A SERIES of guided walks around an iconic Wirral memorial garden is set to begin this weekend.
The tours of Flaybrick Memorial Gardens start on Saturday (April 15) from 10.40am.
Organised by the voluntary group Friends of Flaybrick Memorial Gardens, they are a chance to discover the fascinating stories of the past residents of Birkenhead.
Five more walks are planned for May 11, June 8, July 13, August 10 and September 28.
Flaybrick Memorial Gardens were first opened as Birkenhead Cemetery on May 30, 1864 – more than 150 years ago. The area was designed by Edward Kemp, then Superintendent of Birkenhead Park and a renowned landscape gardener.
The architects responsible for the design of the cemetery chapels were Charles Lucy and Charles Littler, who, like Kemp, are buried in Flaybrick along with more than 100,000 other people.
Some of the other well-known locals laid to rest at Flaybrick are Mary Ann Mercer, who was both the first female mayor and first socialist mayor of Birkenhead; Charles Thompson, founder of the town's mission, which is still very much active today, and William Jackson, a former railway entrepreneur and Liberal Member of Parliament.
The Friends of Flaybrick was set up in 1993 and gained registered charity status in 2005. As well as running guided walks, members help maintain the grounds at Flaybrick all year round, and the charity is very much involved in the local community.
Its chairman and walks co-ordinator, Rob Dolphin, said: "We're excited to be back for another year of guided walks at Flaybrick, which continue to get more and more popular, with an average of over 80 people at each walk last year, and on two occasions numbers exceeded 100.
"Flaybrick has such a rich history, and there are so many of Birkenhead’s past residents buried there, many of whom have such interesting backstories.
"Our database now holds almost 400 stories, so we are able to vary the walks and take visitors on a different route on each occasion."
Anyone who would like to attend a guided walk is asked to meet from around 10:40am at the top of the central avenue in front of the chapels.
People are advised to wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Walks last for approximately 90 minutes, and it costs £2 per person to attend, with all proceeds reinvested in the work of the Friends of Flaybrick.
Parking is available in and around the site and the nearest bus stop is located outside Flaybrick Memorial Gardens at the top of Bidston Avenue.
Café and toilet facilities are available at nearby Tam O’Shanter’s Urban Farm, which is just over Boundary Road to the rear of the chapels.
Groups and individuals can also book private tours of the memorial gardens, and the Friends also enjoy visiting other societies and organisations to give talks and presentations.
The Friends of Flaybrick recently received The King's Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS), which is equivalent to an MBE and is the highest award available for voluntary groups within the UK.
The charity always welcomes new volunteers, so get in touch with them if you feel this would be of interest to you.
For further information, visit the Friends of Flaybrick website at www.flaybrick.org.
You can also visit their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/FlaybrickFriends) and follow them on Twitter (@FlaybrickFriend).
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