Community Noticeboard

In 2024, the Parish Council has entered Charlwood into the Parishes In Bloom competition and achieved a silver award. Our thanks to all those who were able to help in the efforts!

The competition is not solely based on chocolate-box picture gardens and is judged and assessed according to three main criteria: Environmental Responsibility; Community Involvement; Gardening and Conservation Achievement.

This is the full criteria as spelled out by the organisers, South & South-East In Bloom:- 

Parishes in Bloom
This is an opportunity for Parishes to receive a visit and be assessed under a simple criteria. To receive an external third-party validation from an organisation that has been assessing and judging Villages, Towns, Cities and community groups for well over 40 years and who is part of Britain in Bloom.
This assessment is designed to cause the least disruption to the business of managing the Parish. Just a question of identifying the many well-managed features that make up a Parish and providing feedback suggesting areas of improvements or developments and of course to receive recognition for the achievements.
What the assessors would like to see:
Community Involvement
• Assessors would like to understand the level of involvement from the community or voluntary groups or individuals especially in the areas of gardening and conservation.
• Are local people involved in decision-making about the appearance of the Parish and how decisions are communicated & implemented?
• The level of partnership working with local groups and local organisations (i.e. police, environmental groups etc.)
Environmental Responsibility
• What action is being taken to conserve the natural & built environment particularly the protection of local habitats, & heritage buildings?
• Examples of local composting either collected wastes or community composting,
• Evidence of the creation or the maintaining or improving green spaces (Village Greens, parks & pocket parks, verges, woodlands, churchyards etc.).
• The Parish Council is engaged in addressing environmental issues such as the control of Fly-tipping, Fly-posting, Litter, Graffiti & Dog fouling.
Maintenance - Gardening, Horticulture & Tree Maintenance, Street Furniture
• Evidence of delivering good gardening, horticultural and tree management practices.
• The Parish Council encourages residents to care for their gardens, allotments, shop and business frontages etc.
• Residential gardens are generally cared for and enhance the parishes appearance.
• Parish signs and entrances are welcoming
• Parish street Furniture (seating, Bins, signage etc) is well maintained.