Horsham Forum - The Horsham and Southwater Commmunity Forum

Horsham strikes*GOLD* with double award

Horsham has swept the board at this year's Britain in Bloom Awards. 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 Homes 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.'

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.

Christine concluded 'We have worked together, grown together and made a dream come true.'

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Well done Christine and your team!

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