Green flag award for Hotham Park

The award of the latest Green Flag is the second year in a row the coveted status has been given to the much-loved area.

Rosemary Warren, the chairman of the Hotham Park Heritage Trust, said: "The park is the jewel in the crown of Bognor. Apart from the seafront, it is the only open space we have in the town.

"It's unique because it is a park with trees rather than an open park. Now it's had 2.2m spent on it, it's better than it was because it is a third bigger.

"We are seeing serious signs that there are more and more users of the park because people are now discovering it. A lot of people didn't realise it was here because it is behind the boundary walls."

The Green Flag award is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. It is managed by a consortium which includes Keep Britain Tidy.

The latest award for the park is one of 119 handed out for this year. It follows the inaugural success in 2009 after the park benefited from its National Heritage Lottery funded restoration.

Members of several voluntary groups also give up their spare time to help with projects to make the park more attractive. They have been creating chipwood paths and planting bulbs and trees.

As well as the heritage trust, the organisations include Hotham Park Conservation Volunteers and pupils from neighbouring Edward Bryant Primary School.

Michael Rowland, the park's manager, praised the collective work which had helped to maintain the area to the high standard needed to retain the Green Flag.

He said: "The Green Flag award is very important to Hotham Park as it recognises the efforts made by the many people who work in or for the park in either a professional or voluntary capacity.

"Although Arun District Council is very proud Hotham Park has been awarded the Green Flag for the second year running, we know the park is still 'a work in progress'.

"We are continuing to develop and improve the park in various ways. As time goes by, the park is getting better defined with areas managed for different purposes.

"Each week, the park seems to get better and better."

The woodland and conservation areas were becoming havens for wildlife, he added, Other areas were perfect for activities such as boating, golf and major events such as the country fair.