Volunteers are breathing new life into Southport’s historic Bandstand Gardens, tidying the area and planting flower beds every Wednesday since May in preparation for a series of summer concerts. The Lord Street in Bloom Garden Volunteers, supported by local businesses, aim to restore the gardens as a vibrant community hub.
Historic Bandstand Gets a Refresh
The bandstand on Lord Street dates back to the Victorian era, though the original structure stood in front of the Town Hall with a domed roof. Sefton Council has repainted the Victorian-style bandstand, while lampposts and bins are being cleaned, grass replaced with flowers, and paving slabs and benches jet washed. Nearly two flowerbeds are complete, and volunteers now focus on a third bed requiring careful hand weeding and new topsoil due to buried cables.
Crowdfunding for Future Maintenance
Lord Street in Bloom has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £10,000 for more plants, a sprinkler system, and a power washer. Pauline Morris, who founded the group in 2010, said: “Every penny counts. People love coming here. They always say to us: ‘Thank you so much for doing what you do,’ and that they like coming to sit here to watch the world go by and to listen to the church bells.” She added that the gardens provide a space for community connection, recalling a lonely woman she invited to join the group. “None of us knew each other before and now we’re all friends,” Morris said.
Community Events Planned
Charitable organisation Southport Matters will host two musical afternoons at the bandstand on Sunday, July 12 and July 19, featuring a range of performers. Morris hopes the revitalised area will become a community hub for concerts and dancing. “The improvements will make the bandstand and its gardens the vibrant focal point for the many tens of thousands of people who visit Lord Street each year,” she said.
Volunteer Efforts and Personal Stories
Sharon Gregory-Wareing, community champion at Asda Southport and a volunteer for 15 years, noted the group has grown from four or five members to 18. “These gardens have not had anything done with them for about 33 years,” she said. Eight weeks ago, the flower beds were overgrown, but now “it looks really appealing.” She also highlighted the gardens’ value for those without their own outdoor space and holidaymakers who praise the efforts.
Helen Marshall, a retired volunteer of nine years, said the work “engenders a sense of community. I’ve made a lot of good friends who have a similar mindset to me. We have a good laugh and we’re friends probably for life now.” Jean Rudin, who moved to Southport from Rainford without knowing anyone, described the group as “an absolute blessing,” providing a garden space and a sense of belonging.
Recognition and Support
Lord Street in Bloom was invited to Buckingham Palace for the King’s Garden Party last year after tending tributes to Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King, and Alice Da Silva Aguiar in the Town Hall Gardens. The group has received support from Southport Hoteliers Association, Southport Matters, Southport BID, Dowhigh, Sainsbury’s, Fletcher’s Solicitors, and Sefton Council workers using volunteering hours. The revitalised Bandstand Gardens will complement the £10m transformation of the Town Hall Gardens into a community events space inspired by the memory of Elsie, Alice, and Bebe.
