Stand Up For Southport Blog by Andrew Brown
You can’t beat the Botanic Gardens in Churchtown in the sunshine! Such a stunning park, which is celebrating its 150th birthday next year.
There have been proposals put forward by Sefton Council in recent months to invest in regenerating this historic park, and the anniversary seems a perfect time to do it.
In the meantime, it is bursting with colour with so many flowers; the fountains are in place; families are enjoying the cafe and nursery; and visitors are wowed by the aviary, and also by one of the oldest ferneries in the country.
The park is Southport’s green lungs. It’s Southport’s heritage. It’s the place that supports mental health and wellbeing for families of all ages – it was a Godsend for people during the Covid pandemic.
The Botanic Gardens in Churchtown in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
The park is maintained thanks to thousands of hours of volunteering through the Botanic Gardens Community Association, led by David and Ann Cobham, who were honoured at the Grand Pride of Sefton Awards at The Grand Southport earlier this year.
Financial support has come through people’s generosity and the fundraising efforts of Make A Change For Botanic created by David Rawsthorne and the brilliant Botanic Gardens Family Fun Days organised by Jess Rickers.
Much appreciated support for the volunteers too from Green Sefton while local businesses have sponsored what they can.
A nostalgia picture of the Conservatory at the Botanic Gardens in Churchtown in Southport. Photo by Sefton Looking Back
This really is a park run by the community for the local community. There is so much time, effort and passion put in by volunteers in all weathers.
The Southport and Churchtown Botanic Gardens and Museum Company was set up by Mayor Walter Smith in 1875.
The company went about raising £18,000 to build a botanical garden, museum, tea rooms and a conservatory.
The Botanic Gardens in Churchtown in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
The company bought 20 acres from the Heskeths at Meols Hall and built the gardens.
On 15th May 1875 the Botanic Gardens opened. The following year the Conservatory and Museum were completed, and opened in April.
Phineas T Barnum – the inspiration behind ‘The Greatest Showman’ movie – was on the Advisory Committee. He donated his iconic ‘ringmaster’ hat as an exhibit.
A nostalgia picture of people boating on the Botanic Gardens in Churchtown in Southport. Photo by Sefton Looking Back
The Fernery opened in 1876 and contains one of the finest collections of ferns in the UK.
The Victorian bridges can no longer cope with the land train that once used to operate in the park.
As we near a century and a half since the Botanic Gardens was established, in 1875, next year would be a fitting time to see investment secured so the Botanic Gardens Museum could be restored and reopened; the Victorian bridges restored; the water in the lake cleaned; drainage improved.
And who’d love to see boats back on the lake once again?
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: [email protected]
