Happy New Year

I would like to say Happy New Year to everyone who has stayed at Barford House over the years. I hope the New Year brings you all everything you wish for and more.

I have loved the last few years and have met some lovely guests along the way, many returning year after year. Thankyou for all your lovely Christmas cards and presents x

See you next year

Best wishes for 2013

Pauline

North West In Bloom 2012

I felt very proud today when I was presented with the North West In Bloom Gold Medal Award in the Best Small Accommodation Catergory.

North West In Bloom 2012

So looking forward to tomorrow, I am attending the Northwest In Bloom awards at The Floral Hall Southport. I have been told I am receiving an award.. it should be a really nice day with a three course lunch included.

Pumpkin Fun!

A giant weekend of pumpkin fun!

1. 
   
   Next weekend's 2012 Mere Brow Giant Pumpkin competition marks the 18th year of one of the quirkiest competitions in west Lancashire.
   
   And as always, it'll be another fantastic day, raising as much money as possible for charity.
   
   The weigh in will be held at 1pm on Saturday 20 October at the Windmill Animal Farm Fish Lane, Burscough, with two separate competitions:
   
   *The NFU MUTUAL INSURANCE ALL ENGLAND SHIELD - a competition open to anybody. 1st Prize £50
   
   *The MERE BROW & DISTRICT SHIELD - open to local residents within a 10 mile radius of Mere Brow. 1st Prize £50 ~ 2nd Prize £30 ~ 3rd Prize £20
   
   Entries in the Mere Brow & District Shield are also included in the NFU Mutual Insurance All England Shield.
   
   Legendary DJ Dave Turley - 'Mr Giant Pumpkin' himself - will be MC and there are a great variety of pumpkin related games, donkey rides, beat the buzzer, etc. with food and soft drinks available.
   
   All are welcome, says organiser Trevor Wilson, who added: "The Mere Brow Giant Pumpkin Competition is a unique family day out in the countryside.
   
   "The venue for the 18th competition is the excellent Windmill Animal Farm, which adds to the 'family feel' the event creates.
   
   "We attract competitors and spectators from all over the North West and we expect this year to be no exception.

Southport Comedy Festival 2012

Local People Keep Southport Smiling Again In 2012

1.  

   
   
   
   When council funding was withdrawn for the annual Southport Comedy Festival in 2011, local comedian Brendan Riley stepped in. Brendan was determined that a popular event which benefitted the community by bringing fun and laughter to the resort should continue, particularly at a time of cutbacks and austerity.
   
   After 9 months of planning, sweat and tears (of laughter!) Brendan had pulled off a comedy festival that Southport could be proud of.
   
   Now the people’s Southport Comedy Festival is back. Local business sponsors are working with Brendan to provide ten days of laughter based around venues across this classic seaside town.
   
   The festival kicks off on the 18th October in the town’s Wayfarers Arcade, a stunning Victorian shopping plaza, with a comedy cook-off. A children's cartoon event with renowned local cartoonist Paul Hardman will be held at Wayfarers Arcade on Sunday 21stas part of the Children’s Comedy Festival.
   
   Kids again have been catered for with their own Family Laughter Party at Giggles Gym Birkdale, this will be held on Saturday 27th October and will be raisng funds for children’s charity Stick ‘N’ Step.
   
   The festival continues with shows taking place every evening in the town’s range of intimate comedy venues showcasing comedy talent from across the globe. Festival highlights include the revamped ‘End of the Pier’shows; the landmark Southport pier hosts two of the quirkiest comedy shows of the festival. The fun begins on the ride out to the end of the pier as the audience board the famous pier tram. These are shows not to be missed!
   
   The major hotel in the resort, the Ramada Plaza, is hosting three headline shows as part of their Comedy Festival Specials. Featuring TV stars Jo Caulfield, Tom Stade and the born again Roy Walker, to name but three, these shows will guarantee laughs but this time close-up and personal.
   
   And if that wasn’t enough, the Southport Comedy Festival New Comedian of the Year competition is running alongside the festival to find the talent that will keep Southport smiling for many years to come.
   
   For further information please contact Brendan Riley, Festival Director.
   
   Mob 07770 591625
   brenriley@blueyonder.co.uk
   www.southportcomedyfestival.com

Fireworks Spectacular 2012

 

 

This weekend, Fri 28th to Sun 30th, Southport's sky bursts into light as the only national firework competition choreographed to music returns.

Entertaining the audience over three nights in Kings Gardens, watch as some of the country's top pyrotechnic teams compete with stunning firework displays to try and win the prestigious industry title of UK Champions.

This year's pyrotechnic companies firing at the championships are G Force Fireworks, Saltire Fireworks, Komodo Fireworks, Highlight Pyrotechnics, Britannia Fireworks, Phenomenal Fireworks and Celebration Displays.

Rotten Row Flower Donation

Rotten Row grateful for flower show donation

 

SOUTHPORT’S historic Rotten Row has had a welcome injection of colour courtesy of Southport Flower Show.

Flowers and plants that were featured in the recent Coronation Street display at this year’s show have been donated to the Friends of Rotten Row as a thank you for their help in brightening up the town.
The Coronation Street- themed garden was one of the star attractions at last month’s event which brought more than 80,000 visitors to Southport.

Created by award-winning designer Chris Ashcroft, the garden featured a Rovers Return pergola and the famous chimney pots seen in the popular soap opera’s opening credits since 1960.

“It is an incredibly generous donation,” said chairman of Friends of Rotten Row, Jack Colley.
“David Jackson, the chief executive of the flower show, approached us with the offer of about 400 hardy perennials which are worth between £1,500-£2,000.

“They have all now been planted and will live on forever as we will be able to take cuttings.”
Volunteers are being sought to join The Friends of Rotten Row and help with maintaining the resplendent Row to its former glory

A Special Goodbye!

An ocean's eleven sail into City

1. Liverpool's Albert Dock will be home to a small fleet of magnificent vessels this week.
   
   Eleven Tall Ships of various sizes are sailing into the city as part of the inaugural Irish Sea Tall Ships Regatta which officially takes place from Friday 31 August to Sunday 2 September.
   
   Sailing into the city will be Black Diamond of Durham, Challenge Wales, De Gallant, Johanna Lucretia, Kapitan Borchardt, Maybe, Pelican of London, Prolific, St Iv, Tecla and Tomidi.
   
   To celebrate their arrival a series of events will take place from Friday when the crews of the Tall Ships will take to the streets in a colourful and vibrant parade at around 2pm, before being presented with the race and port prizes. The route will start outside the Echo Arena, travelling around Salthouse and Hartley Quays before returning to the arena.
   
   Until Sunday, many of the Tall Ships will be open to the public from 11 to 5pm, although some vessels may close during lunchtimes. Across the three days there will also be maritime merriment for the whole family ranging from shanty songs, street theatre, dancing, craft workshops, story telling, community choirs and a brass band.
   
   There will also be a fantastic display courtesy of Yakovlevs Aircraft Acrobatics, and at 2pm on both Saturday and Sunday the Russian aircrafts will perform breathtaking high-speed aerobatics. Please note, this activity is weather dependant.
   
   On Sunday, the Tall Ships will take place in a very special goodbye with a Parade of Sail starting from 10.30am. The vessels will muster in formation around 1pm as they prepare to sail on the River Mersey.

Guerilla Gardener sets to work on Lord Street

 

I have been very busy over the last few weeks filling all the stone planters on Lord Street.

 

 

The story has been in the local paper and I had an interview on radio Merseyside.

I done this because our councillors said there was no money this year for flowers on Lord Street.

One phone call was all it took to a local garden centre I use and all the plants were donated for free!

 

 

I have been busy planting from one end of Lord Street to the other.

 

 

I am proud to say I have made a big difference to Lord Street this year with the help of Sootys Garden Centre,  without their very generous donation none of it would of been possible!!

THANKYOU SO MUCH

 

Tomorrow I officially become a volunteer gardener for Lord Street gardens 

 

Northwest In Bloom 2012

 

Northwest In Bloom 2012

I have just found out that I have won an award for the garden at Barford House. This will be presented to me at The Floral Hall on the 25th October.
The RHS Judges viewed the garden a few weeks back and were delighted with it!

Southport Flower Show 2012

 

I have added a few of my favourite photographs from the show

 

 

Beautiful striking show stopping display above 

 

 

This display is centred around the Queens Jubilee Celebration

 

 

Beautiful foliage shows the Beatles walking past 10 Downing Street 

 

 

2012 London Olympic

 

 

Southport Flower Show 2012

1. Southport Flower Show starts this Thursday, here's a sneak preview below. More photo's to follow. Just hope the weather holds out!

Southport Air Show

Delightful Displays Line Up

1. 
   
   
   
   Amazing aerobatic displays have been confirmed to dazzle the crowds at this year's Southport Air Show.
   
   The annual show, held on Southport beach on September 8/9, will see the likes of the Vulcan, Eurofighter and Red Arrows all take to the resort's skies.
   
   Fantastic aerial displays are also set to wow the crowds with the Blades, the Breitling Wingwalkers, the Trig Aerobatic Team and the RV8tors all being confirmed for this year's show.
   
   The Blades are a leading display team of former Red Arrow’s pilots renowned worldwide for flying precision close formation aerobatics. Their display contains a fantastic variety of different aerobatic stunts flown just feet apart.
   
   The Breitling wingwalkers are seen live by more than 6 million spectators each year in the UK and perform a breathtaking sequence of acrobatic manoeuvres and handstands whilst strapped to the top wings of the team's Boeing Stearman biplanes. Manoeuvres include, loops, rolls, stall turns and even inverted flight with the wingwalkers experiencing speeds of up to 150 mph and 'G' forces of up to 4G.
   
   The Trig Aerobatic Team brings vintage glamour and dynamic close formation flying to the skies in Pitts Special S-1D biplanes. The aircraft, designed in the 1940’s, remain popular due to their high power and low weight ratio.
   
   Flying their remarkably fast Vans RV-8’s with powerful smoke systems, the RV8tors perform an exciting and memorable display. Combining close formation aerobatics with speeds up to 230 mph, the display includes complex manoeuvres that fill the sky and leave impressive smoke trails.
   
   Cllr Peter Dowd, Leader of Sefton Council, said: "The calibre of displays being confirmed at this year's Southport AIr Show just seems to get stronger and stronger.
   
   "There seems to be a buzz surrounding the show and I hope as many people as possible head to Southport beach for two days of amazing aircraft and displays."
   
   More information about the Southport Air Show, which takes place on September 8/9, can be found on the Southport Air Show website. Tickets can also be purchase online or from Southport Tourism Information Centre on 01704 533333

My Pride & Joy - The Garden at Barford House

Tall Ships Sail into Liverpool August 29th

1.  

   
   
   A fleet of Tall Ships will sail into Liverpool next month as the city plays host to the inaugural Irish Sea Tall Ships Regatta.
   
   From Wednesday 29 August, around 14 Tall Ships will arrive in majestic style on the waterfront, having departed from Dublin three days earlier.
   
   To celebrate their arrival in the city, a series of events will take place, starting on Friday 31 August when the crews of the Tall Ships will take to the streets in a colourful and vibrant parade, before being presented with the race and port prizes.
   
   During the weekend of 1 and 2 September the Tall Ships will be berthed at the Albert Dock and there will be street theatre, music and arts and crafts stalls. The vessels will be open to the public during the weekend, before taking part in a parade of sail on the Sunday which will take place from around 10.30am.
   
   Six lucky trainees from the Merseyside Adventure Sailing Trust will be taking part in the Regatta and to prepare for the challenge, on Tuesday 31 July, they will be put through their paces on board Liverpool’s very own Tall Ship, Kathleen & May. All six will be ‘going aloft’ which will involve climbing the ship’s 60 foot high rigging.
   
   Welcoming the trainees on the vessel will be Liverpool’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Sharon Sullivan and Peter Cardy, Chief Executive of Sail Training International – the charity organising the Irish Sea Tall Ships Regatta.
   
   Councillor Sullivan said: “To be the final destination for this inaugural activity is a coup for the city and all the events being organised will be a celebration of Liverpool’s strong and proud maritime heritage.
   
   “Nautical events are always extremely popular, and we can guarantee people will turn out in their thousands to see these beautiful vessels taking pride of place on our waterfront.
   
   “I’m particularly pleased that there is the opportunity for those just honing their sea-legs to get involved in this race, it will be an amazing experience and sailing back into Liverpool as a climax to the regatta will be unforgettable.”
   
   Places are still available for trainees of any age to take part and anyone interested should visit www.sailtraininginternational.org.
   
   Peter Cardy said: “Liverpool has a rich maritime history and has been a great friend to sail training which has helped to develop a strong willingness throughout the Tall Ships family to return to the city.
   
   “We hope that the Irish Sea Tall Ships Regatta could become a recurring fixture in the busy calendar of events that is enjoyed by the residents of Liverpool as well as the many visitors to this fantastic city.”
   
   Peter Cronin, Business Development Manager at Albert Dock Liverpool said: “We’re thrilled that Albert Dock Liverpool is hosting Tall Ships. Before it was the leading tourist destination it is today it was a bustling port filled with ships.
   
   “We’re very excited to get a taste of what the Dock would have been like then when the 14 Tall Ships are berthed here.

    

Barford House front garden July 2012

North West In Bloom Judges Visit Sefton

RHS Judges today visited Sefton to start looking at the entries for this year's competition.

This year Barford House Apartments were added to the list of gardens for the judges to visit.
I am very pleased to say they were delighted with the garden and all the floral displays.


Despite the current financial restraints on the council, there have been lot's of innovative volunteer work taking place to get all the bids looking fantastic.

Green fingered community groups, volunteers and local steering groups, with help from Sefton Council's landscape services department, all got involved to spruce up the area across the borough for the " It's Your Neighbourhood " categories.

FREE OPEN TOP BUS TOUR COMES TO SOUTHPORT

Free open top bus tours come to Southport

  

TAKE in the sights of our town on free open bus tours this summer.
The Merseyside Transport Trust (MTT) is pleased to announce that it will be operating circular open top tours of Southport during the holiday season.
These tours will be provided entirely by volunteers.
Starting from the traditional location of Southport Pier, the tours will operate as a free-of-charge circular service taking in the sights of Southport, on a tour that has proved a popular tourist attraction for many decades.

Picking up where Arriva left off in 2011, the tours are to be operated using historic Leyland Atlanteans that have been operating these tours in past years and are now in preservation; 1449 (GKA 449L) and 1551 (OLV 551M).

A closed top vehicle will be substituted in adverse weather conditions.
The tours take in beautiful Southport attractions as the Marine Lake, Marine Bridge, Royal Birkdale Golf Course, Hesketh Park, Lord Street Boulevard and the Botanic Gardens.
Andy Rigby, trustee of MMT, said: “We thought it was shame that the people of Southport and visitors to the area were missing out on open top bus tours.
“We are hoping it will be an appealing attraction to those visiting Southport.
“We’ve picked an enjoyable route to show off the town.
“The tours are free and it’s nice to provide a service for people.”

The operation of the tours will start on Sunday, July 29 and will run every Sunday through to Sunday, August 26. This includes August Bank Holiday Monday on August 27.
Departures are timetabled for 12noon, 1.30pm and 3pm from Southport Pier, in front of the carousel.
For more information

Martin Mere shortlisted for two tourism awards

WWT Martin Mere has been shortlisted for two Lancashire Tourism Awards through Marketing Lancashire. The awards celebrate Lancashire’s tourism industry.

Martin Mere has been shortlisted for the following:

Best Large Attraction.

Shortlisted because of continual investment in new award winning attractions such as the canoe safari, boat tours and brand new play area as well as wildlife spectacles through the wintering swans and geese and spring ducklings – making Martin Mere a unique attraction for all ages to enjoy.

Sustainable Tourism Award.

Shortlisted for our continual commitment to sustainable transport including the creation of trails to link local attractions and to reduce car travel to the centre as well as a commitment to educating visitors on how to live more sustainably and to attract wildlife to gardens, and providing best practice techniques on making Martin Mere an eco-attraction.

Centre Manager, Andy Wooldridge, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for two awards this year. These awards are fantastic for giving staff and volunteers a sense of pride in the centre and it is great to know that the investment we have made at Martin Mere in new facilities has really helped towards making us an attraction that can compete to be one of the best in the North West. To win one of these awards means that we have offered a great value for money day out as well as outstanding customer service and I am hopeful that we will do very well this year.”

The winners of the awards will be announced in September

King's Gardens Concerts 2012

    KINGS GARDENS CONCERTS 2012


Brass band music concerts are taking place in King's Gardens, Southport during the summer.

Bands from across the region will be performing over the next three Saturdays in July on the community garden near to the former putting green.

On July 7, Chorley Silver Youth Band will entertain the crowds while the following week (July 14), St Helens Concert Band will appear.

Finally, Tarleton Brass Band will perform in King's Gardens on July 21.

The concerts are organised by the Southport and District Brass band Association in conjunction with Sefton Council.

All concerts start around 2pm and last about two hours.

View the events diary for further details on events taking place in Sefton

Gardening Tips from the Southport Flower Show for July

Top gardening tips for July - from the Southport Flower Show

1. 
   
   
   As we move into the full swing of summer and start to make the most of our gardens, it's important to still maintain and look after them, what ever size or state.
   The Southport Flower Show's Show Garden Exec. Michele Martin, has compiled a selection of top tips for keeping your gardens tip-top this July:
   
   1. Water your hanging baskets and containers at least once a day, twice a day when it's particularly hot. If they've dried out totally, they can be rescued by floating them in a bucket of water, until the bubbles have stopped and they’ve sunk below the surface of the water.
   Once drained off the plants will be right as rain, as long as they’re still alive.
   
   2. Remember to feed your plants. The compost you used in April and May will be running short of nutrients by July, so add some when you water. For flowering and fruiting plants you need a high potash feed, such as tomato fertiliser, mixed in with the water according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
   
   3. Encourage more flowers by removing dead and dying flower heads. If you leave dead
   flower heads on the plants they will set seed, meaning that the plants will think they’ve produced the next generation and stop making more flowers. With annual flowers like sweet peas, the more flowers you pick, the more the plant produces.
   
   4. Look out for pests and diseases. Often you can nip a problem in the bud (literally in the case of aphids) if you spot it early enough. This pest patrol gives you a great excuse to wander round your garden on balmy evenings with a glass in hand.
   
   5. This is the perfect time to sow any quick maturing salad crops, like lettuce, rocket or peas, for a late crop before autumn and winter sets in.
   
   6. Visit other gardens for ideas and inspiration – the National Gardens scheme and the
   National Trust offer the chance to combine garden visiting with opportunities for tea and cake. A perfect recipe for a summer’s day out.
   
   7. Take photographs of your garden while it's in full bloom, so you have a record of what’s growing where. Then in the autumn and spring you can remind yourself what needs moving, dividing or digging up and recycling.
   
   8. Propagate herbs from cuttings. It’s a great way to save money as most herbs such as sage, rosemary & thyme are not long lived plants.
   
   9. Water your vegetables every day, especially courgettes, marrows and pumpkins, which need a lot of water to grow. Early evening or early morning is best, as you lose less water in evaporation. Water the soil not the plants, to avoid soggy foliage which promotes fungal diseases such as mildew.
   
   10. Order your Southport Flower show tickets in advance and use the savings to treat yourself
   to a new plant. Dates are 16-19th August so make sure it’s in your diary.
   
   General tickets prices for the show have been frozen for the third year running, with advance tickets costing just £16 per person. For more up to date information on the show, celebrity announcements, details on how to enter the many competitions, and ticket bookings visit www.southportflowershow.co

100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AINSDALE SHOW

Ainsdale Show 2012

1. This years Ainsdale Show will be 100th anniversary of the first show in 1912.Opening this years spectacular will be the BBC One Show gardener Christine Walkden.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Ground floor two bedroom apartment 2012 latest photo's