St. Mary’s Churchyard Storrington has entered the South and South East In Bloom competition for the last ten years or so, winning the Churchyard of the Year award a couple of times. In 2025 the churchyard scored a very impressive 179 out of 200 achieving a Gold award for the fourth year running. This was our highest ever score.
There are 4 categories for scoring,
a ) General site assessment, 35 scored out of a possible 40
b) Horticulture, 53 scored out of a possible 60
c ) Environment and Conservation, 54 scored out of a possible 60
d) Pride of Place, 37 scored out of a possible 40
The judges were particularly pleased with the recycling and composting arrangements and processes, and the support offered to wildlife.
The churchyard is maintained by a small number of volunteers who meet on most Monday mornings throughout the year (weather permitting) from 9.00a.m. until 11.00a.m. New volunteers are always welcome – it is not necessary to be a church member or a skilled gardener but anyone who can push a lawn mower, wield a strimmer or just tend plants would be very welcome to come along.
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