Botanic Gardens in Churchtown in Southport needs YOUR vote to become UK’s Favourite Park

The Botanic Gardens in Churchtown in Southport needs YOUR support to be crowned as the UK’s favourite park! 

The historic park, which is largely maintained by the volunteers from the Botanic Gardens Community Association, is one of 364 parks and green spaces in the running to scoop the accolade of being a local favourite, national favourite or take the overall crown of UK’s Favourite Park 2022. 

The nationwide public vote is organised by green space charity, Fields in Trust, with people able to vote here: Nominations for UK’s Favourite Parks 2022 | Fields in Trust

Over the past 12 months, the Make A Change For Botanic campaigners have raised nearly £40,000 to make vital safety improvements at the park. 

They have done this with a series of fundraising events, including the Botanic Gardens Family Fun Day and a Sportsman’s Dinner with John Barnes at Bliss Hotel, which was sponsored by Southport Pleasureland. 

The BGCA and the MACFB groups are now eager to raise more money – and more awareness – of the need to improve the Botanic Gardens, and voting in this poll will really help that. 

The Grade II Listed Botanic Gardens first opened to visitors in 1874 and has been enjoyed by millions of people since.

Botanic Gardens Community Association Chair David Cobham said: “The Botanic Gardens is a protected Field in Trust from when Southport Town Council rescued it from approved house building by private developers in the 1930s.

“In 1937 they established it as the Botanic Gardens and King George Playing field which is on the East side of the Lake.

“The side gates have King George V memorial plaques inlaid on the gate sides.

“We can thank Col Roger Fleetwood Hesketh and the old Southport Borough Council for as they bought the park and land that we have today for the people.

Thousands of people enjoyed a Family Fun Day at the Botanic Gardens in Churchtown in Southport. Members of the Botanic Gardens Community Association. Photo by Andrew Brown Media

“The Botanic Gardens in an historic village park of the Victorian ,with free entry for visitors, where they can enjoy top RHS award  winning Garden displays.

“The park also features an exotic birds rescue aviary and a fantastic unique large Victorian Fernery.

“Children in the local community and at the neighboruing Churchtown primary School enjoy the children’s playground and the crazy golf course, while we welcome brass bands which play on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer.

“There is an abundance of wildlife, including swans, and people enjoy the Serpentine Lake.

“There is a cafe which is open all year round and Mens and Ladies  toilets for all abilities.” 

Make A Change For Botanic founder David Rawsthorne started his campaign to raise funds for the park after his best friend, Ben Smith-Crallan, died after falling into the lake at the park. 

David said: “On the 23rd of March 2021 I began my campaign to make a change for Ben; my best friend, who tragically died after taking a tumble into the lake at Botanic Gardens and picked up a rare infection which saw him placed into an induced coma for three weeks,  before passing away.

I was compelled to start the campaign because nothing had been done at all to warn people of the dangers of the poor water quality of the lake. 

“I felt a sudden need to do something in memory of Ben. I started the Facebook group Make a change for Ben, along with the backing of Ben’s dad and sister, then got thousands of leaflets printed off and delivered them all over the town with the help of the local community who were keen to get involved and help. Gradually our group numbers grew as word spread of the campaign. 

The Botanic Gardens family Fun Day. Photo by Andrew Brown Media

“Whilst the volunteers that look after the park do a fantastic job at maintaining it, there is only so much they can do with limited funding . 

“We all want to see the Botanic back to its former glory. We all have happy memories of the park growing up, pedalos, rowing boats, the park train, the museum and fernery…. the list goes on. “One day in the next three years hopefully a lot of these attractions and more will be back.

“Recently, On 19th June of this year,  we had a super fun day in Botanic Gardens with many attractions. 

“The most recent fundraising event was by Southport Piano & Music Academy, run by Claire Kelly, who has organised a variety concert.

“After a year of parks being some of the only places we’ve all been able to visit during lockdowns, we’re sure you agree that these beauty spots need to be nurtured and protected.

“I hope we get it back to its best for future generations to enjoy as we did.” 

Our local parks have acted as a sanctuary for so many of us over the past few years and the UK’s Favourite Parks award celebrates the contributions these spaces deliver for our neighbourhoods and communities. Yet not everyone has equal access. Research by Fields in Trust finds that around 2.8 million people across Great Britain live more than a ten-minute walk from their nearest park or green space. The situation could get worse with a risk that lack of legal protection could lead to more green spaces being sold-off or developed.

Fields in Trust Chief Executive Helen Griffiths said: “Our nation’s parks have been so important during the pandemic, and it is vital that we celebrate them to help ensure they are protected for future generations. Without urgent action, Britain’s public green space is set to decrease, putting more pressure on fewer green spaces to support the health and wellbeing of communities, now and in the future.

David Rawsthorne and Jess Thwaites from Make A Change For Botanic at the Botanic Gardens family Fun Day. Photo by Andrew Brown Media

“Our children and grandchildren deserve to have the same access to green space that we do, so we need to act before it’s too late. 

“As well as voting for the local park you love today, check to see if it is legally protected. It is within the powers of our local leaders to protect our green spaces and after the pandemic this is a significant moment to change the way we think about the contribution local green spaces make to our health, our wellbeing, our environment, and ultimately our futures.” 

Nominations for UK’s Favourite Park 2022 represent the many different ways people enjoy green spaces, each valued by its local community.  Parks have been nominated by people who love to walk, run, cycle, relax, picnic, walk the dog and play with their children in the UK’s parks. Public voting will determine local favourites as well as the national favourite park in each of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. These four will be shortlisted with the overall UK’s Favourite Park announced over the August Bank Holiday. 

Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com