Southport Flower Show paid partnership
The volunteer team at the Forget Me Not Dementia Café have won a Gold Medal for their Raised Bed Memory Garden flower bed at Southport Flower Show.
People can see the garden when they visit the show, which is taking place at Victoria Park in Southport 20th-23rd August 2026.
After the event, the plants from the Memory Garden will become part of our group’s plans to transform the garden at Southport YMCA to a multi-functional garden space for children, young people and families.
The raised garden at Southport Flower Show has been sponsored by Fletchers Solicitors in Southport.
The new Dementia Café opened at Southport YMCA in December, providing a warm welcome to people with dementia and to family members and carers who look after them.
Jenny Bowles from the café said: “The Forget Me Not Dementia Cafe volunteer team were absolutely delighted when General Manager Alan Adams offered us a place in the raised flower bed competition at Southport Flower Show.
“Although very few of us have gardening experience, we were ready for the challenge and with it the opportunity to spread awareness.
“Led by Honora Ormesher, a small team created our Raised Bed Memory Garden inspired by the very reasons we started Forget Me Not: the stories of people we have loved and lost to dementia and memory loss, the people whose experiences motivated us to open the café, and the stories of the guests and families we have been privileged to meet since the café opened in December 2025.
“The garden is therefore much more than a flower bed. It is a place of hope, reflection, peace and love, with very visual reminders of some of the people whose stories have shaped Forget Me Not.
“And, just like the café itself, it is also full of life, warmth and joy.
“As we are all amateurs, and had only two months to design and deliver the bed. We were stunned and absolutely thrilled to be awarded a Gold Medal!
“To achieve this as our very first competition entry, only a couple of months after Alan made us the offer, is something the whole team is incredibly proud of.”
The team are grateful for all the support they’ve had from the community including from local businesses.
Jenny said: “A huge thank you must also go to Jen, Beth, Reece and all staff at Fletchers Solicitors, who have supported Forget Me Not from day one from helping us open the café doors to sponsoring our entry into Southport Flower Show. Their local team has continued to support our vision, and we are so grateful to have them alongside us.
“After the Southport Flower Show, the plants from the Memory Garden will be cared for and, in time, transplanted to become part of our plans to transform the garden at the YMCA to a multi-functional garden space including a memory garden with suitable access and a safe space for children, young people and families.
“We are still fundraising for this ambitious project but we know, with Southport behind us, we can create a truly intergenerational community garden in Southport town centre.
“If people are visiting Southport Flower Show, we would absolutely love them to take a look at our raised bed in Victoria Park and see the story for themselves.
“The bed has, alongside it, details which explains the design and the links to memory and reflection.
“A huge thank you to all our amazing volunteers. From the first ideas to the planting and final touches, even Honora leaving the café early on Wednesday to finish those last-minute plants, this really has been a team effort.
“We can’t wait to share the Gold Medal news with our guests next week. They have shared so many of their stories with us, and now we get to share this little piece of wonderful news with them.”
- The Dementia Café opened at Southport YMCA on Hoghton Street in Southport town centre on 3rd December 2025.
The Dementia Café is the brainchild of CEO of Southport Community Sports Steve Haworth and
volunteer Jenny Bowles.
For further information about the Dementia Café, or to make a donation, please
call 01704 538317 or email: [email protected] or call into
YMCA Southport
- Southport Flower Show is at Victoria Park in Southport 20th-23rd August 2026. For more details please visit: Home – Southport Flower Show
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