BBC's Beechgrove Garden Presenters, back by popular demand!

CAROLE Baxter and George Anderson of BBC's Beechgrove Garden were such a hit at this year's Southport Flower Show that they are the 1st special guests confirmed for next year! They will be visiting on Friday, 15 and Saturday, 16 August 2025.

Carole and George said:- "We had heard a lot about Southport Flower Show over the years, but nothing prepared us for the most wonderful welcome. We loved our time at the show and chatting to all the visitors. The show gardens and displays were spectacular, we can't wait to visit again next year."

Carole Baxter was born and brought up in Loose a small village near Maidstone in Kent. Carole gained her degree from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Sussex and studied Amenity Horticulture at Elmwood College, Cupar in Fife.

She has been a professional horticulturist since 1979. from:- 1983 to 1995 she was the:- 'behind the scenes' gardener for the Beechgrove Garden, BBC Scotland and since 1986 she has been 1 of the presenters for this gardening programme.

Carole is now a self employed Horticulturist, Broadcaster and Writer. She is a member of the Professional Gardeners' Guild and in 2013 she was awarded the SHM (Scottish Horticultural Medal). from:- 2016 to 2024 she was a member of the Board of Trustees for the Horticultural Charity Perennial. Her interests include:- developing her own 8 acre garden and she enjoys walking.

George Anderson was born and brought up in East Lothian the eldest son of a smallholder and market gardener. He left School at 16 and started work as a gardener's boy in a local estate walled garden. He attended Edinburgh and East of Scotland Agriculture College and studied horticulture. He also worked in commercial Nursery and tomato houses in the Clyde Valley for 2 years.

In 1966, George joined the student course at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and studied Amenity and Ornamental Horticulture. He then joined the staff of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 1969, followed by Wolverhampton Teachers Training College, and gained the Certificate in Education.

Additionally, he was appointed Higher Scientific Officer in the School of Horticulture at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Eventually, he became the Head of the School of Horticulture and retired in 2004. He was a trustee and Council member of the RHS for 10 years, chaired various committees and was President of The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society (The Caley).

He was also awarded the Scottish Horticultural Medal in 2007, an MBE for services to Horticulture Training in 2005 and in 2023 he received The Founders Award for services to Horticultural Training from the Professional Gardeners Guild.

George joined the presenter team of Beechgrove in 2005. George is interested in trout and salmon fishing, walking, gardening and allotmenteering, wildlife, and travel.

Next year's Southport Flower Show will be held at the wonderful Victoria Park, from:- Thursday, 14 August to Sunday, 17 August 2025.

Early bird tickets are now on sale:- SouthportFlowerShow.Co.UK.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Homes England invest £51 million in Birkenhead regeneration project

PLANS to kick-start the regeneration of a former gasworks, in Birkenhead, has moved a step closer thanks to funding approval from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Homes England.

Hind Street Urban Garden Village, a major transformation project on the Wirral, will see derelict land around Hind Street turned into a new community of over 1,500 homes, a new park, improved transport links, commercial space and leisure facilities.

The Government's housing and regeneration agency has agreed a £29 million investment in the project, following a £22 million commitment from the Combined Authority. This investment will fund vital infrastructure works needed to unlock the site and deliver the 1st 633 homes.

The funding approval for Hind Street follows hot on the heels of the establishment of a Strategic Place Partnership (SPP) between Homes England and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

The SPP model is 1 of the ways Homes England is advancing locally led housing growth and regeneration. Designed to support Regions with the most ambitious proposals for housing growth, the SPP is a long term commitment, centred around a shared plan for bringing those proposals forward.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "This is really exciting news which marks a significant milestone in our mission to regenerate Birkenhead and the wider Wirral. Through our Strategic Place Partnership with Homes England, we're accelerating transformational projects like Hind Street, turning derelict land into vibrant, sustainable communities that our Region deserves. With over 1,500 new homes being built, alongside improved transport links and green spaces, this project will serve as a blueprint for the type of regeneration we want to see across the Liverpool City Region; regeneration that not only delivers homes, but creates jobs, boosts local businesses, and builds stronger communities. It's a prime example of how, by working together, we can unlock opportunities and remove the barriers holding our Region back. By delivering key infrastructure and attracting investment, we're ensuring that local people benefit directly from the improvements, making this a place where everyone has the chance to thrive."

Peter Denton, Chief Executive of Homes England, said:- "The Strategic Place Partnership model gives us a framework to support local leaders who have a strong vision for housing and regeneration in their area. The Liverpool City Region is undoubtedly an area with huge potential for growth and is somewhere the Government has already shown commitment to. The funding approved today, for Hind Street Urban Village is further evidence of our support for the Region and aligns with our mission to work together with the mayor and his team, to develop a pipeline of housing and regeneration development and help the Combined Authority unlock the Region's full potential."

Building on the collaborative work evidenced with the Hind Street funding, as well as ongoing collaboration with Liverpool City Council at Festival Gardens, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the parties will enhance and expand efforts to improve strategic placemaking through increasing the pace, scale and quality of housing delivery in the Liverpool City Region.

The funding will be used to unlock the Hind Street site and remove complex barriers to its development, including:- moving Birkenhead's gas supply to a new, improved location. The former Rock Ferry to Bidston Dock railway line will also be brought back to life as Dock Branch Park. The line, thought to be 1 of the oldest stretches of track in the world, has been closed since the early 1990s, but will be given back to the community and transformed into a:- 'linear' park, providing walking and cycling routes and connecting people to local transport links.

The project is being delivered by Wirral Council in partnership with developers Ion, who have been commissioned to undertake Development Management services including:- the design of the scheme, the remediation and infrastructure works required and the submission of the planning application. Subject to planning approval, it is expected to start on site in 2025 and complete in 2027.

Councillor Paul Stuart, Leader of Wirral Council, said:- "This additional funding from Homes England, along with support from the Combined Authority, will really help to accelerate our plans to change this part of Birkenhead for the benefit of local communities. I'm pleased our ambitious ideas to transform this key area have this backing, enabling us to get started bringing along new homes, public spaces and better connected living for our residents. Our regeneration strategy looks beyond changes to the built environment to see that in the long term, when regeneration is people-focussed, it reduces inequalities, creates employment opportunities and improves the health and wellbeing of those individuals and families who are making their homes and lives in our borough."