NEWS FEED
Durlston Country Park near Swanage has won support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund to restore and enhance its lost Victorian landscape.
The 320-acre country park, owned and managed by Dorset County Council, has passed the first stage in a bid for nearly £1m from the HLF’s Parks for People programme.
This unlocks initial funding of £82,800 to develop the Durlston Pleasure Grounds project, which aims to revitalise and celebrate the historic designed landscape at Durlston for the benefit of the community. The council will apply for a full grant of £900,200 at a later date.
The Pleasure Grounds project would see the creation of a unique Victorian landscape, inspired by the vision of its creator, George Burt. It would provide opportunities for more local people and visitors to learn, play, relax and improve their physical and mental well-being. An expanded group of staff and volunteers would be developed to help meet the needs of a wider range of people, including the local community of Purbeck.
Ali Tuckey, Durlston ranger and project leader, said: “This Parks for People grant takes us a big step closer to creating and maintaining a sustainable and inspiring landscape, which supports the community and is rich in history and wildlife.
“It will help make the Pleasure Grounds one of Dorset’s premier attractions for visitors of all kinds, and we hope that the work we are planning would make George Burt proud.”
The support for Durlston Country comes as part of an announcement that a total of £30.7million will be provided to 16 parks across the UK.
HLF’s Chair Sir Peter Luff, said, on behalf of HLF and Big Lottery Fund: “It’s clear that our parks are important to us in countless ways – from physical and mental wellbeing to a connection with nature and our heritage. It’s also clear, however, that public parks must work in new ways to respond to the funding challenges they face and this investment, thanks to National Lottery players, will help them to do this.
“We’re delighted to announce this funding today, especially in time for the tenth Love Parks Week, and look forward to a bright future for these parks.”
For more information, visit www.durlston.co.uk.
