Taking Root in Bootle community gardeners 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.
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.
With support from the Sefton CVS Heritage Hearts of Gold Project, the 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.
With this in mind members of the local community gathered for a rededication event to celebrate the transformation of the Ash Street site, joined by the Mayor, councillors and schoolchildren from All Saints Primary School, who had a lovely time adding some more new plants.
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.”
The garden will continue to be looked after by Taking Root in Bootle, to ensure it remains a much-loved place of remembrance for years to come.
