Angmering is positively buzzing over In Bloom competition

The importance of bees in the environment and their vital pollination role were highlighted when the village was marked on Wednesday.

Judges Chris Evans and Linda Ball travelled from Bournemouth, where Chris is nursery manager and horticultural officer at Bournemouth Borough Council and Linda works on his team in the nursery.

Mr Evans said: “We had a pleasant morning in Angmering. It has been very friendly and hospitable and we were very lucky with the weather.

“The criteria for In Bloom is to see the community support in Angmering and how they pull together to create their competition entry. This year, it has been specifically about bees.”

He explained the marks included not only planting but environmental things, such as the condition of the litter bins and how the villagers deal with biodiversity.

“We go along and see how they mark up to that particular criteria then we go off and deliberate,” he added.

“We judge to a standard and the winners are announced on September 11 at the Amex Stadium in Brighton.”

The tour started at the Village Hall, then continued to The Square, The Lamb, St Wilfrid’s School and Honey Lane Allotments, ending at The Spotted Cow.

Julia Phelon, chairman of Angmering in Bloom, said: “We were showing the historical elements of the village, as well as the planting.

“The pre-school children at the village hall had made a collage, there were trugs filled with bee-loving plants at the Scout Hut and we visited the school’s wild area, where they have a bee hive.”

The Brownies had designed a new Angmering in Bloom logo last year, which was turned into a badge featuring a bee, ladybird and butterfly.

The team decided to take elements of the badge, creating a bee theme this year with the plan to follow it with ladybird and butterfly themes in future.

“It gave us a focus for the planting,” explained Mrs Phelon. “We work with about 100 young people from the youth groups, as well as the schools.”

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