Engaging People Safely
In addition to the 30 members of the Green Team, who are drawn from across our community, we have engaged with local schools, charities and businesses. Over the course of the year, we were fortunate to have 30 temporary volunteers from two schools and a government agency lend a hand for a day. We are also grateful to local primary school children, who grew plants from seed.
In November, a presentation was made to 25 members of the Chamber of Commerce. Five cafes have been involved in our weekly coffee grounds collection and distribution to allotments. Neighbouring businesses, residents and the museum have taken on responsibility for watering beds and troughs. We hope that others will emulate their example as more troughs are planted this year. Our public events attracted over 200 people, most of whom have become active participants in our wildlife initiatives. We have also established a partnership with the Aldingbourne Trust and with Brent Lodge Wildlife Trust.
Through our WhatsApp group, we keep members of the Green Team updated about developments. We share updates with the wider community through our Facebook page and the monthly Arundel Update. We also presented to Arundel Town Council and at a Town Hall meeting. We have had several articles published in the Sussex Express and The Bell. In addition, articles about our work have appeared in the South Downs and RHS newsletters. In this way, we are working to keep the community informed and engaged.
The Green Team
The people that bring the ideas to life. This growing team of wonderful volunteers is what makes the projects happen and continue to thrive. With over 30 active volunteers, and at least 10 ongoing projects, there is always plenty of rewarding work to do.
“It’s been a fabulous community project, connecting all ages of Arundellers in art and nature.” Mary Peach
Sunflower Festival
All Year Round at Arundel Station
The festival initially focussed on Arundel’s two schools – St. Philip’s Catholic Primary School and Arundel Church of England Primary School. With the support of the Green Team along with parents and teachers, hundreds of pupils engaged in a range of sunflower-related activities including planting seeds (5kg of seeds donated by Arun District Council, RHS donating the soil to plant them) to take home and nurture; making labels for the plant pots; painting a sunflower mural; learning about Vincent Van Gogh’s sunflowers and making clay sunflower petals and leaves. The next step involved the Green Team and other volunteers working with ceramic artist, Ali Pacey, to paint and prepare the petals, leaves and sunflower centres for their later transformation.
One by one, the mosaics emerged, created by volunteers and sponsored by local businesses. They were installed to the delight of passers-by until, by the end of November, all were in place ready for the official opening of the Sunflower Parade.
“The Sunflower Parade is such a fabulous addition to the station, and its collaborative nature perfectly represents the essence of what we are trying to achieve,” Katrina Murray
Wild about Gardening
A newer project to encourage local people to change the way they garden. An event was held in May 2024, in which 59 people attended. There were 4 speakers who gave insightful and interesting talks in relation to this topic.
The plan is to undertake and showcase a garden transformation within the town. This will mean that Greening Arundel will take a very well-manicured garden and transform it into a more wild and animal friendly site. With design input, advice and consideration from some more knowledgable members it will be a chance to really show just what can be done in your own back yard!
Nature in Art
As an historic town located in the South Downs, Arundel is well-known for the beauty of its location and for its vibrant artistic community. We believe that the time is now right to broaden our scope by highlighting how local artists feature nature in their work and showcasing that art in natural settings. The proposed nature-based installations should educate, inspire and engage those who visit Arundel as well as those who live and work here.
The loan of a painting by Frances Knight has enabled us to feature the South Downs in the Waiting Room at the station. We have invited the SDNPA to take advantage of the attention the painting is expected to draw by displaying materials useful to visitors and locals alike.
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