Not throwing stones...

I spent most of today at a meeting near Sefton Park which gave me an ideal opportunity to blip the park's spectacular Palm House.

The building was completed in 1896 and was stocked with a range of exotic botanical specimens. During the Second World War the whole thing had to be camouflaged with green oil paint to make it blend in with the surrounding park land and to stop the glass reflecting any light. The glass was, however, shattered by a bomb landing nearby during the Blitz of May 1941. Although the building was reglazed in 1950 it fell into disrepair over the years and by the time I first arrived in Liverpool in the mid 80s it was looking pretty tatty and was closed to the public for safety reasons.

In the early 90s a 'Save The Palm House' campaign gained popular support and a 'Sponsor a Pane' funding drive generated over £35,000 which kick-started some serious money-raising from the Lottery, English Heritage and the European Regional Development Fund amongst others. The restored building was opened in 2001 and, apart from the plants, it now hosts various arts and cultural events. It's a member of the Green Tourism scheme too.