Creative nature trail invites families to explore award-winning park

Article date: 28 July 2025

The park's resident wooden tiger Victor has made some new pals, whose likenesses have been captured by talented local artist Elizabeth Grima and displayed around the park - just in time for Love Parks Week (25 July - 3 August).

The project began early this year when the Friends of Victoria Park set out to create a new park attraction for families with young children.

Funded in the main by the volunteer group's committee, with backing from Rotary Club St Helens and Windle Ward councillors, the Friends tasked in-house artist and volunteer Elizabeth with creating a series of artworks depicting some of the park's native fauna.

Victor's Pals were all named by local primary school children in a competition run by the Friends.

Families are invited to pick up a nature trail leaflet from the Friends' seed library near the bandstand and head to areas where the portraits of Victor's Pals and the animals themselves - including damselflies, frogs, goldfinches and squirrels - might be seen. A digital copy can also be requested by email to fovpenquiries@gmail.com.

Diane Tabern, Chair of the Friends of Victoria Park, said: "This has been our biggest project to date and one with a lasting legacy for our younger visitors. We are so proud to bring Victor's Pals to life, and we hope you have as much fun looking for them as we did creating them."

Councillor Tracy Dickinson, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services, said:

"Victor's Pals Nature Trail is the result of a wonderful collaboration led by local Friends volunteers, with the support of council officers and our ward councillors in Windle, whose love for this award-winning park is clear.

"I'd like to invite families from across the borough to come along, explore our amazing green spaces, support your local Friends and see what good can happen when we work together."