- Area:
- East Midlands
- Programme:
- Parks for People
- Release date:
- 15 4 2009
The village of Quorn in Leicestershire has an extra reason to celebrate the coming of Spring today, following the announcement of an award of £645,500.
Today, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund (BIG) have announced that Stafford Orchard in Quorn has received a confirmed grant of just over £645,500 under the Parks for People programme so that the community can transform their park.
Phil Child, Chairman of Quorn Parish Council said: “This is a wonderful result. It is a remarkable achievement by a small parish council in a rural village. It is also a proud moment for the Quorn community and particularly for the park team - all volunteers - who have committed thousands of hours of effort to the project over a three year period, and for the community support and enthusiasm which kept them going. I am thrilled for them, and delighted that Stafford Orchard park will now get the facelift it so desperately needs."
Stafford Orchard was gifted to the people of the village in 1922. It consists of open grass areas, mature trees and recreation facilities and adjoins Buddon Brook, a tributary of the River Soar.
The park is home to community events that include May Day dances, fetes and the annual scout duck race. It also hosts reunions of the US82nd Airborne Division, who were stationed in Quorn in World War II and who are commemorated with a plaque on a stone from the church of Nejmegen in Holland and by an avenue of lime trees planted in 1950. As part of the preparation for this project, local volunteers have researched the history of the park, and discovered that its use as a village green dates back to1588.
Thanks to the funding, this project will conserve all of the park’s infrastructure, as well as refurbishing the war memorial, enhancing the landscape and its biodiversity, entrances and access.
The application was put together by village volunteers and means the park can be revitalised with new planting, a sensory garden, easier access and new recreational areas. Work will also take place to improve natural habitats for native species, particularly in the park's brook area.
The whole of the village community has been involved in drawing together plans for the restoration and redevelopment of their park. Local schools and toddler groups helped select the proposed play equipment. Rawlins Community College pupils and teachers carried out displays and surveys to help design the over eight’s play equipment, whilst a group of young people helped refine the skate equipment proposals. The police, Borough Council and local CCTV experts have advised on security and a local website development company has provided PR support throughout the development of the project.
Emma Sayer, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund East Midlands, said: “This committed local group has worked closely with our development team to develop this wonderful project. Our green spaces are a precious resource, but time takes its toll and many parks need a helping hand to be restored to former glory. Today’s news will do just that, giving a boost to the transformational plans for Stafford Orchard so that local communities can enjoy this beautiful green space for generations to come.”
Mick McGrath, Head of Region, Big Lottery Fund East Midlands, said: “The Big Lottery Fund is pleased to be part of the renaissance of our public parks and today’s investment will help to ensure that the community gets the most of what Stafford Orchard has to offer. Parks require a lot of maintenance and care and this funding will help to preserve this valuable green space and the environment for the years ahead.”
Stafford Orchard is one of eight much-loved parks in the heart of communities across the UK who are today sharing in grants totalling £14million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund (BIG). The money will be spent on regenerating and restoring the nation’s green lungs in Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Perthshire, Lanarkshire, Cornwall, Coventry and Sunderland.
A further £1.6million of development funding* has been awarded to 13 other parks to help them work up detailed proposals for applications of more than £20million.**
Further Information
For further information, please contact Dervish Mertcan or Alison Scott at HLF’s press office on 020 7591 6102 / 6032
Email: dervishm@hlf.org.uk
Out of hours mobile: 07973 613 820
Helen Harch at the BIG press office on 020 7211 9707
Email: Helen.harch@biglotteryfund.org.uk
Out of hours: 07867 500 572
Notes to Editors
- * The Parks for People programme uses Lottery funds to support the regeneration, conservation and increased enjoyment of public parks. The programme aims to improve the local environment and put parks firmly back at the heart of community life. In England two Lottery Funds have been working in partnership (2006-2009) to deliver a multi-million pound investment in public parks of £150million. Over the three years the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) is investing up to £80 million (in England only) with £70 million coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the UK.
The Parks for People programme has a two-stage or two-round application process. At the first stage or round, an organisation can apply for a development grant to contribute to the costs of developing the project for a second stage or second round application. The full grant is only awarded if the second-round application is successful.
- ** The 13 parks awarded a Stage One Pass with development funding are:
- Cedars Park, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire (£173,000)
- Forest Recreation Ground, Nottingham (£181,500)
- Horniman Gardens, Lewisham, London (£71,500)
- Memorial Park, Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire (£24,300)
- Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, London (£295,500)
- The Green, Silloth-on-Solway, Cumbria (£106,000)
- Kings Gardens, Southport (£240,000)
- Telford Town Park, Shropshire (£162,000)
- Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent (£124,500)
- Brinkburn Dene's, Darlington, County Durham (£45,200)
HLF will continue to fund public park projects with an approved investment of some £20 million each year from 2009. The next closing date for applications is 31 August 2009. See www.hlf.org.uk for details.
Parks for People programme grants range from £250,000 to £5million with two rounds of funding each year.
Every completed park project will be expected to achieve the annual prestigious Green Flag Award and in doing so demonstrate quality standards of care and upkeep.
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
HLF has already invested more than £400million in 300 historic public parks, gardens, squares and promenades right across the UK.
BIG has invested more than £700million on environmental initiatives to date. For more information, visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
BIG rolls out close to £2million in Lottery good cause money every 24 hours, which together with other Lottery distributors means that across the UK most people are within a few miles of a Lottery-funded project. The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004.
Good Causes - out of every pound spent on a National Lottery ticket, 28p goes directly to good causes. BIG is responsible for distributing half of the money to improve communities and the lives of people most in need. HLF distributes 16.67% of the money to heritage projects across the UK. There are 12 other organisations responsible for distributing lottery money to good causes. www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
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