Get Involved

Wednesday Gardening and Conservation group

If you enjoy gardening and preserving wildlife, why not join our volunteer group? 

We meet every Wednesday morning from 9.30-12.30 – though you don’t need to commit to every week, or even the whole session. The idea is that you come when you can, for as long as is right for you.

Horsham District Council’s Parks and Countryside team support us in our endeavours. Everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary – it’s a great opportunity to learn from horticultural/conservation experts and make some new friends. Tools are provided but please wear gardening clothes and thick-soled shoes or boots.

We meet by the entrance to the toolshed at the back of Chennels Car Park, off North Street.  The car park is between Park House and the subway under the railway.

If you would like to join, please contact Sally Sanderson at [email protected] or for more information, download our leaflet to find the answers to some frequently asked questions – Volunteer leaflet and Q&A

WHAT OUR VOLUNTEERS SAY

“I really enjoy my morning volunteering in Horsham Park. It’s a great way to meet new people and to keep fit at the same time! I get a huge sense of satisfaction from seeing the difference we make to the Park.”

Debbie Hepburn (Debbie designed our Bee Blooming Bold flower bed)

“I have recently given up work. As I worked outside Horsham, volunteering with the Friends of Horsham Park has given me more connections with the town . It’s a friendly and relaxed group to attend.

“I have always lived in flats around the town and see the park as my garden/back yard. So working with the team on Wednesdays just feels an extension to my relationship with the park. It gives me a time and place to exercise, get outside and relax.”

Shonagh Buchanan

 

Ribbon Border Volunteer group – every 2^nd Sunday

The RBV group meets every second Sunday in the month at 10am by the entrance to the North Street carpark, everyone welcome.

Our group have been maintaining the stunning borders which run the length of North Street since 2012 and still includes many of the same dedicated gardeners who joined the project back in its early years.

This stretch of herbaceous borders are the longest in town and have been designed to provide year round interest. Coming back to life in April, the initial stars of these magnificent borders include allium, salvia and catmint. Then, as spring fades these early flowerers are replaced with grasses, red hot pokers, verbena, rudbeckia and crocosmia to name just a few. In autumn crocus abound as do the Michaelmas daisy, and finally the structure of the grasses stand tall throughout the winter (their most impressive being during the winter frost), before being cut down to size prior to the return of spring.

We are a welcoming and inclusive bunch and nothing gives us more pleasure than when someone new joins us. If you would like to learn more about the volunteer opportunity, or just want to let us know you plan to join us next month, please email [email protected] or call  01403 241695  We look forward to hearing from you.

The Friends work in close partnership with Horsham District Council who own and manage Horsham Park.

What this means is that we liaise with them to protect, enhance and promote the park as a place of recreation and enjoyment for the long-term benefit of the local community.

• Quarterly meetings and walks around the park are held with members of both HDC and Horsham Denne Neighbourhood Council, allowing discussions on maintenance and planned improvements to Horsham Park.
• Supporting our Wednesday morning volunteer group, HDC works hard to share their horticultural expertise and provide our eager volunteers with the tools and knowledge to create a better, brighter outside space.
• HDC invites us to participate on their forum discussions of the park.
• With the permission of Horsham District Council, the Friends of Horsham Park run events to support and nuture conservation, whilst promoting enjoyment and understanding of the flora and fauna in the park.
• HDC will be working with us in the year ahead towards getting a Green Flag award for the park.

Many people love the park and have strong views on how it should be protected, managed and developed.  Some are firmly against any further developments, wanting to preserve a natural landscape.  Others want to provide more facilities for sport and entertainment.  Horsham District Council has a tough job reconciling these competing visions and demands on the park.

The Friends want to keep the park an inclusive space that is free for everyone of all ages and interests to enjoy.  Our aim is to ensure the park best serves the local community and representative groups. It is a large space which we also share with the wildlife so we need to get a balance. 

If you’d like to share your photos of the park then please send to [email protected] . We kindly ask that anyone featuring in your photos has provided their permission to have them shared.

In September 2019 we became a Community Interest Company. Our committee organises what we do through monthly meetings. 

If you’d like to join our Committee or find out more please contact Sally Sanderson at [email protected].