NEWS RELEASES
Horsham strikes GOLD with double award
27th September 2007
HORSHAM has swept the board at this year’s Britain in Bloom Awards.
Visit the Horsham in Bloom website
Visit the Britain in Bloom website
At the ceremony, held in the prestigious Coventry Cathedral, the town was overall winner in the Large town / small city category in the whole of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland with a Gold Award. It also has the honour of being presented with the Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘Bloomin’ Wild’ award which reflected the theme for year’s national judging.
Chairman of Horsham in Bloom Christine Costin said:
“This double award is a major success story which further helps to put Horsham on the map.
"I am thrilled and overwhelmingly proud of my home town and can only praise all of the people in our local community who have actively supported our Bloom initiative.
"As a charity we have raised over £100,000 in the last five years to support initiatives to improve our local environment in so many ways.”
Jill Holmes has been an active volunteer member of the committee since its formation in 1996 and was particularly delighted to be present at this momentous occasion for the town.
Jill said: "We would specially like to thank our residents, business partners and sponsors, including Novartis and the West Sussex County Times, schools and voluntary groups who have so enthusiastically supported us."
Evan Giles, Parks Services Manager for Horsham District Council said:
"This is a result which the District Council has been working towards with Horsham in Bloom for many years.
"It’s really great that the joint efforts of so many Council staff, volunteers and partners have been recognised with such accolades."
Christine concluded:
"We have worked together, grown together and made a dream come true."
Liz Kitchen, leader of Horsham District Council said:
"I am immensely proud of the supreme effort made by Horsham’s whole community in supporting such a worthwhile local initiative.
"I must say how attractive Horsham has looked over the summer months and this award is another demonstration of how working together in partnership can deliver such tangible results.
"Special praise must go to Christine, Jill, Evan and the rest of the team, who have worked tirelessly to co-ordinate the entry and to promote Horsham’s environmental and floral strengths."
This news release has been issued by Horsham in Bloom
Christine Costin, Chairman, Horsham in Bloom 01403 266165
Notes to editors:
Horsham District South and South East In Bloom Results (5 September 2007):
Large Village: Beeding in Bloom, Upper Beeding, Silver Standard
Small Town: Steyning in Bloom, Silver Gilt
Neighbourhoods 0-300: Elm Grove, Steyning, Dingemans Court, Steyning
Best Display of Private Gardens: Penns Court, Steyning
Large Town/Small City (over 35,001) :Horsham, Overall winner, GOLD
Horsham District 'In Bloom' entrants set an example to all of our local communities, this helps to encourage a noticeable 'knock on' effet where it is plain that people care about their local environment. Horsham District is part of West Sussex, a county that has a growing reputation for being green, clean and glorious!