Heritage Grants
The project was grant-aided by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Big Lottery Fund Parks for People initiative, and has seen the restoration of the 50-acre Boultham Park in Lincoln.
Part-way through the project, the planned restoration of the ornamental lake was removed from the plans due to cost reasons. It is now a separate project. The Council has recently been successful in securing a grant from the Heritage Fund to complete the restoration of the lake.
The park began as a family estate for the Ellison family in the 1830s. The semi-derelict stableblock and coach house was, thanks to this project, in 2017 turned into the Linkage Boultham Park Education Centre, a college campus for young people with learning difficulties. It includes a Changing Places facility for anyone to use.
The funding from Parks for People also improved the park and restored the historic bandstand, fountain, sundial and bridges. It also helped build a café with much-needed toilet facilities and glasshouse as part of the campus.
Activities involving the local community have included:
- teddy bears' picnics for families
- events involving residents of local care home
- volunteer litterpicking and park maintenance
- maintenance of the park with community payback schemes, community work placements and business volunteering
- creation of a Centenary Garden
- Mini Explorers (parents and toddlers exploring and enjoying nature together)
- creation of a Community Quilt proudly displayed in the café
