Southwick honours its heritage and community spirit with a new awards plaque

Southwick Village Green Preservation Society, founded in 2019, has installed a new plaque recording its awards and community work preserving the village's heritage.

Southwick, one of Wearside's oldest communities first recorded in 1072, has marked further preservation work this month. The Southwick Village Green Preservation Society was formed in 2019 to promote and protect the village's history and to encourage partnership working. Over the past seven years the society and its partners have installed heritage blue plaques and interpretation panels, tended the ancient village green, and helped create award-winning flowerbeds. A new panel has been put in place to record the society's awards and recognise that community work. Key facts: - Southwick's earliest mention in historical records dates to 1072. - The Southwick Village Green Preservation Society (SVGPS) was established in 2019 to preserve local history and improve the area. - Achievements cited include a heritage blue plaque trail, historical interpretation panels, upkeep of the village green, and flowerbeds created with Southwick Altogether Raising Aspirations (SARA). - A Northumbria in Bloom awards plaque was fitted in Southwick Remembrance Gardens last November, and a new panel has been installed to record other awards. - Volunteers and partner groups involved include SARA, AESC Ltd, and MICC Chapel of Light; SVGPS has an enthusiastic committee of about 15 members and is preparing for continued work into 2026. Summary: The new plaque brings together recognition of the society's awards and the wider community effort to preserve Southwick's heritage. It reflects contributions from volunteers, local groups and businesses to maintain the village green and record local history. The society says it will carry on its work and looks forward to activities in 2026.