Secret Gardens of Oxton event a great success

The award-winning Secret Gardens of Oxton opened to the public on Sunday, May 8 after a two-year absence due to the pandemic and attracted more than 5,000 visitors.

Seventeen gardens opened for visitors and the village hosted an array of craft and plant stalls, musical performances from local choirs, bands and pianists, children’s activities, a gala raffle and street food provided by local businesses.

Special guests included the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mr Mark Blundell and his wife Suzanne and the Mayor and Mayoress of Wirral, Cllr George Davies and his wife, Cath who toured some of the gardens and chatted to visitors and volunteers.

Mayor Cllr Davies said, “This is a wonderful event and is community at its very best.”

The Secret Gardens of Oxton was launched in 2001 by the Oxton Society to give people the chance to see some of the beautiful gardens ‘hidden’ behind the conservation area’s sandstone walls.

Organiser Kirsty Cotton said, “We couldn’t have wished for a more successful return and even the weather played its part and didn’t rain!

“Judging by the comments we received throughout the day, people were delighted to be able to attend an outdoor public event again and enjoy everything Oxton has to offer. A huge thank you to everyone who attended, the 100-plus volunteers who helped make this happen and to all the local businesses which opened on the day and donated more than £1,000 worth of raffle prizes, and our main sponsors Bogans Carpets, Revive Stone Walls and Brennan Ayre O’Neill.”

Proceeds will be divided between the Oxton Society and this year’s charities which assisted on the day – Birkenhead Woodcraft Folk, Stick ‘n’ Step and Shaftsbury Youth Club.

There follows a gallery of photographs taken around the village during the event.