Our History
At our recent celebration lunch several members asked how AIB had come about so I thought this might be of interest.
In 2010 Angmering Parish Council (APC) were invited by South and South East in Bloom to enter their annual competition (part of Britain in Bloom). APC advertised for volunteers to form AIB, and several residents came forward, three of whom John Goulding, Lorraine Wensley and Julia Phelon are still with AIB today. A Committee was set up with two Parish Councillors and the volunteers.
It was decided, early on, it would be better for AIB to become an Association in order to apply for grants for specific project’s.
We entered the Competition from 2011 – 2016 receiving three Silver and three Silver Gilt awards. Along with the time spent on each years activities, many more hours were spent producing a document, with photographic evidence, planning a visit for two judges including a presentation and a planned walk around the Village. This became very time consuming, so in 2017 it was decided to withdraw from the Competition and concentrate our time on enhancing the Village.
We have worked with local Schools and Scouting groups on horticultural projects, including planting the Beehive bed for the Kings Coronation and running a tallest sunflower competition.
We have been involved in creating new floral beds at the High Street, Arundel Road, Nursery Road, Station Road, Water Lane, the Community Centre and the Cala roundabout, all of which we continue to try and maintain and replant.
AIB encouraged various organisations to plant a number of trees as part of the Queen’s Green canopy.
The Village map and St Nicholas garden information board were designed and produced by AIB.
In Spring and Autumn we plant the trugs and planters at the Community Centre and on the Village green and also in Autumn we plant 100’s of bulbs in areas indentified by both AIB and residents.
AIB receive funding from local businesses, who generously sponsor us, and the annual plant sale which, thanks to support from local residents, is becoming more popular every year.
The number of AIB members has increased from 6 to currently 21 and we think of ourselves as friends as well as volunteers. We meet every Wednesday morning either in the Village Centre or at the Community Centre followed by a well deserved coffee and chat.
We have a website and also post regularly on the Village Facebook page and hope to continue our work to enhance the Village for many years to come.