Boston Manor Secures National Lottery Support
Over £3.5 million for the redevelopment of the park
Boston Manor Park has secured National Lottery funding of £3,634,600 for Stage 2 of a project to enhance, conserve, interpret and engage diverse communities with Boston Manor Park.
The funding, awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund, represents 71% of total eligible costs for Stage 2 of a far-reaching project called Reconnecting Boston Manor Park that incorporates a new learning space and modernised café hub, landscaping and extensive refurbishment of the Park focusing on ecological enhancement works, lake and river bank improvements, a new nature trail path, accessibility alterations including a new accessible circuit path and changes to the Park’s amenities, tree planting and the introduction of a wide range of on-site information resources and activities.
Boston Manor Park is home to Boston Manor House, a Grade 1 listed, Jacobean manor house built in 1622. The large public park, comprising 11.36 hectares was part of the Boston Manor estate and now surrounds the House in a combination of woodland and open space, with an area adjoining the Grand Union Canal. Together the Park, River Brent and Grand Union Canal form a unique historic and ecological green space and are designated as a Conservation Area.
The Park was given a development award by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund in 2017 and so Stage 1 of the Project developed the improvement schemes and designs for the facility upgrades, with community input, before an application for Stage 2 funding was made last year.
The National Lottery award means the project can go ahead delivered by the London Borough of Hounslow together with its Boston Manor partners: the Friends of Boston Manor, Spartans FC, the London Wildlife Trust, the Brent River Catchment Partnership, the Canal & River Trust and other local organisations. Stage 2 of the Project consists of a capital investment programme as well as funding for the introduction of an activities programme.
The capital investment outlined above will enable the park to host a full programme of activities to engage with local communities. Workshops on topics such as; creative writing, poetry, photography, local history and nature conservation will offer local communities a chance to reconnect with their heritage and environment in a truly inspiring setting. Guided walks and talks will link the park with health and wellbeing opportunities for residents and visitors. The Park’s improved facilities will also provide opportunities for outdoor learning in areas such as horticulture, nature and heritage trails, gardening and planting. The Park will host a Forest School programme and afternoon sessions for local children as well as an outdoor learning programme targeting the 140 schools of Hounslow and Ealing, comprising approximately 98,000 pupils in all. An environmental programme will offer a full range of volunteering opportunities for individuals, corporates and family activity days.
The new facilities will enable the sharing of heritage traditions through storytelling and theatre. An upgraded space under the M4 flyover will host an Arts Market (funded by the GLA’s/ Mayor’s Good Growth Fund) and other small-scale events.
The Stage 2 works are expected to start later this year and be complete by 2022. Wherever possible works will be phased to allow for continued use of as much of the Park as possible. The full learning and activity programme supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund will commence in 2022 and run until the end of 2024.
Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure Services at Hounslow Council said:
“We are delighted to have the funding released for this second Stage of the Reconnecting Boston Park project. The Boston Manor Park estate is a fantastic cultural asset for us that is already well used and frequented by our local communities. The completion of Stage 2 of the project will considerably expand opportunities for our diverse communities to get even more out of this cultural gem and to enhance learning and leisure activities for all.
“At a time where public funding is under severe pressure, we are very grateful to the National Lottery for enabling us to realise this very worthwhile project.”
Stuart McLeod, Area Director London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “London’s parks are vital spaces for wildlife and communities and today’s funding will ensure a bright future for both at Boston Manor Park. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, since 1994 more than £950million has been invested into regenerating the UK’s parks and cemeteries and we’re delighted that Boston Manor Park is part of that incredible funding story.”
January 29, 2020