Southport Botanic Gardens

Southport, England, United Kingdom

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Southport Botanic Gardens, located in the suburban village of Churchtown in Southport, England, were originally opened in 1874 by a group of local working men who formed the Southport and Churchtown Botanic Gardens Company.

The gardens feature a serpentine lake formed from a historic stream and once included a large glass conservatory with a fernery, which remains today. The gardens were saved from closure and potential housing development in the 1930s by the Southport Corporation, and reopened as a public space.

The site also housed a museum opened in 1876, which contained significant local history collections including an ancient canoe dating back to 535 AD and artifacts related to Southport’s heritage. Although the museum closed in 2011 due to budget cuts, local volunteers maintain the gardens, which are nationally known for their floral displays and were once featured on the BBC’s Gardener’s World.

The gardens continue as a cherished community green space with paths, aviaries, and flower beds maintained by volunteers.