Work begins on £5.1m restoration project at Brighton’s National Park gateway
July 31, 2019
Work has begun on the restoration of Stanmer Park’s historic Walled Garden as part of a £5.1m project to restore Brighton’s largest park and a gateway to the South Downs National Park.
Representatives from Brighton and Hove City Council, Plumpton College, Buxton Building Contractors and the South Downs National Park Authority gathered in the garden area to witness the start of the project.
The project is being funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Brighton and Hove City Council, Plumpton College and the SDNPA.
The project will see the area transformed into an attractive formal garden with a new café, shop and opportunities for horticultural teaching, learning and volunteering.
The project also includes a new welcome kiosk at the Lower Lodges, which will offer park information, refreshments, public toilets and bike hire. The Grade II Frankland Monument will be restored, and an additional car park and new shared pedestrian/cycle path will also be created.
Claire Kerr, SDNPA countryside and policy manager for the Eastern Downs, said: “It’s exciting to see the Parks for People project under way.
“Stanmer Park is an important gateway into the South Downs National Park for both local residents, students and visitors to Brighton and Hove. This inspiring project will enhance the historic landscape, including its built heritage, archaeology and wildlife, and ensure it remains a place that everyone can enjoy.
“Stanmer Park represents a ‘bridge’ between the city and the National Park and we want more people from all backgrounds to be able to enjoy this wonderful asset.”
The work is due to finish in autumn 2020.
Information about the project and how to get involved is being shared via social media and at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/stanmerproject, where people can sign up for project updates
Pictures by Stephen Lawrence