The project aims to unlock the heritage, tourism and community value of the most popular parks in the Dover district by:
- Restoring a rare example of garden design in Russell Gardens by the renowned Edwardian landscape architect, Thomas Mawson, and promoting it as a major attraction
- Restoring the Festival of Britain open air theatre in Kearsney Abbey to bring new audiences to the parks and to host community events
- Interpreting the parks' heritage and celebrating links with Dover's industrial past and the mills of the River Dour
- Extending the café in Kearsney Abbey to create a multi-use venue with facilities to support new volunteering, training, and education programmes, and for events hire
- Providing opportunities for people to get involved through volunteering, and for the community to take greater ownership by creating a 'Friends of Kearsney' group
- Improving sustainable travel/access to, between, and within the parks
- Raising standards to achieve 'Green Flag' status
Development funding of £274,100 has also been awarded to help Dover District Council progress their plans to apply for a full grant at a later date.
Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader of Dover District Council, said: "We're delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund are supporting this exciting project. These parks are highly valued by local people, and it's great to know that we can now progress our plans to maintain, enhance and interpret this unique heritage alongside opportunities for the community to get involved."
This grant is part of a wider investment of £34.5 million of Lottery money to 13 parks across the UK being announced today by HLF and Big Lottery Fund. This new funding follows the publication of the HLF's recent report (26th June 2014) which revealed the UK's public parks are at serious risk of decline unless innovative new ways of funding and maintaining them are found.
Alongside restoration of important historic features including bandstands and gatehouses, and the installation of new community facilities, this new funding will also deliver a range of activities designed to help parks across the UK to be more sustainable. At Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens this money is helping to fulfil the parks' potential as an attraction and events venue with opportunities to generate income to help create a sustainable future for the parks. The project will also involve developing new heritage and horticultural skills and training opportunities for volunteers and apprentices. A formal education programme will increase understanding of the ecology and biodiversity of the parks, as well as their history and links with Dover's industrial development.
Two decades of public and Lottery investment has ensured that the majority of UK parks are in better condition. However, the State of UK Public Parks 2014: Renaissance to Risk? Report has revealed they are now at serious risk of rapid decline and even being sold off and lost to the public forever.
Carole Souter, Chief Executive of HLF, said on behalf of HLF and the Big Lottery Fund: "Our report revealed how valued public parks are by people and communities and how essential they are to our physical and emotional well-being. That's why HLF and the Big Lottery fund have invested over £700m in parks since 1996. But the report makes clear that our parks face an uncertain future and so it's exciting to see how this new investment is going some way towards helping parks like Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens find new ways of funding and maintaining them so they are still here to be enjoyed long into the future."
