The bedding plants such as begonias, marigolds and geraniums are helping Marine Park Gardens blossom into a mass of colours this summer.

They are among the first at any Arun District Council site to be grown in compost without peat.

Concerns about the environmental impact of using peat led the council to talk to its plant supplier, Ford Open Prison, about moving away from the substance.

They switched to a peat and bark mixture before the recent move was made to the current bark and coir mix.

Arun head of parks and greenspace Philippa Dart said: "We have some exceptional plants grown by Ford and this year's are the same as usual.

"The prison have told us that if the plants grow well without peat then they will grow all their plants that way next year.

"It's an exciting development to get to this point. There's a lot of debate in horticultural circles about going peat-free."

The method by which the 17,690 summer bedding plants are grown is just one way in which the popular gardens are championing green practices.

The next will be the first installation of a green roof on any district council building.

This experiment will see the gardener's hut in the garden given a sedum roof.

A living coating, it benefits the environment by providing superb insulation to cut heating costs, absorbing rainfall and acting like tree leaves to benefit the atmosphere.

The roof is being sponsored by Aldingbourne Nurseries and should be in place this autumn.

Ms Dart said: "This will be something of an experiment for the council to see how it works.

"It will also give our contractor, ISS Waterers, the expertise in putting one of these roofs together and maintaining it."

To add to the credentials will be the likely entry for a 2009 Green Flag for the gardens lovingly tended by on-site gardener Joe Lawrence.

This is the horticultural equal of the Blue Flag for the seafront and recognises all things good in parks and open spaces.

"It's about standards of excellence in parks management," said Ms Dart. "It takes into account the environment management around the park, the facilities we provide and the horticultural standards there. They all have to come together to be successful."

Only one area in the district – Mewsbrook Park in Littlehampton – so far qualifies for one of the flags.

All this and a human sundial is likely to be installed if a bid to the national lottery succeeds.

The Friends of Marine Park Gardens has applied to the Awards for All scheme for almost £10,000 for the sundial – which works with a human in the centre casting a shadow – and other projects.

These include reviving a sensory garden from the remains of the aromatic plants previously used.

They will also install some information boards to explain the gardens' planting to the many visitors with any award money.

The Friends has grown to more than 80 members since October 2006 and has control of a small rockery border.

All the environmental advances are a long way from the opening of the site along Marine Drive West by Bognor urban district councillors in 1935.

The site of about 17,000 square metres – which marks the easternmost boundary between Bognor Regis and Aldwick – is heading towards its 75th anniversary with renewed sparkle.

Offenders serving community sentences have recently repainted the shelters and benches under the supervision of the probation service.

Ms Dart explained: "Over the past four years, the gardens have been the subject of a restoration and regeneration programme. The benefits of that are being seen now.

"We are aiming high with the gardens and we can see the results of all the hard work by everyone, with the district council pulling it all together."

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