Glowing praiseas Aldwick blooms forth

The two South and South East in Bloom judges spent Tuesday afternoonviewing the parish's floral hotspots and open spaces.

The itinerary included the duck pond, the village green, Marine Park Gardens, Rose Green Infant School, the Rose Green allotments and Manor Cottage in Barrack Lane.

Sheilah Maclaren Pugh and Reginald Harrison, on the Royal Horticultural Society's behalf, were judging Aldwick's first appearance in the competition's elite category. It has been placed in the champions of champions section because of the success of the Aldwick in Bloom volunteers in winning the urban community section for two years in a row.

Ms Maclaren Pugh said: 'I have been to Aldwick in the past and this is as nice as I have seen it.'

Aldwick in Bloom organiser Delia Jones said: 'It was a very successful tour. We saw a good collection of places and everywhere looked just marvellous.'

The all-round effort was summed up by the Russell Hotel's donation of a cream tea for the volunteers and judges to round off their tour opposite the Marine Park Gardens. The seafront gardens are on the Aldwick side of the boundary with Bognor Regis and benefit from an immense amount of work by Arun District Council's parks and landscapes team led by Philippa Dart and its contractor, Waterers Landscapes.

Other champions of champions competitors are Bognor Regis, Christchurch (Dorset), Fareham (Hampshire), Tatsfield near Cryodon and Wimborne Minster (Dorset).

Each will be assessed on its own merits rather than directly against each other.

Aldwick's previous successes have also seen it entered into the Britain in Bloom competition for the second year. That judging will take place at end of this month.