Wirral residents are invited to join in Birkenhead Park’s 175th anniversary celebrations this weekend

One of the area’s flagship parks - and widely accepted as the model upon which some of the most famous public parks around the world, including New York City’s Central Park, were based – opened on 5th April 1847.

Birkenhead Park’s 175th anniversary

One of the area’s flagship parks – and widely accepted as the model upon which some of the most famous public parks around the world, including New York City’s Central Park, were based – opened on 5th April 1847.

The park kicked off its 175th birthday celebrations this week by welcoming a number of very special visitors at a civic ceremony.

And this Sunday, everyone is welcome to come along to a special ‘Day Out in the Park’ to mark the anniversary with a number of events, attractions and opportunities to see parts of the park otherwise closed to the public.

The programme for Sunday is as follows:-

  • 9.30am – 4.30pm: Photography exhibition ‘Birkenhead Park: Through The Ages’ at the Visitor Centre – open every day until Friday 19 May, free of charge
  • 10am – 4pm: Vintage buses on display, provided by Wirral Transport Museum & Heritage Tramway
  • 10am – 4pm: Open House at the Park Central Lodge (27 Ashville Road), free of charge
  • 1pm – 2pm: Sing-a-long session to participate in the 175 Choir, free of charge
  • 12pm – 5pm: Fun Fair in front of the Visitor Centre – open daily during the Easter holidays

Activities for young people will also be run by HYPE, one of the park’s partners based at the Grand Entrance. These include:-

  • 10am – 1pm: Family Fun Dog Show – to take part visit here
  • 10am – 2pm: Open House at the Park’s Grand Entrance, HYPE’s Victorian Sweet Shop and Urban Walled Garden
  • 10am – 2pm: Park Explorers App with prizes and Walk Run Cycle Play (WRCP). Follow this link to register
  • 10am – 2pm: Balance bikes for under 6s

On Tuesday, which was the day of the anniversary itself, Birkenhead Park hosted a ceremony attended by a number of dignitaries, including the Queen’s local representative, Mr Mark Blundell, the Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside.

Mr Blundell was joined by the High Sheriff of Merseyside, Nigel Lancely and John Roberts, Deputy Lord Lieutenant in using their ceremonial swords to cut three specially-made cakes, each depicting one of the numbers in ‘175’.

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