Refurbishments to improve the Peace and Happiness Garden are nearly complete.
The site also known locally as the Les Dawson Garden, is home to the bronze memorial statue of the much loved entertainer and is situated near to St. Annes Pier.
The garden is hugely popular with visitors to the Fylde area and enjoys a constant flow of people eager to see and be photographed with the statue. It is looked after by the Parks & Coastal Services team as well as valued volunteers from St. Annes in Bloom.
Due to its proximity to the beach, the site suffers sand and wind exposure. To bring the site back to its former glory, the Council have removed the former collapsing, sand-ladened lawns and replaced with fresh new ones. The flower beds are also being renovated, with coastal tolerant plants being introduced to add further colour and interest.
The site lighting has also being refurbished, involving the laying of new cabling for the beach walkway lampposts, improved pavilion shelter lighting and the renovation of the spot lighting around the Les Dawson Memorial Statue.
A team effort has meant the project has been a huge success, with Fylde Council’s parks and technical teams both working together throughout. The site had to be temporarily closed whilst the work was taking place, including the use of machines to remove the old lawns and replace with new.
Councillor Cheryl Little, Chair of the Tourism and Leisure Committee said: “We are lucky to have an abundance of community spaces in Fylde and this is just one in a prominent position and to where hundreds of day trippers, visitors and tourists come to enjoy their surroundings and have selfies … so these improvements will not only be seen nationally but globally too.”
