Arboretum secures lottery boost (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Westonbirt Arboretum secures £177,800 from Heritage Lottery Fund

3:40pm Sunday 12th April 2009 in News By Standard reporter

WESTONBIRT Arboretum has secured a lottery grant to help reconnect with its past and safeguard the future.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded £177,800 to the Westonbirt Heritage Partnership to continue with plans to conserve the historic Westonbirt estate and open it up further to visitors.

The partnership – consisting of the Forestry Commission, Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum, The Holfords of Westonbirt Trust and Westonbirt School – has passed the first-round of the HLF application and progresses to the second stage.

It now has up to two years to submit more detailed plans and apply for the further £2.8million of HLF support it is seeking for the £7.5million project. The Forestry Commission and its partners will now be able to draw up plans for urgent conservation work.

Also central to the plans will be the development of a heritage viewpoint above the trees, the opening up of the Holford's formal gardens to the public, improved visitor and learning facilities, and the scheme to attract hundreds of new volunteers to help with conservation, education work and guiding.

Alison Field, development manager for Forestry Commission England, said everyone was delighted by the grant.

"Westonbirt is a unique and uplifting place," she said. "By working together in this partnership we aim to not only reconnect this Grade 1 listed landscape but also to safeguard its future for all.

"We want to inspire people about trees and bring home the value of places such as Westonbirt in all our lives."

The arboretum was created by Victorian landowner and plant collector Robert Holford. His grand Victorian family house is now Westonbirt School and the estate comprises an outstanding area of natural heritage.