National charity, Deafblind UK is on a mission to revive the Hesketh Park sensory garden in Southport and create an accessible space for the whole community to enjoy.
To aid redevelopment plans, they are calling on local residents to share any photos of the garden.
The charity is keen to promote accessible outdoor space to help people with their emotional wellbeing.
Community and Business Partner Rachel Brocklebank said: “Many of us have taken advantage of our local green spaces during lockdown.
“We want to make sure that these spaces are accessible to all members of the community, particularly those with sight and hearing loss.
“Many of the people we support feel extremely anxious about the easing of the lockdown and fear being in public spaces as often, they cannot see to socially distance. Being outdoors hugely benefits our emotional wellbeing and mental health, so we want to create a space that is not only safe and peaceful but also inclusive to people who are deafblind.”
Rachel, a local resident, came across the sensory garden during the first lockdown in Spring 2020.
She said: “I was walking through Hesketh Park when I came across what was once the sensory garden.
“I knew how the pandemic was affecting some of our members, and how important getting outdoors had been for myself, so I was struck by the very real need for this space.
The Hesketh Park sensory garden was first developed in 1994 by the Southport Rotary Club and Soroptimist International Southport as a joint venture, with additional support from other organisations.
Unfortunately, such a large garden needs regular maintenance and with council funding pressures, areas of the garden have become overgrown. So Rachel contacted Green Sefton which agreed that the garden should be restored to its former glory and provide a safe haven for those with sensory loss.
The project will be supported by David Hartley, Rotary District Governor, Dianne Harrison, President of the Rotary Club of Southport, Adrian Fletcher from the Rotary Club of Southport and Co-chair of the Hesketh Park Heritage Group, Ghislaine Fletcher and members of Soroptimist International Southport and Peter Lloyd, who designed the gold medal winning sensory garden for Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Peter is keen to incorporate some historic elements of the garden into the new plans – and is keen to hear from local residents who may have photos of the garden from days gone by.
Please send any photos or questions to Rachel at Deafblind UK: Rachel.brocklebank@deafblind.org.uk
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