Southend Never Never Land: 'Let's make sure it never dies again'

Over the past year, the council’s parks team have been working tirelessly to improve the nostalgic area, formerly part of the seafront attraction, widely known as The Shrubbery.

New - the sleeping giant

The Never Never Land Shrubbery

The area was in need of a serious makeover. Now, the rockery has been refurbished and the six fantasy castles repainted, by Southend artist David Taylor.

Now, as completion nears, the council will organise volunteering days to enable residents to get involved in how to look after the area for future generations to enjoy, and therefore maintaining the magic of Never Never Land.

Councillor Carole Mulroney, cabinet member for environment and planning, said: “The Shrubbery is part of so many people’s childhood memories and I’m delighted that it has come along leaps and bounds and will be loved once again by a new generation.

“The parks team has done a really great job to restore and enhance the area and residents, visitors and businesses alike have welcomed its return.”

Southend Council has invested a lot of time and effort into bringing The Shrubbery back to life. This has included installing the sleeping giant – a huge grass figure growing out of the ground, with the hopes of creating a nostalgic link to the once popular attraction.

The team has now almost finished the giant, whose body was landscaped by the council’s parks team using hessian bags filled with soil, and whose head was sculpted by a member of the parks team and installed earlier this month, as revealed by the Echo.

Ms Mulroney continued: “The works should be completed shortly and I would urge anyone who has some free time and would like to get involved with managing and maintaining the area to visit the Make Southend Sparkle Facebook page or contact the parks team on 01702 21501.”