Bath’s Sydney Gardens - the UK’s only surviving Georgian Pleasure Gardens and one of the oldest parks in Bath - will be restored thanks to National Lottery players, following news of a £2.7million grant.
The money, which has been awarded jointly by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund, will see a range of projects to rejuvenate Sydney Gardens, which first opened in 1795 and was a favourite spot of Jane Austen.
Bath & North East Somerset Council is leading the restoration project called Sydney Gardens: a 21stCentury Pleasure Garden. It will see the Grade II registered gardens and its listed buildings conserved, whilst areas of the park that are currently closed to the public will be reopened.
With the funding, Sydney Gardens will become Bath’s first dementia-friendly park.
Historic features including the Loggia, Minerva’s Temple and the Edwardian toilets will be restored. Flower gardens will be replanted and wildlife habitats, viewpoints will be improved.
In addition, the plans include a new café kiosk and toilets in the play area with highly accessible toilets for people with additional needs (a Change Places facility),which will be part funded by Bath City Forum. Existing buildings will be refurbished to create a community pavilion out of the toilet block which lies adjacent to the Gardeners Lodge and an artist/ craft workshop space within a former substation called the Bothy, at the top of the gardens. Plus it will also see the refurbishment of four tennis courts and have a new exciting play and active zone for all ages and abilities.
The building and landscaping work will be enhanced with an inventive year-round programme of activities and events. There will also be the opportunity for a horticultural training programme for volunteers and work experience placements.
More info can be found on www.bathnes.gov.uk
