Arun District Council was contacted by George Schlich from Schlich Limited last year with a proposal to sponsor a gardener to keep Marina Gardens in St Catherine’s Road, in shape. Gardener Tom Bourne was then employed to tidy up the shrub border and has donated several plants and bulbs. Tom also took on the hedge maintenance after impressing the council’s parks team with the standard of his work. George gifted a pair of magnolia grandifloras to Marina Gardens and three deciduous trees to Caffyns Field, green spaces which are both regularly enjoyed by him and his employees. Councillor Terence Chapman, Arun District Council’s cabinet member for environmental services, said: “We have been bowled over by George’s generosity and community spirit so decided to make the planting of the last magnolia tree into a ceremony by way of a thank you. We are looking forward to working with George and his gardener, Tom, on a replanting project this year at Marina Gardens to really maximise its potential.” George said: “It’s been a real pleasure to see the fruits of Tom’s labour and we hope all who visit will enjoy the gardens – we have already received plenty of lovely comments from people living nearby.” Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live. Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on. 1) Make our website your homepage at www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk/ 2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LittlehamptonGazette 3) Follow us on Twitter @LhamptonGazette 4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here. And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out! The Littlehampton Gazette - always the first with your local news. Be part of it.