Wayfarers branches out
Palm tree makes 3,000 mile trip to Southport shopping arcade
TRAVELLING via truck, over land and sea, the latest tenants at one of the Southport’s leading shopping arcades have certainly clocked up some miles.
Wayfarers Arcade is the new home to a number of rare palm trees which have been added to the Lord Street arcade as part of a refurbishment programme.
The pick of the bunch is a Trachycarpus Fortunei, which sits in a Versaille wooden planter, stands at 18 feet tall and weighs almost a ton.
The plant is one of the hardiest palm species in the world and has traveled from its native country, China, via Holland on its way to sunny Southport.
Additional plants are on their way including four Phoenix Palms, which are native to Vietnam, and five European Fan Palms, which are native to North Africa.
Wayfarers Arcade manager, Yvonne Burns, said: "Looking back at old Victorian photos of the Arcade, you can actually see that palm trees have been used before. As part of our ongoing refurbishment we wanted to retain the Victorian elegance of the Arcade and we feel the palm trees will do just that>."
Gary Collinson, managing director of Botanical Group Services, which has sourced the trees, said: "Wayfarers Arcade is a fantastic venue with lots of character.
"Palm trees were hugely popular in Victorian times and we thought that it would be very fitting to add a selection of palms in keeping with those that would have featured during that period."
Botanical Group Services will continue to care for the plants, visiting once every three weeks to ensure that the palms maintain the same health and splendor throughout their stay.
Wayfarers Arcade is a Grade II listed building and one of Southport’s most famous landmarks. It is home to more than 30 shops set on two floors including high street department stores and independent retailers.
The Arcade first opened its doors in 1898. Since 1976 Wayfarers Arcade has been managed by Lord Street Properties, the current owners, and it was renamed in the late 1970s after Wayfarers Arts, then its major retailer.
