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12 March 2025

Parkland Infants Win Music In-Bloom 2025

Pupils from Parkland Junior, Parkland Infant, Heron Park Academy, Willingdon and Polegate schools presented their carpet garden designs at the ‘Music In-Bloom’ finals at Eastbourne Town Hall on Thursday 6th March

This annual In-Bloom event, now celebrating 31 years, was organised by Eastbourne Education Business Partnership and kindly sponsored by idverde on behalf of Eastbourne Borough Council. Local primary schools were tasked with producing three themed carpet garden designs and some supporting curriculum work for judging.

The competition theme celebrates the 25th anniversary broadcast of Eastbourne Youth Radio in November and musical performance. The competition also provided lots of ideas for learning and creativity in the classroom and wider community. The finals coincided with the start of British Science Week.

idverde who are the UK & Europe’s leading provider of grounds maintenance

services and landscape creation projects, are very proud to sponsor the Music In-Bloom competition. Darren Pillar, Operations Director at idverde said “I spent my first days as an apprentice gardener working on this feature bed at Holywell. It is really exciting to be able to judge and now sponsor this competition and see the new generation developing with such enthusiasm for horticulture and taking pride in their local area. It’s such a privilege to have been part of this project for the past 30 years”.

in bloom comp
Cllr Candy Vaughan, Mayor, said afterwards, “I was very impressed by the work that the schools had done. Judging their different entries is always great fun but quite a challenge itself. Congratulations to Parkland Infant School for their winning Bandstand design that co-incidentally celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.” The children will join the mayor again in June for the planting out at Holywell. “We are very grateful for the opportunity to contribute another carpet garden design for the seafront. The children’s designs and their enthusiasm during judging made for a great final”, commented Tim Sorensen, Programme Manager for Eastbourne EBP.

Representatives from idverde, UpCountry Stone Cross, Visit Eastbourne and Eastbourne EBP helped the mayor with judging. Prizes were kindly provided by UpCountry and certificates created by Firebrand Design. Celebration cakes for the tea and presentations afterwards were also courtesy of idverde.

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