International Garden Festival
international garden festival garden festival recognised international association horticultural producer aiph bureau international de exposition bie held liverpool england may october first event held britain became model several others held early aim revitalise tourism city liverpool suffered cutback idea came conservative environment minister michael heseltine festival hugely popular attracting visitor international horticultural exposition held squaremetre sq ft derelict industrial site south herculaneum dock near dingle overlooking river mersey site built sixty individual garden including japanese garden pagoda large exhibition space festival hall formed centrepiece site housed numerous indoor exhibit attraction included walk fame featuring numerous star connected liverpool light railway system see public artwork included yellow submarine statue john lennon blue peter ship wish tourist sculpture red dragon slide large red bull sculpture kissing gate alain ayers mm gauge minimum gauge railway system provided transport around site light railway system consisted mainline providing transport link series station key location around festival site junction linking branch line also extensive shed workshop facility considerable investment made purchase passenger coach purchase installation permanent way additional passenger coach seat teak saloon type borrowed romney hythe dymchurch railway kent prohibitive cost purchasing locomotive avoided use engine deemed spare existing mm gauge minimum gauge railway particularly united kingdom two extensive railway gauge romney hythe dymchurch railway ravenglass eskdale railway cost building hiring passenger coach partly offset sponsorship national westminster bank whose name logo painted side every coach visiting locomotive leased coach purposebuilt passenger carriage provided mainline service whilst branch line operated shuttle basis sbuilt diesel multiple unit railcar set named silver jubilee loan ravenglass eskdale railway since festival closed site passed hand series developer late closure festival hall used pleasure island amusement park half site since turned residential housing festival hall dome demolished late november local company langtree mclean announced plan site see new home built around cleared dome area well restoration original garden created festival september announced work would begin redeveloping site november city council gave permission work begin redevelopment would see chinese japanese garden restored well lake associated watercourse woodland sculpture trail funding came range source including northwest regional development agency provided £million grant redevelopment work began february liverpool festival garden finally reopened restored garden site due reopen september however delayed whilst new landscape management contractor found original contractor mayfield construction went administration garden site managed land trust time reverted back control liverpool city council new restored site feature two restored pagoda oriental garden restored moon wall new lake waterway waterfall new pedestrian access point linking promenade new secure parking area work completed smaller refurbished car park part project create new southern grassland extension festival garden completed southern grassland area opened th august liverpool city region metro mayor steve rotherham councillor laura robertsoncollins new site provides extensive elevated view across mersey river march developer langtree began work planned home site despite earlier collapse partner david mclean home liverpool city council took back control site appointed ion partner midia development partner city council remediation work site remove waste landfill completed time council process seeking new development partner international garden festival railway liverpool northern railway vol silver link publishing september p issn bbc liverpool year since festival showing site campaign restore festival site official website bureau international de exposition bie community website area langtree group official page festival garden site liverpool festival garden