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31 January 2006 Bushy Park celebrates a £4.5 million boost! Bushy Park Bushy Park, the 'Sleeping Beauty' of all the Royal Parks, will be given the breath of life following the confirmation that the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) will commit £4.5 million towards the restoration of the Park. The major funding boost will enable The Royal Parks to carry out 87 projects as a part of the Bushy Park Restoration Project. Some highlights of the restoration are the Arethusa Fountain, the magical Woodland Gardens and a brand new visitor welcome centre at Broom Clumps. "Restoring Bushy Park is a huge undertaking that would not have been possible without the ongoing support of HLF," Royal Parks Project Director Greg McErlean said today. "The HLF funding will enable us to revive some of Bushy's most treasured and valued landmarks, which have suffered from a lack of funding. "Many of the projects open up parts of the Park that weren't accessible before, like the Brewhouse. There will also be a Welcome Centre and we are expanding the community and education programmes," Mr McErlean said. The Royal Parks manage Richmond Park with the protection of wildlife in mind - it is definitely the top UK destination for a suburban safari!" Mr Packham said. Mr McErlean stressed that the Project would not have been possible without the support of donors and the dedication of the many members of the public who had regularly attended the 18 Project Workshop Sessions and who volunteered to join the steering group. "From the very beginning, we have been keen to involve people who know and love Bushy Park. In the past two years, stakeholders dedicated their time to discuss the project and develop our funding applications. This is a win for all of us and future generations to come," he said. Sue Bowers, Heritage Lottery Fund Manager in London said the grant was 'great news' for Bushy Park: "The funding will help to totally rejuvenate Bushy Park, bring historic features back to life and encourage many more people to enjoy it, whether they want to explore the 18th Century Water Gardens, or just get out and walk the dog. As well as vastly improving the park for local people, Londoners from across the capital will be encouraged to visit and learn about its history." Sara Lom, Director of the Royal Parks Foundation said: "This is wonderful news. Henry VIII would be thrilled to know that we are taking such good care of the deer park he created. We still have £600, 000 to raise to achieve what we want, but the HLF award, together with other generous gifts, brings use ever closer to that goal." Source: The Royal Parks For further information contact: The Royal Parks Press Office T: 020 7298 2128 E: press@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk Editor's notes: The following are main components of the restoration project: The Arethusa 'Diana' Fountain This magnificent 17th century fountain was the centrepiece of Sir Christopher Wren's Northern Approach to Hampton Court. The design is in part attributed to Inigo Jones and is referred to locally as the 'Diana' Fountain. The fountain is actually believed to represent the Goddess's nymph, Arethusa, but there is still much debate to be had upon what is its most appropriate name. Recognised by English Heritage as one of the most important groups of sculpture in Britain, the fountain is adorned by a unique collection of bronzes by French royal sculptor Hubert Le Sueur. Work on the fountain will repair the stonework, pipework and the bronze statuary and ultimately bring the fountain back into full operation. The Woodland Gardens These beautiful landscaped gardens are of a traditional 20th century design and include the Waterhouse Plantation (16ha) and the Pheasantry Plantation (12ha). Project work will focus particularly on the Pheasantry and will also restore many areas of the Gardens with the subtle development of individual features such as an amphitheatre and a wildlife habitat wood. We will also address much of the infrastructure including fencing, gates, paths and water courses, as well as the plant and tree life itself. The Brewhouse This charming early 18th century building once provided ale for all the workers on the estate and is a rare example of its type in London. This is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, on the English Heritage 'At Risk' Register. Our plans will restore its structure, open it up to public access and create an unusual venue for occasional exhibitions and visits. The Stockyard Buildings Also 18th century, these buildings were once the farmyard buildings for the estate. Work will involve adapting some of them for further use by the Education Team as well as volunteers. |
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