Gallery: West End Gardens

Culture

A visit to the West End Gardens, on Morecambe Promenade between the Battery and Regent Road, offers a welcome place to relax and enjoy amazing sculptures and views across the bay, whilst children can play in the three exciting play areas.

The water fountains are a great feature of the plaza area where various events and performances take place throughout the year.

Four sculptures designed on the natural elements of earth, wind, fire and water are spaced around the gardens:

• A tidal clock
• Steel trumpets which capture the changing sounds of the wind.
• A stone and steel bench inset with local rocks
• A frame to capture the fiery sunsets (have your photo taken inside the frame)

There is also a 10m high sculpture on a fishing theme entitled 'The Hook', depicting a stylised fishing rod cast out to a pool full of sea creatures.

Relax

Why not enjoy a picnic using one of the many picnic tables and benches provided? Take a walk around the meandering pathways around the attractive planting or just sit and take in the stunning bay views.

The West End Gardens are well located on the Promenade, near to car parks and the beach, with public toilets on site. The designer café 'Breeze' offers a good election of quality food and drinks, sourced locally. Look out for some unusual ice cream flavours!

The gardens are a short walk along the Promenade from the Stone Jetty. Cyclists can ride along the Promenade, so leave the car at home and cycle to the West End Gardens.

Play

There are three self contained play areas with challenging and exciting equipment designed for specific age groups of under 5 years, 5-10 years and11-14 years. The play areas are bright and colourful with seating provided.

The plaza area close to the play areas features more seating, and the fun interactive water feature, which is spectacularly lit in the evening.

Community Involvement

The creation of the West End Gardens is a truly innovative approach to community involvement. After initial stages of public consultation, a project group made up of local residents, councillors and officers worked together to oversee the redevelopment work.

The five pieces of public art were designed by pupils from Heysham High School with help from public artist Stephen Broadbent and local primary school pupils who designed the sea creatures in the pond at the bottom of 'The Hook'.

An opening carnival took place for local residents to thank them for their enthusiastic help in redesigning the area.

Date Updated: 01/12/11