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The Eco Garden at Hesketh Park

An Education, and an Experience!

There is a lot of concern these days that children and young people are growing up with no direct connection to the natural world, that their learning experience does not include the appreciation of fauna and flora. Southport is in a particularly fortunate place for the observance of the natural world, with one of the country’s most extensive ranges of sand dunes, and salt marshes within easy access.

To bring a microcosm of these into a safe and well equipped learning environment is to increase the number of children who will ultimately benefit from a greater understanding of nature. With the availability of some redundant space in the former contractors’ area of Hesketh Park, an ideal opportunity exists to create such an environment, and Southport Rotary Club is taking the lead in drawing up the project plans.

But before we get to these, why not read a little more about Hesketh Park itself and look at the area from the air?

Hover your cursor over the small photograph to see, like magic, a much larger version; its almost like being there!

The Main Park

Less than one mile from the centre of Southport lies Hesketh Park.

The 30 acre Park, opened in 1868, lies within a semi-residential area, with ample on-street parking. Designed by Edward Kemp, one of the leading park designers of his day, and with influences by Sir Joseph Paxton, designer of the Crystal Palace and Kemp’s mentor at Chatsworth where he trained, the park boasts a myriad of unique built and natural features and is a horticultural treasure trove just waiting to be discovered.

The structures in the park include a Grade 2 listed observatory and conservatory, gate lodges, glass houses, shelters, aviary and rock features. The sand hill origins of the park are echoed in the rolling topography, which frames the lake and cascades.  The arboretum-like diversity of trees not only adds interest but, prior to the works, masked five lost gardens.

These gardens, along with an ornate fountain and fern-encrusted stone arch 'rootery', have been restored and reconstructed, to bring the park back to its former glory.

The Park has recently undergone £3 million of improvement works, funded from a variety of sources including the Heritage Lottery Fund.  

Facilities include public toilets, healthy walks trails, mini golf and a café.

The Eco Garden Report:

November 2009

At this stage, there is much to be done which is, necessarily, going on behind the scenes. Detailed plans are being prepared, the appropriate authorities are being consulted, potential donors are being identified and will need to be convinced that the Eco Garden is a great idea. All of these things have to be in place before we get anywhere close to getting the spades and the wellies out!

So, please check back from time to time, and we will update the report as soon as there is anything we can say.

This is the schematic plan for the Eco Garden, with the various areas and zones. Hover your cursor for a much larger view.

The Eco Garden

The Key to the Areas

Area A English Woodland

Area B Bee garden

Area C Fruit area

Area D Children’s sensory Garden

Area E/F Butterfly garden

Area G Marsh area (using leaf compost)

Area H Sand-dune area  (with retaining wall aprox. 18 inches)

Area I/J Living wall and Beastie Corner

Area K English Woodland

Area L Hedgerow

Area M English Woodland

Area N Coastal

Area O Heath/limestone?

Area P/Q Meadow area  

Area R Allotment

Area S Pool/Slack

Area T Outdoor Teaching Area

Area U Light for Life office/gardeners room

Area X Education facility & toilets for staff & schools only

This is what the Eco Garden site looks like before the project starts. Hover your cursor for a much larger view

This is the key to the schematic plan, showing what is designed to go where. Hover your cursor to see it greater detail