Williamson Park is home to the iconic Ashton Memorial and acres of beautiful parkland and woodland walks, play areas and incredible views of the Fylde, Morecambe Bay and the Lake District.

The park is also home to the Pavilion Cafe, the Butterfly House and a mini-zoo with resident meerkats and marmosets.

We spoke with Public Realm Supervisor Beth Nortley and here’s what she has to share.

How would you describe Williamson Park in a line or two?
Williamson Park is a multi-faceted site with lots of things to do and see. It consists of 54 acres of adventure trails, woodland walks, vistas across the bay, picnic sites and that is just the grounds.

There is a café serving locally sourced goodies and a tropical butterfly house and mini – zoo including meerkats and marmosets. The site is also home to The Ashton Memorial which is the domed building everyone spots from the motorway, it is a popular wedding venue with its spectacular interior and exterior making wonderful backdrops for photographs.

What was the inspiration behind starting Williamson Park?
Williamson Park began being created in the 1870s and its structures were added in the early 1900s as space for the community to enjoy.

Since then it has continued to grow and is a popular tourist destination.

What was Williamson Park like in the early days?
As an Edwardian park, the structures have been kept the same, however, the park would have looked very different back then with manicured planting and the Edwardians promenading up and down the walkways.

How has Williamson Park evolved over the years?
Nowadays the park takes on a more environmentally friendly approach, with the planting thoughtfully planned to encourage wildlife diversity.

We also host a number of events and welcome everyone to enjoy, from the highest point festival to the number 1 walkabout theatre in the UK.

What are you excited about in the months and years ahead?