Flagging up beauty of Mewsbrook Park

And now the evidence of the park's success is there for all to see, with the Green Flag award '“ the first won in Arun '“ fluttering proudly above the attractive open space.

In recent years, Arun District Council has invested tens of thousands of pounds on improvements to the lake, landscaping and 1930s art deco shelters.

Mewsbrook is something of a hidden gem, tucked away behind Littlehampton Swimming and Sports Centre, but surrounded by the Beaumont Park estate. As well as the boating lake, the park boasts a popular cafe, miniature railway, and wildlife area.

Arun's parks and landscape department, contractors ISS Waterers, the Friends of Mewsbrook Park and Littlehampton Town Council worked together on the bid for Green Flag status and their goal was realised when the awards were presented by the Civic Trust at London's Guildhall.

Hannah Reid, Arun's community parks officer, who co-ordinated the effort, received the award on behalf of the partners.

She said: "It is a very attractive park, but a lot of people don't even realise it is there. We are producing a pamphlet to promote the park, so that hopefully more people will become aware of it and visit the park.

"The businesses in the park all play a big part in making Mewsbrook such a great place to visit, with the cafe this year proving extremely popular with local residents, some of whom visit almost daily for a chat and a bite to eat.

"The site-based gardener Nigel Carl-Hay works really hard keeping on top of the grounds maintenance and helping the parks department keep its zero-tolerance approach to graffiti by painting it out as soon as it appears."

Green Flag award judges visited the park and gave it high marks for eight criteria, including safety and security, maintenance and cleanliness, conservation and heritage, community involvement, management and whether it had a "welcoming" appearance.