Gillian Darley writes an interesting piece (Opinion May 17), but her fears for the decline of the Festival Gardens are unfounded.

The restored Liverpool Festival Gardens

Source: © Copyright 2013. The Land Trust

The restored Liverpool Festival Gardens

Firstly, since opening in June last year, the Gardens have attracted well over 100,000 visitors (that’s with a harsh winter and not yet a full summer) and school holiday activities have often been full.

Perhaps most importantly, the Gardens have a secure source of funding. Langtree, as part of their adjoining residential development, will provide an endowment to the Land Trust in the form of a section 106 payment. This money will provide a perpetual source of funding, so while many public spaces face an uncertain future, this one will continue to blossom.

Euan Hall
Chief executive, the Land Trust