the International Garden Festival site, a restoration project

Gardening The Caravan Gallery which was parked in the courtyard of The Bluecoat for the launch of the Biennial contained many unexpected photographs (which I'll enthuse about soon) not least of the decay within the International Garden Festival site, including one shot of the Chinese Pagoda which looked ready to fall down (if it hadn't already - it was difficult to tell).

I'm very pleased to hear that a restoration project on the site has been ongoing and is due for completion next year. Place North West have had a visit and the results sound sympathetic and potentially spectacular:

"When completed, the £3.7m renovation funded by the North West Development Agency, will reinstate ten lakes, the Japanese garden and Chinese pagodas in 20 acres of the 60-acre site. There will be a new footbridge over the lower lakes taking you down to the River Mersey. The lakes, Oriental gardens and woodland walks will be fun in themselves but the most successful element is this glimpse of the river and the walk out of the middle of the park to the Mersey."

The article includes photos of the park. Hopefully something will be done to give the Blue Peter viewer designed dragon back its torso.