Southport MP calls on residents to vote for Botanic Gardens in national competition

Damien Moore MP is calling on Southport’s residents and visitors to support Churchtown’s Botanic Gardens in a vote for the UK’s Favourite Park, as part of a nationwide public vote organised by a green space charity, Fields in Trust. 

The Botanic Gardens is amongst 364 parks and green spaces in the running to be awarded UK’s Favourite Park 2022. Voting is now open, and will close at noon on Thursday 18th August 2022. The parks with the most votes in each of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will be named National Favourites, with the overall winner becoming the UK's Favourite Park 2022.

Originally opened in 1874, the Victorian Botanic Gardens have drawn visitors into Southport for centuries, and have been described as Southport’s “Jewel in the Crown”. The town now has an opportunity to secure a new accolade for the Gardens, which has been the focus of a community-driven improvements campaign led by local resident David Rawsthorne.

Mr. Moore has met with Mr. Rawsthorne in the park, and has been a keen supporter of his successful campaign to install the new water fountains.

Residents are being encouraged by Mr. Moore to back the Botanic Gardens in the competition by voting at the following link: https://www.fieldsintrust.org/favourite-parks/nominations.

Damien Moore, MP for Southport, said:

“It’s fantastic news that the Botanic Gardens are on the short list of the UK’s top parks and green spaces.

“These gardens truly are the jewel in our town’s crown, and this competition represents such a wonderful opportunity for the dedicated volunteers who do so much to look after this fantastic green space to be recognised for their amazing work.

“I know I am one of many in our town that go regularly to these gardens, and I’m always so inspired by the brilliant job the hard-working volunteers do to keep them in such wonderful condition. I’m particularly pleased by the recent progress made on installing the much-needed water fountains, as the park continues to go from strength to strength.

“The Botanic Gardens now need all of us to cast a vote in their favour and help them be crowned the top green space in the UK. Please do vote, and encourage everyone else in our wonderful town to vote too. It only takes a second.”

Helen Griffiths, Chief Executive of Fields in Trust, said:

“Our nation’s parks have been so important during the pandemic, and it is vital that we celebrate them and protect them for future generations.

“Our children and grandchildren deserve to have the same access to green space that we do, and the pandemic has given us a significant moment to change the way we think about the contribution local green spaces make to our health, our wellbeing, our environment, and ultimately our futures.”