30 June 2009

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has today announced first-round passes¹ for the restoration of seven parks across the UK through its Parks for People (PfP) programme.  Development funding of £800,000 has been awarded to help develop projects in London, Newcastle, Fife, Somerset, Swansea, Doncaster and Suffolk, before a final funding decision is made by HLF. 

Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: “Parks are enjoyed by everyone and they play a vital role in improving the environment, community life and people’s feeling of wellbeing. This initial support from HLF will help bring about a series of transformations which will be enjoyed by future generations for many years to come.”

Raphael Park, London - development funding of £130,100 towards a further potential application of £1,638,900
Raphael Park in Romford opened to the public in 1904 but the site dates back to Saxon times when it formed part of a Royal Manor serving Havering’s ancient Saxons. Today, the park features woodland and mature trees overlooking the lake, a 1940s bandstand, a theatre garden and extensive sports pitches. The lake was part of an 18th-century estate and provides a habitat for fish and wild fowl. 

Plans for the transformation of this park include refurbishing the bandstand and theatre garden and extensive tree planting. The old Park Keeper’s Lodge will be turned into a visitor centre with historical information, community facilities and a café.

Exhibition and Brandling Park, Newcastle - development funding of £98,600 towards a further potential application of £1,959,000
Newcastle’s Exhibition Park opened to the public in 1887 and hosted major exhibitions such as the 1887 Royal Jubilee Exhibition and the 1929 North East Coast Exhibition. The park’s special features include a museum, bandstand, clubhouses, lake and sensory garden, built by Newcastle Society for Blind People. The nearby Brandling Park opened in 1878 and the bowling green and attractive gardens are amongst its most popular features.

The two parks are part of a combined scheme where proposals in the pipeline include a comprehensive programme of conservation, refurbishment and improvements for Exhibition Park's built and natural features. Exhibition and Brandling Park are popular with local people and particular emphasis will be put on continuing and increasing community involvement.

Pittencrieff Park, Fife - development funding of £27,000 towards a further potential application of £457,500
Pittencrieff Park, locally known as "the glen", was purchased in 1902 by the town's most famous son, Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish-born American industrialist and philanthropist, and gifted to the people of Dunfermline in a ceremony the following year. This beautifully landscaped park is home to a statue of Carnegie, Pittencrieff House Museum, the Glen pavilion, remains of Malcolm Canmore's Tower (an 11th-century fortress) and formal gardens. The park is inhabited by peacocks and the nature trails, paddling pools and playgrounds are among the recreational facilities on offer. Returning this much-loved green space to its former glory is at the heart of plans to re-establish it as one of Scotland’s premier parks.

Marine Cove Gardens, Somerset - development funding of £29,500 towards a further potential application of £362,900
Marine Cove Gardens are tucked behind Burnham on Sea's Victorian Esplanade. Its original timber and brick shelters, raised and walled flowerbeds, pond and formal grassed lawns are a perfect place for locals and visitors to relax. The gardens opened to the public in 1927 and its  central feature is an Art Deco-style goldfish pond. Today, the gardens are still laid out in their original style and plans are to carefully restore it.

Penllergare Valley Woods, Swansea - development funding of £221,300 towards a further potential application of £1,949,200
Penllergare Valley Woods is a former private estate on the north-west fringe of Swansea. It was once the home of John Dillwyn Llewelyn, the notable 19-century horticulturalist, philanthropist and pioneering photographer. It was his vision and landscape design in the picturesque tradition that made Penllergare one of the most renowned gardens in Wales. A programme of conservation and regeneration by the Penllergare Trust is now underway with community involvement at its heart. 

Bentley Park, Doncaster - development funding of £143,400 towards a further potential application of £2,077,400
Bentley Park was created in 1923 as a Miners Welfare Recreation Ground and the Pavilion was built in 1931 with subscriptions from local miners. The park is situated in one of the country’s most deprived areas and comprises bowling greens, a football pitch, skateboard park, play areas and an avenue of mature lime trees. The park and its remarkable Pavilion have been at the centre of the Bentley community for generations. However, in recent times it has begun to show its age and this bid aims to put the park and Pavilion back to their best.

Felixstowe Seafront Gardens, Suffolk - development funding of £152,300 towards a further potential application of £1,819,200
Felixstowe’s Cliff Gardens, Town Hall Gardens and Spa Gardens are a unique part of the town's heritage. Located between the town centre and the beach and incorporating an entire seafront cliff from top to bottom, these historic gardens have been providing pleasure to locals and visitors for over 100 years. Development funding will help progress plans to substantially  improve planting and pathways in the gardens and develop activities to encourage wider community use and enjoyment.

Notes to Editors

• ¹ A first-round pass means the project meets our criteria for funding and we believe it has potential to deliver high-quality benefits and value for Lottery money. The application was in competition with other supportable projects, so a first-round pass is an endorsement of outline proposals.  However, a first-round pass does not guarantee the applicant will receive a grant as the second-round application will still be in competition for funding, and no money is set aside at this stage.  Having been awarded a first-round pass, the project now has up to two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for a firm award.
• From 2009 onwards HLF is investing £20million each year in public parks projects. The Parks for People programme grants range from £250,000 to £5million with two rounds of funding each year. The next closing date for applications is 31 August 2009.
• HLF has already invested more than £500million in 500 historic public parks, gardens, squares and promenades right across the UK.
• Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage.  HLF has supported more than 28,800 projects, allocating over £4.3billion across the UK.  Website: www.hlf.org.uk
• Images available on request.