BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.4.5//EN TZID:Europe/London X-WR-TIMEZONE:Europe/London BEGIN:VEVENT UID:11955@artinliverpool.com DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260507T000000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260827T000000 DTSTAMP:20260507T105648Z URL:https://www.artinliverpool.com/events/save-it/ SUMMARY:Sefton Park Palm House: Save It! DESCRIPTION:PALM HOUSE PEOPLE POWER: Display to open at Central Library to share story of the human effort to save a Liverpool icon\n\nAs part of its anniversary year\, the Palm House is hosting a display in Liverpool’s C entral Library to celebrate how a group of people changed the future of th is iconic city landmark\, 25 years ago in 2001.\n\nOpening on Thursday 7 M ay until 27 August\, the display situated on the third floor of Central Li brary called Save It! will document the decline and dereliction of the Pal m House from the 1950s to the 1980s\, and the journey towards its restorat ion and reopening.\n\nFeaturing archive material from Liverpool Record Off ice\, including photographs\, fundraising material and personal stories\, Save It! will use the Palm House’s 25-year anniversary to honour and cel ebrate the tenacity and generosity of the local community and core team of campaigners\, who joined together to save it following years of damage a nd neglect.\n\n2026 also marks 130 years since the historic Liverpool land mark first opened in 1896\, which was built by local resident Henry Yates Thompson to give Liverpool people the unique opportunity to experience pla nts from around the world\, close to home.\n\nKate Johnson\, CEO of Sefton Park Palm House said: “This marvel of Victorian architecture and engine ering was the jewel in Sefton Park and it’s difficult to believe that su ch a beautiful\, well-loved and historic landmark in our city could have f allen into disrepair\, but sadly\, this was the case following some diffic ult periods in its timeline.”\n\nAfter a bomb dropped near to the Palm H ouse in the Second World War and shattered the panes of glass\, it was res tored in 1951. However\, incorrect materials were used and with no further investment\, all but a few of the original plants were removed in 1984\, and the building further declined and was fully closed six years later.\n\ nIt was only after a sign appeared on the security hoarding spelling SAVE IT in bright red paint\, that people started to take notice and a 10-year community campaign began to recognise the importance of the Palm House wit h a plan to safeguard it for a new generation of local residents and the c ommunity around it\n\nKate continues: “Without the goodwill of the local community driving a campaign to save and restore it\, it’s very clear t hat the Palm House we know and love today would not be here. Campaigners w orked tirelessly throughout the 90s alongside Liverpool City Council to identify and secure funding through various sources\, ensuring the £3.5mi llion needed to painstakingly restore this architectural icon could be don e with the utmost care.\n\nAfter setting up a registered charity to enable its reopening in 2001\, the campaigners also recognised the need to put i n place a function to support the Palm House in generating its own income. The wedding and events business not only supports the Palm House in prote cting the physical building but also its botanical collection. It also hel ps sustain its purpose of having an impact on the lives of people who visi t and use the space\; the Palm House is a heritage visitor attraction\, bu t also a setting for educational and community events\, along with the rec ently refurbished café.\n\nKate continues: “25 years after reopening\, this display at Central Library tells the story of our precious Palm House \, its decline in economically straightened times and ultimate resurgence. Thanks to a group of people\, partners and funders\, they recognised the importance of safeguarding something that has been loved and intrinsic to the architectural history of Liverpool and its landscape for many years. T he significance of city parks and their impact on the human experience is as important today as it was in Victorian times\, which is why this story of rescuing\, restoring and protecting the Palm House is so powerful.”\n \nOne of the original campaigners and past Chair of Sefton Park Palm House Preservation Trust\, Kate da Cruz said: “I remember roller-skating in S efton Park with my cousin in the 1980s when the Palm House was derelict. M y Aunt was part of the 'Save It' campaign and I later joined the team of v olunteers who oversaw the restoration of the building and the recreation o f the wonderful\, plant-filled space.\n\n“Over the last 25 years the Pal m House has gone from strength to strength. It's such a joy to see locals and international cruise liner tourists alike\, marvelling at the plants f rom around the world\, and the quality of space in which they live. It’s fantastic to have the Palm House right here in Liverpool and just shows w hat a determined group of locals can achieve.”\n\nThe display at Central Library is free and open Monday – Saturday at the library from 7 May to 27 August\, after which the story elements of the display will be shown i n the Palm House itself. It is part of a wider series of events throughou t the year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Palm House reopening\ , and the original year it opened 130 years ago in 1896 as the centrepiece of Sefton Park. Events include a programme of talks\, late summer opening s\, the Palm House’s first ever garden display with community organisati ons\, schools and colleges and a Grow Your Own Harvest Festival.\n\nAs a n ew RHS Partner Garden – the only one in Liverpool - the Palm House relea sed a social impact report last year\, which celebrated an impressive £26 m worth of social impact between 2021 and 2024\, and has recently launche d a new supporters’ campaign\, allowing people with a love\, affinity an d belief in the Palm House’s existence and mission\, to make their own m ark on its future\, just as campaigners did 25 years ago: www.palmhouse.o rg.uk/support ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.artinliverpool.com/wp-content/upload s/2026/05/image-1.png CATEGORIES:Exhibitions LOCATION:Sefton Park Palm House\, Sefton Park Palm House\, Liverpool\, L17 1AP\, Liverpool\, United Kingdom GEO:53.381306;-2.935231 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sefton Park Palm House\, Li verpool\, L17 1AP\, Liverpool\, United Kingdom;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE= Sefton Park Palm House:geo:53.381306,-2.935231 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/London X-LIC-LOCATION:Europe/London BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20260329T020000 TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR