Sefton Park Palm House launches first ever show gardens for 25th anniversary celebrations

Local charities, schools and community groups will transform the East Lawn with gardens as part of the 25-year anniversary celebrations.

Displayed between 10 and 21 June, the gardens have been developed by local charities, schools and community groups, to create plots of 2 x 3 metres, spanning education, health and wellbeing, environmental action and community growing.

10 groups have been involved to create gardens that not only represent the values of their individual organisations, but also messages of hope, collaboration, remembrance, joy, recovery and resilience, in honour of the Palm House’s mission to root for People, Plants and Place.

The launch will take place on Wednesday 10 June between 12 noon and 1pm. We can also accommodate interview requests and filming opportunities prior to this from 1 – 9 June when the gardens are being installed. Please contact Lucy at Happen PR to arrange.

Kate Martinez, Head of Visitors and Communities at Sefton Park Palm House, said:

“This year marks 25 years since the Palm House reopened following renovations, and we’re celebrating by hosting a series of events that align with our purpose and relationship with our community. The impact of nature on health and wellbeing is so key to what we do, that we wanted to give people the chance to experience designing and building their own gardens, while also providing a platform to showcase the important work that they do.

“The Palm House began as an ‘indoor garden’ for its Victorian visitors, but since reopening 25 years ago, the building has become so much more. We’re proud to be known as a beautiful wedding venue, but our purpose as a health and wellbeing resource and a haven for our local community is just as important to us.

“The Show Gardens are a tangible way of representing and celebrating this and the incredible work of all the community groups that we’ve been lucky to work with over the years. As well as children and young adults from local educational settings, it’s also been very special to work with organisations such as Let’s Talk CIC, Growing Sudley and Alfie’s Squad among others, who do such valuable work in our local community that has a real impact on people’s lives.”

The 10 gardens have been designed, created, and arranged by children, service users, volunteers, and community members, and include a garden for wellbeing, connection and belonging from Let’s Talk CIC; a garden devised, designed and developed by members of Growing Sudley’s therapeutic horticulture group for adults with stroke and brain injury; gardens to remember loved ones from Alfie’s Squad and Woodlands Hospice, and a Wizard of Oz-themed garden designed by Monksdown Primary School to celebrate kindness, courage and community.

Hayley Smallman, Corporate Partners Manager at Woodlands Hospice, said:

“We’re incredibly grateful to the Palm House for giving us the opportunity to create such a meaningful garden, shaped by every part of our Woodlands Hospice community. Our Forget Me Not Garden reflects who we are – a place of care, connection and remembrance for those we support. As we celebrate 30 years of Woodlands Hospice, it feels like a truly special way to honour our community and showcase just how wonderful they are.”

Kate Martinez continues:

“We’re so proud to have all the garden designs on display. We know how much work has gone into them and we hope people will visit to learn more about each organisation through the power of plants.”