Come Alive at 55 is a small charity that works with older people from the poorest parts of Liverpool.

They worked with the National Trust to restore and re-instate the lost Victorian garden at Speke Hall, which was originally founded in 1825 but had lost its historic greenhouse and many of its walls. The project trained 20 volunteers to grow food from heritage seed varieties and engage visitors with the garden’s rich heritage. 

Many of the volunteers come for the garden, the health benefits, the fresh air and produce; but it is a way of opening up heritage to a new audience.

Carole Richards, Come Alive at 55

The gardens were opened to the public weekly, along with regular workshops which trained visitors in utilising traditional equipment and gardening techniques.

Carole Richards of Come Alive at 55 said: “Many of the volunteers come for the garden, the health benefits, the fresh air and produce; but it is a way of opening up heritage to a new audience.”

Catherine Jackman, of the National Trust, added: “Come Alive have been able to do things we couldn’t and take our visitor experience to another level. The project showed that heritage is not just an old building but also a working estate and we have used the food and flowers grown in the house and café.”

Read more about Speke Hall on the National Trust website.