Kind-hearted young bakers at Larkfield Primary School in Southport have hosted a Cake Sale to help improve the Botanic Gardens in Churchtown.
A Larkfield Primary School spokesperson said: “Families were very generous with their contributions and the children were very excited to spend their money on a wide range of delicious cakes. We raised an amazing £295!”
David Rawsthorne, the founder of the Make A Change For Botanic campaign group, was delighted to meet the children and staff at the school, where he accepted the cheque on behalf of the group.
He said: “Last Thursday I attended Larkfield Primary School to pick up a cheque for £295.
“The school held a cake sale on behalf of our campaign, and we would like to say thank you so much to all the kids, parents and teachers. That’s a great amount to have raised!
“Now that children are breaking up for the summer holidays it would be fantastic if parents can encourage them to do things to raise money for the Make A Change For Botanic campaign.
“Can you think of any ideas? We need to keep up the momentum.
“We are very close to raising £40,000 for the campaign.
“This really is a fantastic achievement in just 16 months of campaigning.
“Every person who has donated or participated in any way can be very proud but we still have a ways to go so please keep on raising awareness and funds in any way you can!
“We are also currently very close to 5,000 members in our Make A Change For Botanic Facebook group so please keep inviting your friends and families to our group.
“Please take care in the excessive heat over the next couple of days and please tell your kids that under no circumstances should they enter the lake at the Botanic Gardens to cool down, there is a danger of death.
“If you’re visiting the park please take your litter home.”
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.
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.
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