Horsham Park can never be built on after a Fields in Trust deed, and it won Gold again at South and South East in Bloom. Only 6% of Horsham residents live near a protected green space.

Horsham Park can never be sold or built on. A Deed of Dedication with the charity Fields in Trust now protects it permanently, and the park has also won Gold again at the South and South East in Bloom awards.

Fields in Trust announced that the deed was completed in September. It says the protection directly benefits 12,000 residents who live within a 10-minute walk of the park (Fields in Trust, 22 October).

The protection followed a campaign by the Friends of Horsham Park. Horsham District Council, which owns and runs the park, decided in March to use the Fields in Trust scheme (Friends of Horsham Park).

Why it matters: most of Horsham’s green space has no such protection

Horsham Park is the exception. Fields in Trust’s 2026 Green Space Index found that:

  • only 6% of Horsham residents live near a park or green space with permanent legal protection
  • the South East average is 11%, and England’s is 14%
  • 17% of Horsham residents live more than a 10-minute walk from their nearest green space, more than double the England average of 8%

The figures come from the charity’s release, which the Friends reproduced in full in their October newsletter.

Bar chart: share of residents living near a park or green space with permanent legal protection. Horsham 6%, South East 11%, England 14%. Source: Fields in Trust Green Space Index 2026.
Chart by Horsham Daily. Source: Fields in Trust Green Space Index 2026.
Share this chartFacebookWhatsAppX

Helen Griffiths, the charity’s chief executive, said: “Green space should never be the thing that gets built over simply because it happens to have no legal status. We hope to continue our relationship with the council, bringing more of these vital community assets under our permanent protection.”

Sally Sanderson, chair of the Friends of Horsham Park, said: “Horsham has grown considerably and continues to grow. Like everywhere, there is pressure on land for new homes, but it is vital this is balanced with access to high-quality green space.”

Gold again, and a regional award for the Friends’ chair

The South and South East in Bloom awards were held at RHS Wisley on 25 September. According to the Friends, Horsham Park won:

  • a Gold Award in the Large Park category, again
  • “Outstanding”, the highest level, in the It’s Your Neighbourhood section

Sally Sanderson also received the individual Outstanding Achievement Award. The Friends say it recognised the greatest contribution across the whole South and South East region. She could not attend the ceremony, so she was presented with her trophy at the Friends’ AGM.

The park also received its seventh Green Flag Award this year, Fields in Trust says.

The Friends credit the council’s parks team and the volunteers. At the AGM on 29 September they reported that volunteers had given more than 2,500 hours in the year, looking after over 30 beds and areas across the park.

What is coming up in the park

  • 7,000 purple crocuses. Volunteers and Horsham Rotary planted them on 28 October for Rotary’s Purple4Polio campaign. They line the path from the North Street entrance towards the Pavilions, and should flower in late January or early February (November newsletter).
  • A wider meadow. Volunteers are pulling up self-seeded oak saplings to extend the wildflower meadow onto the drier bank in front of the north-west copse. The park’s established oaks are not affected.
  • One black pine removed. The northernmost of the three tall black pines by the café was taken down in the last week of October after a tree consultant warned its lean over the conservatory could fail. It has been left as a high stump.

What it means for you

  • The park is safe from development for good. The deed binds the land, whoever runs the council. That matters with local government reorganisation coming in 2029.
  • You can help the Friends say thank you. They are raising £1,000 for Fields in Trust, which gave its help and legal work free. £322 had been raised by the AGM (donation page).
  • The quiz is on Friday 20 November at 7.30pm in Trinity Church Hall. Tickets are £7 in advance or £10 on the door, and more than half the tables had gone by early November. Booking details are in the November newsletter.
  • Want your own green space protected? Fields in Trust explains how communities and landowners can apply on its news page about Horsham Park.

For more to do in town, see things to do in Horsham.

Sources