Mr Bluebells receives top award at Downing Street ceremony

MR Bluebells - Arlington's John McCutchan - has visited Downing Street as a winner of a top national award.

John – now 89 – was selected as one of five people nationwide to win the 2026 Times Sternberg Active Life Awards.

He was nominated for this award for the work that he has done since turning 70 with the Arlington Bluebells Walk and Farm Trail.

Working with charities, John has helped them to raise more than £1 million over the past 53 years -

The Active Life Awards were established in 2008 and celebrates annually the outstanding contributions of people to their community and to public life made after their 70th birthday. It was created by Sir Sigmund Sternberg in partnership with The Times newspaper.

John said: "It was an absolute privilege to attend Downing Street with my grand-daughter Louisiana.

"It was a very special day, and of course an honour to have won, and to meet the other four winners as well.

"It was a day I will never forget."

John was nominated by the late Stuart Higgins, a close friend and volunteer at Bates Green Farm for the past five years.

John spoke at the presentation: "The Arlington Bluebell Walk was started by my wife Carolyn in 1972, as she was a parent governor of the local primary school, and they needed to raise funds for a swimming pool.

"She asked me one day, would people pay to view the bluebells in our 24 acre ancient wood, as we used to invite friends to admire this annual spectacular show. We then tried it for one weekend and there was a clamour to open it for the following weekend for parents to bring relatives, so we were all delighted to have raised the sum of £100.

"Next year we were asked to repeat it, and I remember saying we were farmers and not used to dealing with the public! Fortunately the East Sussex County Council were promoting Farm Open Days, so they came to our rescue, by forming us into a committee. Now 53 years later we are open for 6 weeks and have raised over £1.1 million for local charities!"

After his trip to Downing Street, John is now firmly focused on the 53rd Arlington Bluebell Walk which started on Good Friday and is open daily until Sunday May 10.

The event raises money for the twenty six  charities are taking part this year, including Sussex Cancer Fund, East Sussex Foster Care Association, The Salvation Army, East Sussex Wildlife Rescue, Raystede, St Wilfrid's Hospice, and Arlington Church and Village Hall, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Dementia Action Alliance and several Rotary Club branches. 

John said: “Downing Street yes, but please do come and enjoy the Bluebell Walk any day now until May 10 www.bluebellwalk.co.uk

“It is so wonderful to see thousands of people coming to enjoy the bluebells each year.”

Go to Arlington Bluebell Walk and Garden

Call 01323 485151 or email info@bluebellwalk.co.uk