Britain in Bloom  & South and South East in Bloom  Gold and Category Winners 2011

Gold Award in the Inter-Regional Champion of Champions 2010

Britain in Bloom Silver Gilt Winner 2009

       

Welcome to Rustington in Bloom

 

Rustington in Bloom is the Village's entry into the National Britain in Bloom campaign where villages and towns compete to have the most attractive floral displays around to enlighten them to both locals and visitors to the area. The wonderful floral displays, clean streets, free parking and variety of shops attract many visitors each year to our thriving Village. The Village is continuing to be enhanced year on year, to improve not only its aesthetic appearance but also to emphasise awareness of environmental matters.

 

Rustington has been successful over the years gaining many awards in the In Bloom competitions but always look to making improvements. We have found judges’ comments, in previous years to be helpful and have responded by having more sustainable planting in the Village and by encouraging individuals and groups from the community to become more involved with our activities. This year, The Rustington Chamber of Trade and Commerce has joined us with our entry to the Village Carnival Float Competition and the Tombola. Two more groups have entered ‘In Your Neighbourhood’ and all three Primary schools are fully involved in activities. We are especially delighted to have the youngest members of our community (Early Birds Nursery) involved in our activities. Our major projects this year are the Woodlands Recreation Ground Wildlife Garden, tree planting in the Village and providing the Worthing Road Allotmenteers with water butts and compost bins.

 

Sustainable planting continues to be a key feature of most of the beds throughout the Village. Residents and visitors alike do comment on our beautiful floral displays the latter frequently coming to the Village to see them.

 

The committee is pleased that the community is involved in many of the ‘In Bloom Activities’ and appreciate the beautiful floral displays to be seen throughout the year.

 

Mrs Valerie Narayanaswamy

Chairman

How it all started ...

 

The Rustington in Bloom Campaign was initiated in 2004 by the Parish Council, in partnership with a small group of volunteers from various local groups and organisations. This occurred following the realisation by all of the aforementioned, that Rustington deserved to receive some recognition for its vibrancy, community spirit and aesthetically pleasing appearance. So, the seed was sown. (please excuse the pun!). In its first year as an entrant in the South and South East in Bloom Competition, Rustington received a bronze award.  This encouraged those involved to continue and extend the Campaign on a much wider and varied scale, and thus the In-Bloom Committee was formed, consisting of members of the local community. 

It is safe to say that the more public awareness grew in respect of the In Bloom Campaign, the more the local community was encouraged to take greater pride in the Village as a whole, and not just aesthetically. In September 2007, all of the hard work paid off, when Rustington achieved a gold award and category winner in the South and South East in Bloom Competition and again in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.