News Item

Green makeover for Bootle war memorial – March 2024

A Bootle war memorial which commemorates one of the most tragic local incidents of the Second World War has been given an attractive new look.

Community gardeners from the Taking Root in Bootle initiative have completed a green makeover of the Ash Street War Memorial Garden which remembers the 27 residents killed when the nearby Co-op air raid shelter suffered a direct hit on 7th May 1941.

The basement shelter under the Co-operative Society’s premises on Stanley Road was fully occupied when the blast blew out the front wall of the building, causing the floors above to collapse.

Taking Root in Bootle is co-ordinated by local social enterprise Regenerus and the makeover has been supported by funding from the Sefton CVS Heritage Hearts of Gold Project.

The Ash Street memorial was originally installed in 2009 when residents campaigned to ensure a long-lasting legacy was created to mark the loss of life.

This took the form of a stone boulder, with plaque, set in a fenced and paved roadside area.

This area has now been enhanced with beautiful new planting and the installation of a new sign which tells the story behind the memorial garden, and why the site is so important.

Looking to the future, the garden will continue to be looked after by the Regenerus Taking Root in Bootle initiative, to ensure it remains a much-loved place of remembrance for years to come.

With this in mind the Mayor of Sefton, councillors, residents and schoolchildren from All Saints Primary School gathered this week for an event to celebrate the transformation of the Ash Street site.

Councillor Dave Robinson commented: “It is very important that people remember the sacrifices made by past generations and the new-look garden will play an important role in highlighting the tragic loss of life that occurred near this site.”

Ruth Livesey from Regenerus added: “We are delighted to have been involved in the restoration of this important site, and to have the opportunity to work with local children on further community planting here in the months and years ahead. It was wonderful to hear from one of the children that this was the best day ever.”

Almost 2,000 Bootle residents were killed or injured by bombs during the Second World War, with 15,000 homes being destroyed or damaged.