The restored Rochdale Memorial Gardens provide a quality public green space in the heart of Rochdale town centre. The gardens provide an oasis of calm in the midst of a busy urban landscape.
Facilities at Rochdale Memorial Gardens
There's a range of facilities at Rochdale Memorial Gardens, including:
- Formal gardens
- Sensory gardens
- Play area
- Memorial benches
- Sunken rose garden
Memorial benches at Rochdale Memorial Gardens
We've a number of memorial benches at Rochdale Memorial Gardens which honour past Rochdale borough residents.
If you have lost a loved one, please contact us for details of the memorial bench scheme.
History of Rochdale Memorial Gardens
The Memorial Gardens were commissioned in 1948 as Gardens of Remembrance which incorporate the impressive Cenotaph designed by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, designer of the Cenotaph in London.
Following completion of the gardens in 1950, they were nominated for a Festival of Britain Landscape Award for achievement of a high standard in landscape design.
The ravages of time, however, had taken their toll and the gardens fell into a state of decline. This decline has been reversed through the re-introduction of quality horticultural features, including flowerbeds, a sensory garden, wildlife planting areas, and improvements to paved surfaces, benches, litter bins and lighting.
A play area has also been created on the western side of the gardens and was designed to fit in with the original purpose and layout.
Wildlife, flora and fauna at Rochdale Memorial Gardens
The presence of wildlife in the Memorial Gardens helps to create a feeling of peace and tranquillity.
The bird and animal life within the gardens is extensive, with many species of common garden birds. Perhaps you will be lucky enough to see a sparrow hawk or peregrine falcon, which are regularly seen.
Bats frequent the tree areas in the early evening, feeding on insects. Butterflies and moths are present - encouraged by the sympathetic plantings in the herbaceous borders and butterfly beds.
With the help of local schoolchildren, an orchard was planted in the Memorial Gardens in 2012. As well as providing a future food store, the trees hark back to the original use of the site which originally formed part of the Orchard House grounds.
In 2014 the sunken rose gardens were restored with funding from the Rochdale Township. Rose beds were replanted, improvements made to the tree stock and old benches were replaced.