Breathing new life into city’s green lung

Oct 22 2007 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

YOU’VE got to hand it to Alan Titchmarsh: undaunted, he’s at it again in spite of the critical panning of his turkey of a television series, Saving Planet Earth, exploring the world’s landscapes.

However, his latest effort, The Nature of Britain, is scaled down to the confines of the UK and its wildlife.

We mustn’t mock as Wednesday’s programme features the fascinating volunteer project to conserve St James’s Gardens, which wraps around three sides of Liverpool Cathedral.

This is not the Grand Canyon; rather a deep former quarry and cemetery linked by dizzying ramps, almost in Liverpool’s centre, but important in its own small way precisely because of that.

While the lesser-spotted, slightly-tanned Titchmarsh gives the overall national view, naturalist Dr Janet Sumner, from Cheshire, will use St James’s Gardens as an example of how our regional wildlife can thrive in an urban setting, guided by Canon Anthony Hawley, local resident and a keen ornithologist.

The successful revival of the garden is due to three years’ dogged graft by the Friends of St James’s Gardens, led by that dynamic duo, Robin Riley (chairman) and Prof Tony Bradshaw (vice-chair).

“We were sick of talking about the gardens’ dereliction and not doing anything, so the Bishop of Liverpool called a public meeting. About 100 people attended and we got on with it,” says sculptor Robin, who lives in nearby Catharine Street.

In spite of a spectacular site on the city’s sandstone ridge, for years the gardens were a no-go area, populated by alcoholics and drug users, yet the 11.5-acre site includes St James’s Mount, the city’s oldest public park, laid out in 1770 with its formation still extant.

Clearing and replanting has reclaimed the gardens for public use, which is highly appreciated by residents who live mostly in terrace housing. Enthusiastic volunteer labour is crucial.

Where else do you get the chance to repair an 18th-century box hedge?

“By adding a greater variety of wild flowers, more insect species proliferate, and a new find is the Mediterranean snail, never recorded this far north before,” says Janet, who lectures at the Open University, and is the series’ co-producer.

“It’s become a haven for bird life with 44 species regularly seen, including kestrels, sparrow hawks, peregrine falcons and ravens. Having raptors successfully breeding here indicates the good ecological health of this pocket of inner-city green.”

Peregrines and ravens have nested in the cathedral tower. Foxes have been seen, probably attracted by rabbits living in two of the old tombs. (The cemetery and catacombs closed in 1936, after 57,774 burials.)

“It was in such a shambles because of joint ownership: by the city, which owns the quarry park, St James’s Mount is owned by Liverpool Cathedral, and National Museums Liverpool own the Oratory (funeral chapel), with nobody taking responsibility,” says Tony.

“Since then, they have all come round with Derek Dotti and Paul Scragg of the city’s open spaces department being terrifically supportive and giving us new planting. We’re not trying to turn it into an ornamental park, or kill all nettles as they’re very good for wildlife.

“Originally, there was a dull mixture of plants, as happens in city brownfield sites which go wild. We’ve had a big drive to sow wildflower seed and doubled the diversity, including red campion, cow parsley, foxgloves, celandine, ox-eye daisies and corn field species.

“Around 20 stalwart volunteers spend about 1,000 people hours annually clearing litter.

“By clearing out hidey-holes, the problem of drug addicts and traffickers has considerably lessened. ”

Robin adds: “We planted seven trees on Saturday, and by Sunday one was pulled out and thrown into the quarry by children. It can be disheartening, but it’s no good wailing and instead we put in extra protection.

“This is a very important green lung in the city centre, and now people come pouring into it, the numbers have probably doubled over the three years.”

THE Nature of Britain, BBC One, Wednesday, 9pm.

peter.elson