Blakedown Landscapes transforms Bognor Regis Sunken Gardens

The refurbishment at Bognor Regis Sunken Gardens has reached completion and was celebrated on Friday with an official opening attended by Councillors from Arun District Council and representatives from Accredited Contractor, Blakedown Landscapes.

The Sunken Gardens is an important open space to be enjoyed by residents and visitors, close to the town centre. The £300,000 improvement project has enhanced the quality of this much-loved community asset, improved feelings of safety and security and will encourage more visitors to the gardens.

Works carried out by Blakedown as the main contractor have comprised of enhancements to the play area including new equipment; brightly coloured safety surfacing and planting and the creation of a new southern entrance with enhanced planting which opens views into the garden and enables better access for wheelchair users and families with pushchairs. The area also includes a sensory space on the east side of the gardens which incorporates wildflowers on low mounds.

Other works have seen the centre of the gardens replanted with a new low hedge; the restoration of existing and the installation of new benches; and the refurbishment of footpaths.  A memorial tree will be planted in the central bed within the sunken gardens, during the autumn planting season, in memory of Kim Davis from the Bognor Community Gardeners.

Sustainable and sensitive landscape design by landscape architects LUC has been a key element of the scheme with the enhancement of the site’s biodiversity through planting choice and the re-use and recycling of existing site materials including soil and play equipment. 

Councillor Matt Stanley, Leader of the Council said:

“I am delighted that this project is complete, and the improved gardens are open for residents and visitors to enjoy. This project has spanned several administrations, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their dedication to carrying out this work. The Sunken Gardens project is part of the wider rejuvenation works being undertaken in Bognor Regis, and everyone at Arun is fully united behind improving the offering of our district.”

Steve Buckingham, Director, of Blakedown Landscapes said:

“Blakedown is delighted to have been appointed as the main contractor for the refurbishment of this much loved and valuable community asset. We specialise in high-quality public realm schemes and more and more we are collaborating with our clients to create sustainable landscapes in a sustainable way. At Bognor Regis Sunken Gardens we have focused on the recycling of site-wide materials and the creation of a new sensory landscape featuring naturalised planting to increase biodiversity.”