ROTARY ROUND-UP: Clubs help to make seafront bloom

Over the past three years you may have noticed how lovely the Worthing seafront flowerbeds are looking.

This is down to the wonderful community groups and charities that are taking part in the annual seafront planting competition by adopting a flowerbed, all joining together to make Worthing a prettier and more attractive place to live or visit.

West Worthing Rotary and Durrington High Rotary Interact Clubs have both been pleased to adopt flowerbeds and join in the good work.

The idea came from Paul Holden, of the Worthing Journal, who highlighted the poor state of the flowerbeds along the seafront in 2013 and suggested the town could improve its welcome for visitors.

The idea was taken up by the Worthing Town Centre Initiative (TCI) who obtained funds and permission from Worthing Borough Council to tend the 36 raised beds on Worthing promenade between just east of the pier and Splash Point.

Ferring Country Centre contributed the flowers.

The planting began in May 2014 with all the beds taken by local charities, businesses and community groups.

This year the TCI contributed £30 worth of plants to get gardeners going, offering a top prize of £500 for the best flowerbed, and £200 for the runner-up.

In addition to the judges prizes the public can vote for their favourite flowerbed.

The display with the most votes will win £100.

Just email [email protected] with the number of your favourite flowerbed to take part.

This year the planting was on Sunday, May 15, and the team from West Worthing Rotary Club wanted the beds to be colourful, but were aware that they had to be tended throughout the summer and so selected more hardy species for their planting.

Rotarian Jayne Knight said: “This year we used alyssum and lobelia to edge with a willow divider to split the garden into quarters with begonia semp in red, calendula in yellow, yagetes in orange with mixed antirrhinums in the last quarter.”

The Durrington High Rotary Interact Club, along with some teachers from the school, attended to plot 16 and 29.

There was much weeding of the plots before planting up their design, which came from the school logo – the seahorse.

The students enjoyed the day, using stones and shells from the beach to outline their design and add a few features.

Jayne said: “It was a very satisfying exercise, and whilst it would be nice for us or Durrington Interact to win a prize, it is good to be part of the project.

“We have had many people (local and visitors) stop and chat when we have been tending the flowerbed.

“Some people just say ‘well done it looks great’ and some want to know what it is all about and also show an interest in Rotary and the work we do.

“We enjoyed helping to make Worthing a prettier and more attractive place to live or visit.”

Details of Worthing’s three Rotary clubs are:

• Worthing Rotary Club meets Monday, 12.55pm, at the Chatsworth Hotel, in The Steyne, Worthing, 01903 262222.

• West Worthing Rotary Club meets Tuesday evening at Tudor Close, Ferring, 01903 501961.

• Worthing Steyne Rotary Club meets Monday evening at The Ardington Hotel, in Steyne Gardens, Worthing, 01903 234957.

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