Gardens open to the public

Gardeners from across the world are contributing to a scheme which will see gardens in Liverpool open to the public.

The National Gardens Scheme Open Day takes place on Sunday 31 July and features a number of gardens in the Sefton Park area.

Among the gardens open this year is one at the Family Refugee Support Project in High Park Street where families from several countries, escaping conflict and persecution, have tended raised bed gardens.

Two Community gardens at Fern Grove and the Quaker Burial Grounds in Arundel Avenue as well as the Sefton Park Allotments and some private gardens will also be open.

Tickets are £5 on the day (children free) to access all gardens with proceeds going to charity. However there is an opportunity to attend this event for free as the Granby Toxteth Development Trust’s Lottery –funded L8 Living Sustainably project is paying for tickets for up to 50 local residents.

Greenbank Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, said: “We have some wonderful gardens in this area and it’s great that we have been able to arrange for some local people to visit them for free.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to view some rarely seen gardens which will appeal to most tastes.”

The free tickets can be obtained by calling in to the Granby Toxteth Development Trust, 129 Lodge Lane, (next to the L8 Supermarket) before 31 July – the first 50 applicants will receive free tickets.

The gardens which are open are

•  Quaker Burial Ground Community Garden, next to 93 Arundel Avenue .A  community project which features  a pond, a young orchard, a vegetable bed, rock garden, bee keeping and areas set aside for wildlife.
• 6 Croxteth Grove  a small south facing walled city garden currently under development ,featuring flowering plants, fruit and vegetables.
• Fern Grove Community Garden a former housing site which has raised beds with veg, fruit and flowers. It is supported by Liverpool City Council and local residents grow plants and keep bees. There will be a beekeeping demonstration at 2pm and children’s activities,
• Family Refugee Support project garden in High Park Street –a therapeutic hidden garden of raised vegetable beds used by 25 families fleeing war zones and persecution
• Sefton Park Allotments, Greenbank Drive (opposite Merebank tower block) –Nearly 100 plots on six acres producing a wide variety of produce.
• Sefton Villa – a private house at 14 Sefton Drive. A small walled Victorian garden.

Refreshments will be available at all the gardens.

Further information about the gardens is available at http://www.ngs.org.uk/gardens/find-a-garden/Garden.aspx?id=20800

Liverpool Waterfront