EVERYTHING could soon be even rosier in Lytham's Lowther Gardens if an appeal for supporters to come forward is successful.

Yolande Brown JP, chairman of Lytham in Bloom committee, has called a meeting at Lowther Pavilion on Tuesday (February 4) for people interested in joining a new group, Friends of Lowther Gardens.

"This is an opportunity to become part of a group who will play an important role in the future of the gardens," Mrs Brown explained.

"It is important that as many residents as possible give us their views on how they see these historic gardens regenerated. The meeting will also be a good opportunity to see how we have progressed so far."

Friends will also act as guardians, for example helping keep the park litter-free, reporting vandalism to the council or helping form teams for jobs such as dead-heading the park's new roses, she added.

The group will also work in tandem with Fylde Borough Council and Lytham in Bloom on the Fylde Coast's first bid for a Civic Trust green flag -- a prestigious national award for the best managed parks.

Volunteers and the council have also submitted a Heritage Lottery Bid to revamp the Lowther Gardens pond and fountain, with lighting at night and a bronze, life-size statue of an historic Lytham shrimper.

Regeneration of the park is already under way. Last year, Mrs Brown -- a retired day care centre manager and magistrate who has lived in Lytham for 52 years -- led a successful project to replant the gardens' 20 rosebeds, using 1100 rosebushes.

"They were all sponsored by residents and shop keepers of Lytham," she said. And she hopes that many supporters will want to join the Friends group as well.

The meeting begins at 7pm.