping at events – as required
We need Friends to help out at events we hold in the Park. It may be just for a couple of hours occasionally, or as a one off. It can be great fun. Any help is much appreciated.
Please contact Sally at [email protected]