Green roots of the past

THIS week Times Past is grateful to Colin Ward for providing two charming sepia snaps from Formby's past.
The first photograph is of Formby Preparatory School on Andrews Lane, and is dated to the early 1950s. If you recognise one the faces in the picture, or remember the dog sat on the boy's lap, please get in touch.
And the second photograph was taken inside Holy Trinity Primary School, and is dated to the 1947 school year. Times Past would obviously love to learn more about this photograph, and we are particularly interested in the boy in the hooded top. How times have changed.
Meanwhile, the National Trust has been in touch with news on Formby's historic association with asparagus, which also complements this week's shop local theme.
The root crop dates back to the 16th century in Freshfield and in the 19th century the fields surrounding the village became synonymous with asparagus. By 1940 there was a 200 acre asparagus farm in Freshfield, but after the war the industry began to decline.
Inspired by this proud association, the National Trust have devoted two acres of Sandfield Farm to the crop, and their asparagus is now on sale at Larkhill Farm off Larkhill Lane until June 21.