A determined group of volunteers have begun an ambitious project to transform the historic Bandstand Gardens in Southport town centre – and they need your help!
The Lord Street In Bloom Garden Volunteers have been hard at work once again today (Wednesday, 6th May 2026) as they battle to convert a rundown town centre area into a beautiful space where families can flock to enjoy the scenery.
The Bandstand itself has been an impressive feature on Lord Street since the Victorian era, and this famous local landmark is also getting an upgrade.
Volunteers are repainting it, with the aim of bringing it back into use as a hub for live music and events. Lampposts and bins in the area are also being repainted and spruced up.
Last year the Lord Street In Bloom Garden Volunteers reinvigorated the nearby Town Hall Gardens, temporarily installing new planters and adding hundreds of colourful new plants.
That area will soon be given a brand new look through a £10 million scheme led by the families of Elsie, Bebe and Alice.
While that work happens, the volunteers want to ensure that the Bandstand Gardens, in front of The Vincent Hotel, are fit for purpose and a pleasant place for people to visit.
They are not alone in their endeavours. Toiling alongside them today were members of Southport Hoteliers Association including Anthony Duffey from the Sunnyside Guest House; Richard Owens from Southport Matters and Compassion Acts; and workers from Sefton Council utilising their volunteering hours.
Southport BID has been very supportive of their work.
The team would love to see more helpers come along as they meet on Wednesdays and lend a hand.
They also need financial help and help in-kind from local businesses.
Dowhigh, a civil engineering firm based in Sefton which was honoured as a Business In The Community Finalist at the Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards a few days ago, has provided substantial help and support to the scheme, delivering 20 tonnes of topsoil and getting the initial works underway.
Pauline Morris, the founder of the Lord Street In Bloom Volunteers, said:
“The work we did last year at the Town Hall Gardens was a massive success. We are all really proud of the difference we made to improve that area; it took a lot of hard work!
“The Mermaid Gardens in front of Sainsbury’s are also looking really good.
“We have also done lots of work at Southport Train Station.
“Now we’re onto our new project – it’s a big one and we need help!
“In October last year I declared that the Bandstand Gardens on Lord Street, in front of The Vincent Hotel, needed a serious revamp.
“The gardens have been dire for such a long time. They became a real grotspot.
“This is an historic space right in the middle of Lord Street, which can be really beautiful and can attract so many families if we all work together.
“In Victorian times, that Bandstand was a treasured community hub for people. It was a brilliant venue for live music, for people gathering together and enjoying the gardens.
“We want to bring that back. It’s especially important to do that now, with work about to start on creating the new family-friendly events space at the Town Hall Gardens, led by the families of Elsie, Alice and Bebe. That’s such an exciting initiative, but it’s going to take a few months to complete.
“We will soon be seeing The 154th Open Golf Championship coming to Royal Birkdale in Southport this year, so we’re soon going to be welcoming lots of visitors from around the world – we want to see Southport looking its very best!
“It’s going to take around £10,000 to complete this project.
“We need £2,500 to purchase an irrigation system for the gardens.
“It will then cost £7,100 to buy what we need to plant it all up.
“When it’s complete the Bandstand Gardens are going to look fantastic.
“We want this to be a real community hub where people are once again using the Bandstand for live music, for brass bands, for health and wellbeing – people were using it to practise tai chi on Sunday which was lovely to see!
“It will be a big boost for local businesses nearby such as The Vincent Hotel having a new, attractive space in front of them – when it’s restored, that Bandstand would make a lovely spot for wedding pictures!
“We’ve been busy so far. Kay Owen and the team at Dowhigh have been superb. They kicked everything off, delivering 20 tonnes of topsoil and helping us with other works too including clearing the borders for us. They’re big!
“Southport Hoteliers have been brilliant too, donating £700 towards buying 20 tonnes of mulch, which we have topped up using our own funds.
“We’d love people to support us in what we’re aiming to do, whether through volunteering or through financial support.
“Improving the Bandstand Gardens will have a positive impact on everyone in the town centre, creating a better impression for visitors and helping to attract more people.
“Please donate what you can; if we can raise even £100 from each business nearby it will really help us.
“The Bandstand Gardens is one of Southport’s real gems. It’s part of our heritage
“For too long it’s been neglected and unloved.
“There are so many positive things happening in Southport at the moment, things are moving upwards. The Leo’s Bar building looks amazing; restoration work has started at Southport Pier; the Southport Train Station Approach is being revamped; building work is taking place at the former BHS building and the former Southport Visiter offices.
“The Bandstand Gardens has to be among the improvements happening in Southport.
“We want to make it a beautiful space that local people are proud of once again.”
The Lord Street Volunteers group began in 2010 and has been dedicated to improving the Lord Street area of Southport for 16 years.
Last year they played their part, among other local gardening groups, in helping Southport to earn the Overall Winner award at the Britain in Bloom 2025 UK Finals, a triumph for a community who used the town’s gardens for healing amid tragedy.
- If you would like to donate to the Lord Street In Bloom Volunteers or volunteer with the group, please email: [email protected] or message them via their Facebook page: (20+) Facebook
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