Hidden beauty of Merseyside’s gardens is revealed to the public

Jun 28 2008 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

Liverpool is tentatively putting a toe in a national scheme to open private gardens for charity. Peter Elson reports

MANY people will recall the Liverpool International Garden Festival of 1984, but how many have heard of a garden festival here in 2008?

Well, maybe not quite, but tomorrow sees the launch of Sefton Park Gardens Open day, under the auspices of the National Garden Scheme.

The public can nose around two fine Sefton Park mansions’ gardens and the thriving Sefton Park Allotments.

We’re at the acorn stage here, but organiser Christine Ruth, a former Granada TV producer turned garden designer five years ago, hopes that the event has a rosy future. She scored a real coup in persuading Liverpool University’s vice chancellor and his wife, Prof Sir Drummond and Lady Bone, to open up the Vice Chancellor’s lodge to the public for the first time.

“Gardening is a key part of British culture and, although now largely forgotten, Liverpool played a major part in that,” says Christine.

“But, for years, there was only one garden open, owned by Bridget Spiegl, a fine plantswoman at 480 Aigburth Road. When asked, the Bones were very enthusiastic.

“We can put on a decent show for Capital of Culture, and we’re using the Palm House as the event’s centre.

“Jeremy Nichols, another wonderful plantsman, had long wanted to open his garden, and Sefton Park Allotment Society was equally keen.”

Much is heard about Liverpool’s Celtic roots, but what she has created is a very English country garden event in the heart of the city.

“This city has a fabulous garden and botanical history, which somehow got lost along the way on going into its dreadful decline,” she says. “We should reverse this and inspire the future by looking back to our great botanical collections, great parks and great private gardens.”

Conceived by polymath William Roscoe, Liverpool Botanical Gardens is Britain’s second oldest after Kew. With Liverpool at the heart of the shipping industry, Roscoe persuaded owners and captains to bring specimens from all over the world.

“Thanks to Roscoe and other plant hunters, Liverpool fuelled the craze for new types and exotic varieties of plants, so gardening and conservatories became incredibly fashionable,” says Christine. Seen by only the select few, the garden of Šthe University of Liverpool’sŠVice-Chancellor, Prof Sir Drummond Bone, hosts Royalty, grandees and graduation garden parties.

This large garden in Sefton Park Road, Toxteth, boasts a rare collection of old shrub roses, a grand formalŠterrace, grape vine and mature shrub borders.

Sir Drummond has lived here for six years, with his wife, Vivian, and is retiring this summer. The house, originally called Eastbourne, was built for Henry Booth in 1853, secretary of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway.

A later owner was Sir Sydney Jones (a partner in Blue Funnel Line) who became pro-chancellor and bequeathed the house to Liverpool University in 1947. After the house next door was burned down, its garden was added to the lodge’s, creating the fine tree-lined views.

“This is a lovely, lovely garden. It’s not special botanically, but very attractive,” enthuses Lady Bone. The garden has entertained Princess Alexandra, Princess Anne and Yoko Ono. The President of the EU, Jose Manuel Barroso, is coming next week.

The garden includes a weeping ash (fraxinus excelsior pendula) probably planted when the neighbouring house was built around 1850.

“It was hugged by Yoko Ono when she was here for an Honorary Degree. She was told it was ailing and, of course, it has been fine ever since,” says Lady Bone.

ŠNearby is the garden of one of Liverpool'sŠmid-Victorian merchant Šhouses, Parkmount, Ullett Road, overlooking Sefton Park.

Gardener Jeremy Nichols, a social economist, says: “We occupy the ground floor but took over the whole garden which used to be the usual mess of laurel bushes and builders bricks. Travelling a huge amount, gardening is my way of calming down. Christine’s done a great job organising this and I hope more people join in next year.”

The 91 allotments in Sefton Park show shot to national television fame as the location for Lilo Lil’s trysts on plot 89, in Carla Lane’s hit comedy series, Bread.

“This was the fictional Pa Boswell’s allotment. Lil’s pink shed is a national monument really,” says Guilia Harding, allotment society chairman.

Deriving from the wartime Dig for Victory campaign, the six-acre site is located on a former US military base and has 100 members. “We’re not modern, more very 1950s, but since we got a flush toilet and septic tank two years ago we’ve never looked back,” says Guilia, who got her plot here five years ago.

“We’re opening for Capital of Culture and to promote allotments (although our waiting list is 200 people). They attract all ages and sexes. Many people are foodies wanting to grow their own.

“Tending allotments is a great way of forgetting worldly worries and a fantastic way of finding new friends. There’s always the odd cantankerous old git, but isn’t there one everywhere?”

SEFTON Park Palm House will have a rare plant sale, refreshments and music, plus National Association of Flower Arrangers (Childwall Branch) work and demonstrations. A charitable donation of £4 gives combined entry, venues marked by yellow balloons; 12-5pm.

Also open for the first time tomorrow under the National Garden Scheme are three gardens in Saxon Road and Liverpool Road, Birkdale, near Southport. Opening: £4; 10.30am-5.30pm.ŠFor more garden pictures, visit www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/galleries

peter.elson