Democratising heritage and promoting it as a place of community cohesion, using digital platforms as crucial tools

Birkenhead Park (UK), also called the ‘People’s Garden’, is a historic urban park, known for being one of the earliest examples of urban public park. As well as being a renowned historic park, it is green space and a place of social cohesion, used by many people, communities and organisations, where events/activities are often held. However, visitors are not necessarily aware of these initiatives and it has been necessary to develop the park’s online presence through a dedicated website, and active social media channels, to enhance visitors’ experience, provide information about volunteering opportunities, educational activities, events, space rentals, local initiatives and regular activities happening in the park. Visitors (and non-visitors) are invited to directly contribute to the ‘park’s life’ by submitting their own events, write a blog article about a park-related or local community-related subject, share their photographs of the park, and much more.