Beech Hurst Gardens in Haywards Heath won Gold and its park category at South and South East in Bloom 2026, and the district's volunteer rangers won two more.

Beech Hurst Gardens in Haywards Heath has won a Gold Award at South and South East in Bloom 2026. It was also named winner of its park category.

The volunteer group that looks after parks and nature reserves across the district won two awards of its own. The results come from Mid Sussex District Council’s announcement of 13 October.

What was won

The council and its green spaces contractor, Glendale, listed three results:

  • Beech Hurst Gardens: Gold Award, and winner of the Park category
  • Glendale Countryside Green Space Action Team: RHS Community Gold Award
  • Glendale Countryside Green Space Action Team: Outstanding, in RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood

Outstanding is the highest level in the It’s Your Neighbourhood scheme, the council says. The certificate in the council’s photograph places Beech Hurst in the “Park 2 (5-10 acres)” class. The photographer’s caption dates the presentation to 25 September, at RHS Wisley.

South and South East in Bloom is the regional arm of Britain in Bloom, which the Royal Horticultural Society supports.

Why Beech Hurst won

The judges praised the park’s standard of maintenance, its welcoming atmosphere and its variety of planting, according to the council. That includes plants that support pollinators.

Beech Hurst is a heritage park on Butlers Green Road, held in trust for the community and managed by the district council. It is home to the Beech Hurst Miniature Railway and hosts events such as the summer Teddy Bears Picnic.

Councillor Chris Hobbs, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Customer Services, said the awards “reflect the care and pride that goes into maintaining our parks and green spaces”.

Who the volunteers are

The Green Space Action Team is a volunteer group led by Glendale’s countryside rangers. Volunteers work alongside the rangers on practical conservation jobs in parks and nature reserves around the district.

The RHS Community Gold Award recognised how the team gets local people involved, the council said. Glendale thanked “all of the volunteers who have helped make it such a success”.

What it means for you

Anyone can join a session. They run every Thursday from 10am to 12 noon, need no experience, and finish with a hot drink and biscuits, according to the council’s volunteering page. Tools and gloves are provided. Under 18s should come with an adult.

The two sessions left on the October programme are:

Date Site Where to meet
Thursday 22 October Hurst Farm Pond, East Grinstead Southlands, just down from the Mill Way junction and The Meads Primary School, RH19 4DB
Thursday 29 October Railway Land South, Burgess Hill Corner of Blackhouse Lane and St Wilfrids Road, RH15 8BH

To ask about future dates, email rangers.midsussex@glendale-services.co.uk. The October poster gives the phone number as 01273 751312.

Beech Hurst Gardens is open to visit, with a car park off Butlers Green Road, RH16 4BB. For more parks and days out across the district, see our guide to things to do in Mid Sussex.