The Palm House celebrates huge anniversary year with massive events programme

Sefton Park’s Palm House is marking two big anniversaries this year, launching an exciting programme of events to celebrate.

Opened in 1896, 2026 marks 130 years of the historic Liverpool landmark, and 25 years since it reopened in 2001, following a period of dereliction since the 1980s. This 25-year milestone is hugely significant, since its reopening can be attributed to the tenacity and generosity of the local community, who joined together to save the Palm House following years of damage and neglect.

To raise awareness of that community effort and its continued importance today, the Palm House is staging a series of free and fundraising events throughout this year, along with a new campaign to carry on the message of community support, so that the venue can be enjoyed by countless more people in the future.

Kate Johnson, CEO of the Palm House said:

“The Palm House that we know and love today is very much an icon of Sefton Park and is beloved by many people in Liverpool. What began as an ‘indoor garden’, home to key pieces of Liverpool’s Botanical Collection and providing a ‘window to the world’ for its many Victorian visitors, now offers a heritage visitor attraction and a setting for educational and community events, which are supported by an award-winning wedding and events venue and café.

“It’s very clear to us that its existence over the past 25 years would not have been possible without the sheer drive and determination of supporters of the ‘Save the Palm House’ campaign that started in the early 90s and resulted in a registered charity being set up which enabled its reopening in 2001. We are also forever grateful for the foresight of those hardworking campaigners by enabling the wedding and events business, which further supports the charity.  This is community action at its best, and our new supporters’ campaign is our way of helping to sustain that community involvement and the opportunity to maintain one of the city’s most iconic, historic buildings, for future generations to enjoy.”

The supporters’ campaign – new for 2026 to mark the venue’s 25-year milestone – will allow people with a love, affinity and belief in the Palm House’s existence and mission, to make their mark on its future, providing the option to not only donate towards the upkeep and maintenance, its botanical collection and community events, but also receive annual benefits as a supporter, and sponsor individual aspects of the venue.

Kate continues:

“You can now root for our future by becoming a supporter with an annual membership, sponsoring a bench or planter, or by simply donating the change in your pocket when you visit, or online. All this support, however big or small, can help us to directly protect the Palm House, nurture our unique botanical collection, keep admission free, and enable our community events to continue to help people flourish.”

Alongside the new supporters’ campaign, events throughout the year include a programme of talks, late summer openings and a special exhibition at Liverpool’s Central Library, telling the story of the campaign to save the Palm House. The visitor attraction will also host its first ever garden display with community organisations, schools and colleges and a Grow Your Own Harvest Festival; a traditional vegetable competition where people can bring what they have grown at home or in their allotments and enter competitions. 

Kate Martinez, Head of Visitors & Communities at the Palm House said:

“We really want to put on a year of events that offers something for everyone. The events programme will also recognise the achievements of the Palm House over the past 25 years, including the fact that we have just become the only RHS Partner Garden in Liverpool – a status we are so proud to have achieved – and created an impressive £26m worth of social impact based on a recent report.

“Our success and value to our local community would not have been possible without those who have supported us all the way from the early 90s until now. We want to pay homage and say a huge thank you to those who have kept the Palm House mission alive, to ‘root for people, plants and place’. We are pulling together an exciting programme of events, so people should keep an eye on our website and social media for updates throughout the year. We can’t wait to share our anniversary with all our visitors.”

Find out more about Sefton Park Palm House here.

Sefton Park Palm House has also become a RHS Partner Garden Scheme, find out more here.

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