Worcester City Council leaders have celebrated the completion of a major refurbishment of an important Worcester green space
Over the last 18 months, St Andrew’s Gardens has undergone a major programme of improvements to enhance accessibility and create a more welcoming environment for its visitors.
As part of the refurbishment, a new entrance has been created at the Copenhagen Street and Deansway junction, providing a striking gateway into the park. The entrance incorporates references to Worcester’s glove-making heritage, which gave St Andrew’s Spire its well-known "Glovers’ Needle" nickname.
Landscaping works completed over the winter have enhanced biodiversity across the site while creating a more attractive and accessible green space in the heart of the city, linking High Street with the Riverside Park
The £252,000 scheme was funded with £180,000 of Government funding alongside £72,000 of developer contributions secured through planning agreements in the surrounding area.
St Andrew’s Gardens sit within the Riverside Park, one of five parks and green spaces in Worcester to be awarded prestigious Green Flag status ahead of Love Parks Week, which runs between 24 July and 2 August.
Worcester City Council Leader Councillor Lynn Denham recently visited St Andrew’s Gardens to view the completed improvements alongside the Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Tor Pingree, and Deputy Mayor Councillor Karan Holmes.
The visit also marked a significant moment for the city, with all three of Worcester’s most senior civic and political roles being held by women simultaneously for the first time.
Cllr Denham said: “It was a pleasure to visit St Andrew’s Gardens with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor to celebrate both the completion of this excellent project and a historic moment for Worcester.
“These improvements will benefit residents and visitors for years to come, creating better access through the gardens and a greener, more welcoming and accessible gateway between the city centre and the riverside.
“I am delighted that the gardens now include new commemoration of the glove-making industry, which was the backbone of Worcester’s economy for many decades, employing 30,000 people at its peak in the early 19th Century.”
Accessibility has been a key focus throughout the St Andrew’s Gardens project. Consultation with local charity Sight Concern helped shape the design. The pathway connecting the gardens to Quay Street has been reprofiled and resurfaced, creating a more gradual slope from the pedestrian crossing on Deansway through the park to the riverside.
The gardens now also benefit from a new pedestrian route featuring shallow steps leading to the neighbouring Copenhagen Street car park.
The refurbishment has also highlighted an important piece of Worcester’s history.
The original tip of the Glovers’ Needle spire was removed and replaced in the 1920s on safety grounds. It was relocated to ground level by the great-great-grandfather of local stonemason Lewis Allard, but was positioned in a spot that was largely hidden from public view.
Working with the project team, Lewis has now helped relocate the historic stonework to a prominent position within the gardens, where it can be appreciated as a piece of public art and a reminder of the city's rich heritage.
Picture caption L-R: Pictured at the new entrance to St Andrew’s Gardens are the Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Tor Pingree; Leader of Worcester City Council, Councillor Lynn Denham; and Councillor Karen Holmes, Deputy Mayor of Worcester.
