Bloomin marvellous! Littlehampton takes the gold

At the 2010 South & South East In Bloom Awards on Friday 10th September in Gillingham, Kent,Littlehampton won a gold award and was winner of the large towns category (population between 12,000>35,000), improving on the Silver Gilt Awarded in 2009. 

It beat East Grinstead, Ryde, Alton, Chichester, Faversham, Hailsham, Haywards Heath and Sittingbourne. None of the other entries achieved a gold award which makes it extra special for Littlehampton.

In addition to the judging day on the 14th July, by Kevin Tait and Stevyn Ricketts of South & South East in Bloom, the Littlehampton Team also had to submit a portfolio and give a short presentation outlining the year round programme of activity demonstrating how Littlehampton meets the three core criteria of In Bloom, namely horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility and community participation.

 

The result was down to the efforts of the Littlehampton in Bloom Committee and its many partners including Littlehampton Town Council, Arun District Council, Littlehampton Traders Partnership, Littlehampton Allotments & Leisure Garden Assoc, ISS Facility Services Landscaping, Littlehampton Civic Society and perhaps most importantly many dedicated and passionate members of the community who contribute so much time to ensure Littlehampton remains an attractive place to live and visit. Particular mention must go to the volunteers of the Beach Town Action Group, Mewsbrook Park Community Support Group and Community Inspired Amenities who took the time to meet with In Bloom judges as well as the pupils from Arun Vale infant school who enthusiastically showed the judges around their school wildlife and vegetable gardens.

 

The judges were particularly impressed with the following aspects of Littlehampton’s bid:

 

The floral displays at Littlehampton Railway Station, edible bedding display at Chennevieres-Sur-Marne, floral planters in Littlehampton High Street, Brookfield Country Park and Mewsbrook Park, the ’nautical themed’ street furniture, the empty premises posters depicting scenes from Littlehampton’s seafront, the lack of litter and graffiti in and around the town, the Western Road Community Garden and the ’Adopt an alley’ scheme run through the Arun Environmental Crime Group.

 

Littlehampton in Bloom 2010

Judging day for Littlehampton’s entry into the 2010 South & South East in Bloom took place on Wednesday July 14th.  The judges toured the town and saw many of the initiatives headed up by the Town Council with the support of the Littlehampton in Bloom Committee and Arun District Council.  Listed below are some of the activities that have contributed towards this years entry:

Community Initiatives Grants for South East in Bloom

When setting the budget for 2010/11 the town councillors were keen to show their ongoing commitment to the local community’s desire to be involved in the In Bloom competition and for the third year running designated a unique £2,000 grant budget for In Bloom initiatives.  

The grant aid scheme welcomes applications from local groups, associations and neighbourhoods.  The maximum award is £200. The initiative aims to increase participation and encourage civic pride.  

Applications are welcomed from informal un-constituted groups and the award can be given in vouchers or materials.

The Town Council has so far granted the following to:

 

Norfolk Gardens Residents Association

 

A small number of the more active residents work to plant up the communal garden area.  It is a well maintained area which the community are very proud of.  The grant helped to pay for bulbs and Spring bedding - £200.

 

Chilgrove House Residents Group

 

The residents of this three storey block of flats came together to hold a planting party using the money from their In Bloom grant.  Each resident now has flowers on their balconies and there are floral planters within the communal stairwells.  The project has pulled the community together to achieve a positive outcome.

 

Arun Vale Infant School

 

The school has proactively engaged parents and the community in an extensive range of gardening projects.  The £200 funding received from the Town Council has helped with the purchase of bird tables, seeds and seed trays plus a greenhouse cover. 

Marden House Community Garden

The garden is the centre piece of a block of 24 flats in Clun Road, Wick.  The refurbishment and continuing maintenance of the garden is the responsibility of the residents at Marden House.  The garden provides opportunities for relaxation and enjoyment for the tenants and their visitors.  Residents are actively involved in the maintenance of the garden and take great pride in their work with the aim that it will encourage other residents with communal gardens to do the same.  Funding of £200 was used for the purchase of summer bedding and perennials plants. 

Littlehampton Traders Partnership

The Littlehampton Traders Partnership is a group which works together to enhance the retail area in Littlehampton.  

The group has become actively involved in Littlehampton’s entry into the South East in Bloom competition for the past two years and several traders are now members of the Littlehampton in Bloom Committee.  

Trader involvement has enabled Littlehampton’s entry to expand with new and innovative projects being discussed for various sites in the town including the arcade. 

The council has given a grant of £200 towards the cost of hanging baskets in the Beach Road area.  The traders have match funding and will also be providing the water for the irrigation systems.

Littlehampton District Girlguiding

Littlehampton District Girlguiding has its headquarters at a new Guide Hall in Duke Street, Littlehampton. 

 

The Guide Hall provides accommodation for over 240 guides during the course of a week.  It is also available for hire by the community.  The council has given a grant for £100 towards the cost of plants for their flower tubs and hanging baskets.

 

Shop window banners

Traders/LTC partnership to address the issue of empty shops and make the town more attractive. A series of photographs of Littlehampton by a local artist and photographer are being put up in empty shops. All banners feature the In Bloom logo to raise the profile of the competition. 

Tree Planting Scheme

The Town Council has begun a tree planting initiative this year which will continue to roll out across the Town over a further four years.  Fifty new trees will be planted per year some will replace diseased and/or vandalised ones while others will be located in new spots.  The trees will be a mixture of Rowan, Silver Birch, Whitebeam, London Plane and Monterey Pines

 

Additional planting in the Town Centre

The Town Council has once again, following extensive positive feedback from the local community, allocated a substantial budget to provide additional floral arrangements in and around the town centre.  A watering system has been installed by the Town Council to enable traders in one particular road to enhance their street which has experienced a significant loss of businesses in the last twelve months.  It is a gateway to the seafront and the council is committed to making Littlehampton more attractive for tourists and locals.

  

Further planters have been purchased this year and in conjunction with the In Bloom committee are looking for appropriate sites for the new street furniture.

 

Support to the Littlehampton In Bloom Steering Committee

The Town Council has provided a regular free venue for the Littlehampton in Bloom stakeholder group to meet.

Both the Community Resources Officer and the Tourism & Events Officer have supported the campaign through practical guidance and information.

 

Tourism

The In Bloom logo is now an integral part of the Littlehampton Visitor Guide which has a circulation of 175,000 across London and the South East.

There is now an integration of the In Bloom campaign as part of our destination marketing campaign including the Littlehampton Town Council website.

 

Littlehampton in Bloom 2009 - Littlehampton Town Council’s Input

 

Community Initiatives Grants for South East in Bloom

  Groups that have previously benefitted  are:

Cornfield School - Cornfield is a school maintained by West Sussex County Council, for secondary aged boys and girls who have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.  Most of the pupils who attend the school are unable to attend mainstream school or have been excluded.  The gardening project was seen as a non threatening accessible project for young people of all abilities.

Wickbourne Playcentre Nursery – A pre-school for 0-5 years with limited outdoor space who have invested in raised beds.  The grant was to help grow flowers and vegetables and will complement the National Curriculum.

Norfolk Gardens Residents Association – A residential area inhabited largely by the elderly.  A small number of the more active residents work to plant up the communal garden area.  It is a well maintained area which the community are very proud of.  The grant helped to pay for bulbs and summer bedding.

The Blooming Lovely Schools Art Project

The Town Council has hosted an annual exhibition of local children’s work in July within the Littlehampton Museum since 2006.

The local “family” network of 13 infant and junior schools work within class time throughout the Spring term to a chosen joint theme which they then interpret in their own unique way.  

The artwork produced during this time is then exhibited for seven weeks. The “In Bloom” theme was picked by the schools for 2008 many of which have used it as a spring board to develop actual gardens and gardening clubs on their own sites. The arts project last year was titled “Blooming Lovely” and gave a chance to demonstrate how the children of the town were embracing the competition and their environment through the use of recycled materials.  

The Town Council helped to part fund the project in conjunction with the local Rotary Club.  

Community participation is an important element to entries into the South East in Bloom competition and we hope that by the schools choosing In Bloom as its topic, Littlehampton will be able to demonstrate its holistic approach.  The schools became involved as a result of various statutory and voluntary agencies all being part of the “Community Forum” who meet as part of Extended Schools partnership.  

Through that LTC, Extended Schools and West Sussex CC General Adviser for Art & Design, Culture & the Arts put forward the theme as a suggestion to the schools.  The exhibition had its very own private viewing evening at which the children and their families attend along with Town dignitaries.  The exhibition receives much local press coverage and is traditionally very popular with local people.  It is envisaged that it will help to raise and widen interest in the town’s entry into South East in Bloom.

 

School Garden Clubs

In addition to the Blooming Lovely Project the Town Council has financially supported two initiatives within local infant schools.  Both projects put emphasis on engaging parents into gardening activities alongside their children. 

Twenty families took part in a series of weekend workshops at the Elm Grove Infants School which has a very active gardening group called the Eco-Warriors.  The project focused on exploring the world of horticulture through 3D art and resulted in families creating large exhibition pieces which are being used on several occasions including the schools Spring Fair.  Outcomes include a joint learning experience for parents and children and further promotion of the Town’s In Bloom campaign to a wider audience.

Arun Vale Infant’s School organised a “Get Muddy” Saturday and four after school sessions.  The aim of this project was to transform the playground area using bold planters and hanging baskets.  This area of the school now looks stunning and the teaching staff have continued to work with and encourage the children to maintain and develop their new garden. The school is now entering into the Town’s Garden & Allotment competition for the first time and enthusiasm is high!

 

Roundabouts

The Town Council oversees some of the key roundabouts on visitor routes within Littlehampton and has actively improved floral displays and installations.

 

Support to the Littlehampton In Bloom Steering Committee

The Town Council has provided a regular free venue for the Littlehampton in Bloom stakeholder group to meet..  Both the Community Resources Officer and the Tourism & Events Officer have supported the campaign through practical guidance and information.

 

Garden & Allotment Competition

Held annually and developed in response to demand from local people.  The categories have expanded over the years and now include community spaces.  

 

Sensory Garden

This is a work in progress and the beginning of a project to enhance visitor experience to the Manor House.  It is located alongside the access route for people with disabilities.