- Area:
- South West England
- Programme:
- Parks for People
- Release date:
- 15 4 2009
Spring heralds a transformation for Gyllyngdune Gardens in Falmouth with today’s announcement of £900,000 in Lottery funding.
The award to Gyllyngdune Gardens was made as part of a £14million funding package for public parks across the UK made by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund (BIG) through their joint Parks for People programme.
The grant will be used to improve and regenerate this much-loved park, restoring historic features and providing more facilities for children and young people.
Martin Searle, Project Manager, Cornwall Council, said: ‘It is our aspiration to bring Gyllyngdune’s rich heritage to life and create an inspirational, innovative and accessible place to visit with opportunities for enjoyment and recreation for all. It will be a well designed public place where people can socialise, improve their health, be refreshed, relax, play, learn, enjoy art, theatre, music & performance, and experience the garden’s heritage which is rich in people, places and plants. ‘
Gyllyngdune Gardens in Falmouth were given to the town’s people in 1905 and has wonderful displays of bedding plants and hanging baskets. An Edwardian bandstand, surrounded by formal gardens, is at the centre of this highly-regarded park. Although the key features of the gardens are still in existence, many are currently suffering from damage, decay and neglect.
As part of the project features such as the Bandstand, shell grottoes and the summer house will be restored and re-opened to the public. The work will also include the repair to steps, balustrades and garden arches and the construction of new café facilities and greenhouse.
Nerys Watts, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund South West, said: “We’re delighted that Gyllyngdune Gardens are now able to start their exciting project. The UK’s parks are wonderful places that in many cases need a helping hand to help return them to their former glory. Gyllyngdune Gardens are no exception and today’s news will do just that, enabling visitors from near and far to see, enjoy and experience its hidden gems well into the future.”
Mark Cotton, Big Lottery Fund Head of the South West region added: “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 these places have to offer. Parks require a lot of maintenance and care and this funding for Gyllyngdune Gardens will help to preserve this valuable green space and the environment for future generations to enjoy.”
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 3707
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 today 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)
- Duthie Park, Aberdeen (£71,500)
- Cambuslang Park, South Lanarkshire (£22,700)
- Brooke Park, Londonderry/Derry (£94,000)
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.
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.
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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