We’re thriving! It’s official.

Three of us have just returned from the South/South East in Blooom Awards Ceremony in Fareham. The London Road Station Partnership garden has been awarded Level 4 ‘Thriving’ in the RHS ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ scheme for community gardens, following the visit from judges in July (see earlier blog).

We’re delighted at the result, particularly as the judging takes into consideration not just ‘gardening achievement’, but also how we demonstrate ‘environmental responsibility’ and ‘community participation’. We gained 82 points out of a total 100: a great score, especially for a first time entry. You can download the judges’ evaluation (RHS IYN 12 p 1) and comments (RHS IYN 12 p2) here.

We were the only community garden in Brighton and Hove to get involved in the scheme this year, and one of only seven gardens in East Sussex to be awarded Level 4 or above. A big thank-you to everybody who has been involved: gardening, composting, supporting us with donations in cash and in kind, helping with events or just dropping by to chat!

The judges commented specifically on our partnership working with a range of community organisations and the support from local businesses, and the regular events we organise to involve local people. They also liked our ‘high quality crops’ grown ‘with creativity’. Perhaps most characteristically, they highlighted the ‘passion and camaraderie’ show by those involved in the daily upkeep of the gardens!

They suggested that we should now look at how we can enhance other areas around the station. We’ve already talked about some ornamental planting around the trees at the front of the station, some decorative planters at the station entrances and most ambitious of all, a wild flower area on the north side of the railway line. This is a real stimulus to start looking at how we can put these ideas into action.