The Fernery and Floral Beds at Botanic Gardens

The volunteer group and registered charity the Botanic Gardens Community Association was established in 2012 with the aim of beating the proposed and actual severe cuts to the gardens and attractions within the park.
The Gardens were originally opened as a privately run Pleasure Gardens in 1875 until council takeover and Trust status in 1937 and has been a pleasure to millions of visitors who have enjoyed the many different free attractions since. We have helped to save and manage many of the popular features such as the Victorian Fernery, the Sanctuary Aviary the Public Toilets and the magnificent seasonal Floral displays, In 2021/22 we raised public donations to save and enable the refurbishment of the Aviary Sanctuary We also started a wildflower initiative. Further major Aviary improvements took place in 2024/ 2025 funded by Volunteers.
We manage to plant up 5 large display beds with a different theme for Spring and Summer about 40 containers and baskets and maintain our Rose Garden and Herbaceous beds. The unique Fernery is leased to BGCA and is continuously being restored and maintained by our team back to its Victorian Splendour. A recent attraction is transforming an overgrown secluded area into a Victorian style Stumpery with Specimen Ferns, Heathers, Hellebores and wild flowers to add to existing trees including an ancient Mulberry. We have an Aviary Garden with fundraising memory Pavers. In 2025 funds were donated towards the construction of a Dementia and Wellness Timber planter garden and have funded the reconstruction of a 50 foot lakeside Victorian scene Mural.
The park has many other great attractions and we hold seasonal Events for people of all ages,.it is also well worth a visit to the ancient village of Churchtown.
The BGCA Volunteers register over 8000 free working hours per year. These hours will provide match funding for the current Heritage Funding Bid to restore the old park infrastructure to its Victorian splendour. .
We are proud to say that the BGCA have achieved the top RHS level 0f OUTSTANDING for 12 consecutive years and the coveted GREEN FLAG award for 5 years running, and in 2025 helped SOUTHPORT Volunteers to win the NATIONAL COASTAL TOWN, AND OVERALL BRITAIN IN BLOOM AWARD presented live on the BBC ONE SHOW.
We thank all our supporters, sponsors and the the generous public donations received , it would not be possible without them.
David Cobham.
Chairman
BGCA
Jan 2026.