The two funds have awarded the grant through their joint Parks for People programme which aims to improve the local environment and put parks firmly back at the heart of community life. More than £10million is being shared among six parks across the UK today.

Whaley Bridge Memorial Park was created in 1920 to commemorate the loss of 106 men in the First World War. Now, 90 years later, this project will restore the original layout and undertake a range of landscaping works which will help preserve the park’s natural environment.

Situated on the edge of the Peak District National Park, Whaley Park is bordered by the River Goyt and is a popular place for local people to relax, whilst offering a link between residential properties and the town shops and schools.

The funding confirmed today will enable the implementation of plans including restoring a war memorial and maintaining woodland and wildlife habitats. Volunteers will get involved with the long-term maintenance of the park through activities such as hedge-laying, flower planting and dry-stone walling. New planting within the park will reflect original features and will increase new wildlife habitats. Overgrown planting will be removed to open up sightlines and vistas.

Andrew Bingham, MP to the High Peak, responded to the news by saying: “This is great news for the High Peak and especially Whaley Bridge. The park is well used and in the centre of the town, and I am looking forward to seeing the results of the work completed with this money. I am delighted that they have awarded this money to Whaley Bridge Memorial Park.”

Emma Sayer, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund East Midlands, said: “We believe that our public parks are an important part of our country’s heritage. Whaley Bridge is a wonderful example of this right in the heart of Derbyshire. This award will complete the restoration of the park enabling it to play a full role in the life of the town, both preserving an important part of our local heritage and ensuring it can be enjoyed by many generations to come.”

John Haken, Executive Councillor for the Environment, said: “I’m delighted that the HLF and Big Lottery Fund have agreed to help us realise our plans to breathe new life into this much-loved open space. The hard work of our officers in developing the bid underlines our commitment to protecting the environment and promoting healthy lifestyles.

“Fundamental to the bid’s success was the overwhelming support that public consultation revealed for our plans”, he stressed.

Five other second-round pass awards are being announced across the UK. Other parks celebrating today are:

• Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent - £1.8m
• Telford Town Park, Shropshire - £2.1m
• Lordship Recreation Ground, Tottenham, London - £3.8m
• Mesnes Park, Wigan - £1.9m
• Cambuslang Park, South Lanarkshire - £551,500 (HLF funded only)

Notes to editors

* Today’s second-round pass awards are from the Parks for People programme which has a two-stage or two-round application process. The full grant has now been awarded following a successful second-round application from these parks.  

The Parks for People programme uses Lottery funds to support the regeneration, conservation and increased enjoyment of public parks. The programme aims to improve the local environment and put parks firmly back at the heart of community life. In England the two Lottery Funds have been working in partnership from 2006 to deliver a multi-million pound investment in public parks of £150m. Over the past three years, the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) has invested up to £80m (in England only) with £70m coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the UK.

HLF is continuing to fund public park projects in 2010 with an investment of £20m each year. The next closing date for applications is 28 February 2011. The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) remains committed to working in partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in making a success of the Parks for People programme and has allocated £10 million in its grant budget for 2010/11 towards the programme in England.

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported 33,900 projects, allocating £4.4billion across the UK. 

HLF has invested £527m in over 530 historic public parks, gardens, squares and promenades right across the UK.

The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) rolls out close to £2million in Lottery good cause money every 24 hours, which together with other Lottery distributors means that across the UK most people are within a few miles of a Lottery-funded project. BIG, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. The Big Lottery Fund and its predecessor bodies have invested more than £1.3billion in environmental initiatives. www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Further information

Laura Bates or Katie Owen, HLF Press Office on 020 7591 6027 / 6036 or 07973 613 820 or lbates@hlf.org.uk / katieo@hlf.org.uk 

Julia Sweidan, BIG Press Office on 020 7211 1818   julia.sweidan@biglotteryfund.org.uk