Two sparkling ‘Thank You’ events have been held in December to celebrate remarkable green volunteers and their award-winning efforts.
Green Sefton, which oversees 6,500 hectares of coast, parks and green spaces, organised the back-to-back bashes.
They took the opportunity to highlight the brilliance of volunteers, who – according to latest figures – commit close to 60,000 hours of work every year.
On Wednesday 3rd December 2025, more than 115 people converged on Southport Market for the first event.
They received words of thanks from Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, and the Mayor, Cllr June Burns.
Council Cabinet Member Mhairi Doyle, who was part of the delegation that picked up the historic Britain in Bloom award, also spoke.
The second evening on Wednesday December 10th, set up to celebrate volunteers in the south and centre of the Borough, was held at Crosby’s Lake House.
Cllr Atkinson, Cllr Doyle and the Mayor of Sefton were joined by two more Cabinet Members, Cllrs Peter Harvey and Diane Roscoe, for the occasion.
Sefton’s volunteer groups are made up of hundreds of people, ranging from young people to retirees. They are open to all comers, whether they take part in one litter pick, or decide to commit significant amounts of time to maintaining Sefton’s natural habitat.
And the figures show that the time put in by volunteer groups is very significant indeed. Green Sefton estimates that a whopping 57,000 hours of volunteering were logged in 2024 alone. That total is expected to rise when 2025’s hours are tallied.
The benefits have been felt everywhere, whether through the reduction of invasive non-native Sea Buckthorn on the coast, to parks and green spaces being tidied and decorated with stunning flower arrangements.
Those arrangements led to glory for Sefton this year. Amid a flurry of honours, prestigious Gold Awards from the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom were handed to Bootle, Crosby & Waterloo, Ainsdale and Southport.
The latter went a step further, bringing the ‘Champion of Champions’ trophy to Sefton for the first time in the awards’ 50-year history.
Cllr Atkinson said in her speech: “At Sefton Council, we want everyone to be proud of their community and their Borough. Personally, I am deeply proud not only to be part of Sefton, but to serve as Leader of Sefton Council.
“Thank you for your dedication, your commitment to making Sefton a better place to live and visit, and most importantly for your love for this Borough, which shines through in everything you do.
“I look forward to seeing your continued hard work bear fruit for many years to come.”
Cllr Doyle, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, has enjoyed a close relationship with volunteer groups in her role overseeing Green Sefton.
Addressing the volunteers, Cllr Doyle said: “Working with the Green Sefton team, I am lucky to see examples of the dedicated community spirit of all our volunteers on a day-to-day basis, from South Park in Bootle to the dunes at Hightown and beyond.
“You heroes work on our coastline, heritage parks and green spaces throughout the year in fair weather and foul, celebrating horticultural excellence, improving habitats for wildlife on our glorious coastline and of course, being flagbearers for community involvement.”
Sefton Council again extends its heartfelt thanks to every person who has volunteered at any stage throughout the year.
Those who would like to learn more about taking part, whether for one morning or the whole year ahead, can send an email to greensefton@sefton.gov.uk
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