Public consultation launching on significant Botanic Gardens in Southport improvements

Sefton Council’s Green Sefton service, working in partnership with the Botanic Gardens Community Association and others, are launching a public consultation as part of ongoing works to develop the future of Southport’s historic Botanic Gardens.

Green Sefton, with the support of Geonomics Ltd, funded by a National Lottery Heritage Fund pre-development grant, will be asking residents, regular park users, visitors, and the dedicated volunteer groups to steer the longer-term vision for the park.

The launch of the consultation will be on Sunday 20th November at the Community Associations Christmas Fayre in the Gardens, from 11am to 4pm.

The public consultation, which will run through to next Spring, will allow people to share their views on ideas to improve the park. It will also celebrate its historic importance, and help the Council to develop new attractions that would bring more visitors to the park, stimulating the local economy and creating new jobs.

The Council took the decision to explore the development of external funding bids for significant improvement works at Botanic Gardens. This consultation will help ensure that bid includes local people’s views.

If successful, the funding could support the restoration of many of the park’s Victorian buildings, refurbish the wider park infrastructure and help the Council to fulfil improvement works, including development of new attractions.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said:
“Southport’s Botanic Gardens has historical significance and is listed on Historic England’s ‘Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

“Our Green Sefton team has been working alongside a number of dedicated community groups who care deeply about the future of the park and are keen to see improvements that benefit everyone who loves spending time there.

“By taking part in this consultation, the Council will be able to plan the park’s future in line with people wishes and views.”

Working in partnership with the dedicated volunteers of the Botanic Garden Community Association and the ‘Make A Change’ group, Green Sefton have already started some short-term improvement works, including the installation of two floating fountains that aerate the water in the lake, which was completed earlier this year using funding raised by the Make A Change group.

To have your say on the future of Botanic Gardens, people can complete the online survey which will be available from 20 November on the projects consultation portal at http://oakhamwarp.dinksurveys.com/Sefton_Botanic_Garden

People can find more on the Borough’s parks, play areas and open spaces managed by the Green Sefton team, with support from volunteers and partners, by visiting www.sefton.gov.uk/parks

Anyone interested in helping to shape the developing project, or would like to volunteer in the Botanic Gardens, can contact the Botanic Gardens Community Association at https://botanicgardensca.org.uk/