“We’re excited to start working with the group and would like to thank them for coming together with a common aim of keeping the historic grounds as a beautiful, quiet place for generations to come.”
Returning to the Rangers blog is Anthony, who this week shines a light on Worthing’s newest community group – the Friends of Denton Gardens! Find out more on the history of the green space and discover how you can get involved below: 👇
Hi – my name is Anthony and I am the blogger of the week from the Park Rangers’ Team.
This week I would like to talk about the newest ‘friends of’ group coming to one of Worthing Borough Council’s many green spaces.
The group in question is the Friends of Denton Gardens, who I’m very pleased to say held a public meeting over the weekend to vote in their constitution and organise a managing committee. The meeting was well attended by approx 30 people, all of whom have a keen interest in the space and want to help keep it as peaceful, well-maintained and welcoming to everyone as possible.
On the 11th May 1922, Edward Knoblock Esq, the owner of Beach House, sold the land to Alderman Denton. A month later on the 20th June 1922, Mr Denton gave the land to the town. Two years later, Denton Gardens opened to the public and included two 18 hole golf putting courses, a sunken garden with attractive planting, a pergola and flower beds lining the extremities of the gardens. All in all a pleasant, sheltered, open environment for the public to relax and enjoy a little quiet time away from the busy and sometimes windswept promenade.
The gardens haven’t really changed much over the years in regard to layout and the amount of open space, and there is still a pergola to the south of the sunken gardens which the Friends of Denton Gardens are keen to refurbish with the help of the Park Rangers.
Excited to get started, the group has many ideas to help maintain and enhance the gardens – and over the next few months we will be developing a management plan with them to help achieve some of these goals.
If you would like to know more about the group you can visit their website or Facebook page:
🔹http://www.friendsofdentongardens.org
🔹https://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofdentongardens/about
I cannot emphasise enough the importance of groups like these, as they bring an invaluable source of knowledge and understanding to our treasured green spaces. The work that has already been done in some of our other parks and gardens is a great example of this and something which has been a privilege to be a part of.
There are so many success stories, with the Friends of Marine Gardens, Homefield Park, Heene Cemetery and Brooklands Park to name a few, and if you would like to get involved in your local green space then please send us an email and we’ll do our best to assist you!
🔹environmentalservices@adur-worthing.gov.uk
On a final note, I would like to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers who do such amazing work on the green spaces we have across Adur and Worthing.
We’re excited to start working with the Friends of Denton Gardens and would like to thank them for coming together with a common aim of keeping the historic grounds as a beautiful, quiet place for generations to come.
📸 Images credited to the Friends of Denton Gardens
