Volunteer group that tends to Jubilee Gardens winding down due to lack of support

The Friends of Jubilee Gardens will no longer care for the whole of the gardens on the Promenade near Gynn Square.

The group was formed in 2016 by Michael Higgins and his partner Alan Darling. But Alan, who was the treasurer, died in August last year following a battle with cancer, and the group was unable to replace him.

And due to the coronavirus pandemic the group has seen a decline in both sponsorship money and volunteers.

Mr Higgins said: “All the eastern side planting beds have now been decommissioned, apart from the Blue Light Memorial Rockery.

“Now that the eastern side planting beds have been emptied and their plants transferred into western side beds, they will remain empty but tended until Spring 2021.

Blackpool Council Parks department will then take over the future maintenance of them, with plans to sow perennial wild meadow flowers into them. They will also start to undertake the regular pruning of the perimeter Tamarix bushes which spread out onto the external cycle paths.

“They have also agreed to schedule in regular spraying of weed killer on the internal steps and pathways that have boulder borders and to add the mini road sweeper into their work schedule for the internal paths.

“The complete western side planting beds will continue to be maintained by myself.”

The Blue Light Rockery and another flower bed will be maintained by other volunteers. The flower bed near the waterfall will continue to be sponsored by insurance agency Phillip Williams & Co until April.

Warbreck ward councillor Danny Scott, who joined the Friends group in 2016, said: “Michael has worked enthusiastically for many years but unfortunately the group has come to the end of what it can do. This year coronavirus has really kicked us, volunteers haven’t come down and it’s very difficult for one man to care for such a big garden all on his own.

"The garden will probably go back to how it was before, a little bit overgrown until the council does something about it - but they have got so much else to do. We need volunteers in this town.

"The enthusiasm of Michael and his dedication to the gardens has been unbelievable. He is an exceptional man with a drive not too many people have, but there's only so much he can do."