Thousands of families in Southport came together on Sunday to celebrate the historic 150th birthday of the Botanic Gardens in Churchtown in Southport.
People enjoyed a packed day of entertainment on Father’s Day with fairground rides, inflatables, dance schools, live music, a silent disco, stalls, food and drink, giant bubbles, birds of prey, donkey rides, children’s characters, and local history talks inside the former Botanic Gardens Museum.
The day was organised by Jess Rickers and the Botanic Gardens Community Association.
Admission is free, with donations invited and money raised going to support the ongoing upkeep of the gardens, which opened to the public in 1875.
Sefton Council launched a Heritage Lottery bid for £5 million funding with details on how local people can support it through match funding.
Merseyside Police attended with a van, police horses and police dogs while Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service brought along their fire engine.
There were dozens of stalls from local businesses and community organisations.
Children raised over £1,200 for Bebe’s Hive with their home-made bracelets, while Elsie’s Story was there giving free heart shaped balloons to delighted children.
Event organiser Jess Rickers said: “I would like to thank everyone who came to the Botanic gardens Fun Day on Sunday.
“This year the fun day was bigger and better than any other! We invited more stalls, more community partners and we put together something special for the Botanic Gardens 150th birthday.
“This event consisted of so many special people, all in one place with one aim – to bring joy and happiness to the community of Southport in a place that is so beautiful it deserves the biggest birthday ever.
“This year like no other felt like I was facilitating something that the community wanted, maybe even needed – and what a community we have from local businesses, dancers, singers, bands, community partners and volunteers.
“To David and Ann Cobham and the whole Botanic Gardens Community Association – thank you! Without you this park wouldn’t survive.
“Thank you to Green Sefton for accommodating and supporting this event, Katy Hibbert from Funky Monkees for pulling the dance acts together, Phil Brown for volunteering and helping me out all day, Andrew Brown for the extensive coverage, listening ear and support, Victoria Louise and Merseyside Police & Fire Service for bringing their engine, dogs and horses, the public volunteers who come and give their time to steward the event and lastly to our sponsor The Settle Inn for their sponsorship and support. I can’t miss out my amazing family, friends and work colleagues who put up and show up for me every year!
“Sunday was awesome – wish the sun had shone longer but what a way to end what’s been a great week for Southport.”
Over the past 15 years the Botanic Gardens has been maintained and improved by an incredible group of Botanic Gardens Community Association volunteers led by David and Ann Cobham, now both 82 years old. The couple won the Sefton Community Impact Award at the 2024 Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards for their work.
New volunteers are urgently needed to care for the park, and people are welcome to contact the BCGA to find out how they can help.
Dance groups performing included Express Performing Arts, Wright’s Performing Arts, King’s School of Dance and Rhythm Time Southport.
Bubbleologists from Paris Bubbles returned while StarKidz hosted a silent disco.
The Settle Inn, which sponsored the event, hosted a BBQ; selling food, drinks and ice cream and plants.
Families sat back and listened to a jazz band, a ukulele band, and the sea cadets band.
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 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.
The Fernery opened in 1876 and contains one of the finest collections of ferns in the UK.
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