Work is continuing to bring the Palm House at Hesketh Park in Southport back to its former glory.
The stunning Victorian conservatory had become rundown in recent years.
But thanks to a huge donation from a local family, plus the generosity of volunteers and local firms, the landmark structure is in the process of being improved.
This week the team from J Barnett Gardens, a Southport based garden design and maintenance company, brought in three tonnes of topsoil to help the project.
Other local firms and people have been donating materials and plants.
An increasing number of volunteers have also been stepping forward to lend their support, with more helpers needed.
A spokesperson from J Barnett Gardens said: “We had a productive morning helping Alex and the team at the Palm House at Hesketh Park in Southport.
“We all worked hard in the rain to bring in three tonnes of topsoil from Webster’s Turf to help improve the growing conditions.
“The soil was kindly paid for donations, especially OmNom Zero Waste on Wesley Street in Southport, who generously donated half the cost, helping keep the site organic and peat free.”
J Barnett Gardens has also donated plants, and a heater to help workers through the cold seasons.
Writing on Instagram, Hesketh Park Palm House Head Volunteer Alex posted: “Unfortunately the Glasshouse has become slightly run down, after going through a period of sporadic watering and maintenance.
“This has meant that some plants have been lost and the rest are looking a bit worse for wear.
“However there are some lovely specimens growing in the beds including numerous Palm species, Bird of Paradise plants, Agave and a Eucalyptus tree.
“I am hoping over the next few months and years to bring the place back to former glories.
“We are consistently blown away by the generosity of this community and are so happy we get to share all of this beauty with you.”
In May this year, Sefton Council revealed how Hesketh Park is set to benefit from a bequest of £850,000.
Louis and Anita Marks were long-term neighbours and supporters of Hesketh Park and bequeathed the sum to ensure its best possible future.
Among the works that could result from the bequest are a full refurbishment of the conservatory, improvements to the sensory garden and the refurbishment of heritage features including the fountain, waterfall and floral clock.
Also, two full-time gardeners would be appointed to work at Hesketh Park for two years, supported by a newly created two-year apprenticeship.
The planned planting of new trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials and bedding would be part of their role along with the wider care of the park.
Hesketh Park is a 12-hectare Victorian Park. The Green Sefton Team has worked closely with Marks family trustees and the Hesketh Park Heritage Group to draw up the proposals.
Andrea, Emma and Laura are welcomed as colunteers at the Hesketh Park Palm House in Southport
The facility was designed as a public park in the mid-19th century by Edward Kemp, and was further developed in the 20th century.
The land was donated by the Rev Charles Hesketh and has many Victorian features and landscape designs.
The land Hesketh Park occupies was once sand dunes and beach.
As the tides receded and the town of Southport grew, the need for a park was proposed.
The land at the time was owned by Rev Charles Hesketh of Meols Hall, who donated the land for use as a public park.
Hesketh Park was created by the Southport Commissioners through the Second Southport Improvement Act of 1865.
Edward Kemp laid out the park which is of a near oval shape, possibly to the design of Joseph Paxton for whom Kemp had worked at Birkenhead Park – generally acknowledged as the first publicly funded civic park in the world.
The layout of Hesketh Park cost £12,000 and the park was officially opened in 1868.
Volunteers are now being sought for the Hesketh Park Palm House project.
Hesketh Park Palm House in Southport is being restored by volunteers
A spokesperson said: “Recently we had the pleasure of meeting Andrea, Emma and Laura, who have very kindly volunteered their time to help us with the Palm House.
“We spoke about lots of exciting potential projects that we will be introducing in the future, as well as geeking out over the plants
“We would love it if more of you could join our team!
“At the moment one of our biggest priorities is to be able to open the palm house more regularly, so if you would be willing to give your time, whether it’s for a couple of hours or all day anything would be greatly appreciated!
“Please contact us via direct message on our hesketh_park_palm_house page on Instagram if you can help! We can’t wait to meet more of you.”
In a Sefton Council consultation carried out in 2021, almost 70% of the 488 respondents rated Hesketh Park as average.
More than half of respondents rated an improvement to the park’s Conservatory for events as a very high priority and over 70% saw the return of site-based gardeners and rangers as a very high priority.
Hesketh Park Palm House in Southport enjoyed a donation by J Barnett Gardens
There was also significant support for improvements to the park’s heritage features and for replanting in the sensory garden that would improve access for all.
Barry Samuels, one of the trustees to the Marks Family Trust, said: “I still recall the magic of Hesketh Park when as a very young boy, my parents Dr Bernard and Jean Samuels and I used to visit my grandfather who lived in a house opposite the park in the early fifties.
“My Aunt and Uncle then moved into the house where his Uncle, Louis, was a fantastic and very skilled gardener.
“So, it is a fitting memorial to them all that the Family Trust can assist to reinstate the beauty of Hesketh Park for the public to enjoy, hopefully for many years to come.”
Cllr Ian Moncur, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “Thanks to the generosity of Louis and Anita Marks’ bequest, we are now going to be able to undertake wholesale improvements at Hesketh Park and do the kinds of things people have told us they want to see, like completing the refurbishment of the Conservatory and employing dedicated staff to work on-site.
“I am also glad that we will be able to re-plant the sensory garden to help ensure that everybody can enjoy Hesketh Park as well as restoring some of the features that reflect its Victorian heritage.
“And I am pleased to see that among the planned work is a proposal to create a memorial and acknowledgement of Louis and Anita Marks’ generous bequest.”
Peter Downham and Adrian Fletcher who co-Chair the Hesketh Park Heritage Group said:
“The Hesketh Park Heritage Group continues to work with Sefton MBC and all voluntary groups within Hesketh Park to ensure this treasured space will be available for the benefit of local residents, visitors to Southport and future generations.
“We are pleased to have been consulted and involved in the critical discussions which have led to this generous legacy coming to Hesketh Park. We see our ongoing role to ensure that the money is spent wisely and in a timely manner to enhance and maintain the Park for the future.”
Nikki Morris, CEO of Deafblind UK, said: “We are absolutely delighted about the forthcoming improvements to Hesketh Park, which will, once again, become a safe and accessible haven for local people who have sight and hearing loss. We are grateful to the Hesketh Park Heritage Group for working so closely with Deafblind UK and taking the people we support into account throughout the planning process.”
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