Trio of top awards for Horsham Park

Horsham Park took a trio of top accolades in the South & South East In Bloom 2026 competition, receiving a Gold Award,  an ‘Outstanding’ award in the scheme’s ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ category and an individual Outstanding Achievement Award for Friends of Horsham Park chair, Sally Sanderson.

The Awards were announced at a recent ceremony attended by the Friends of Horsham Park whose hard work, alongside Horsham District Council’s Park and Countryside team, resulted in the honours.

Judging took place earlier this year, with the judge praising the park’s excellent overall appearance and the evident passion among HDC and volunteer teams to further enhance the space. The wider paths, sensory beds and willow tunnel in the children’s play area were cited as being valuable improvements made this year.

The It’s Your Neighbourhood category recognises how the park is used by, and benefits, Horsham residents. The judge praised the Friends for their volunteer gardening, and their ongoing efforts to engage more people with the park through a range of activities, including corporate volunteering from local companies.

The Outstanding Achievement Award is awarded to only one individual across the whole South and South East region and recognises Sally’s unstinting work for Horsham Park over the last nine years.

Sally Sanderson, said: “We first entered the In Bloom competition in 2021, securing a Silver Award. Each year we’ve listened to judges’ comments and worked with the Park and Countryside Team to make improvements. We were rewarded with our first Gold Award in 2024 and are thrilled to be retaining that high standard.

“This award isn’t rewarding us just for pretty flowers – important though they are – but for our broader ambition for the park; to make it a vibrant, much-loved green space that’s enjoyed by so many Horsham residents.

 “Keeping our park at Gold standard demands time and money. We are grateful to everyone who has helped us by gardening, picking litter, donating money, auditing trees, building a bug hotel or awarding us a grant – or giving other support.  We couldn’t have done this without the help of many local people.”

Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Culture and Green Spaces, Cllr Anthony Frankland said:

“I’m delighted that Horsham Park has, once again won Gold status in these prestigious national awards. It reflects the ongoing commitment of council officers and volunteers to developing and caring for the park.

“The Friends of Horsham Park are a great example of the many volunteer-led community groups that we have in Horsham District that help make this a genuinely great place to live. Our parks and open spaces help residents and visitors stay active, enjoy nature and spend time together. Horsham Park is a welcoming green space for walking, sport or simply taking a moment to relax.

“As a council we were also delighted that Sally Sanderson received an individual award for Outstanding Achievement. Sally has helped deliver many benefits for the park, working tirelessly to lead the Friends of Horsham Park volunteers in helping to create such a priceless asset for Horsham both now and into the future.”