A comprehensive programme of works is scheduled to begin in September and will include a complete restoration of the iconic bandstand, resurfacing of the paths and a new drainage system. The riverbank will be replanted to encourage wildlife and to open up historic views of the river from the gardens.

The existing programme of events will be enhanced and the appointment of a Community Engagement Officer will act as a focus for creating new activities that will be open to all sections of the community to participate in. The project will also create volunteering opportunities for all ages and backgrounds to work together.

Local schools and colleges will benefit from an educational project led by Warwickshire County Council’s Heritage and Learning staff to explore the heritage behind the Pump Room Gardens. 

The Pump Room Gardens, now 200 years old, form a key part of the Spa Gardens chain of open spaces and have always been important to the people of the town, the district and to visitors.  The restoration of the bandstand, a focal point for events in the gardens, will ensure it can be used again in its full glory.

WDC and the Friends will each be contributing £100,000 in matched funding.  In addition, WDC will commit officer time overseeing the project while the Friends will contribute volunteer time to the activities and events. The total project value amounts to £1,455,146.

Councillor David Shilton, Portfolio Holder for Warwick District Council’s parks and gardens, said: “The council is absolutely delighted with the outcome of our bid to the National Lottery.  This money will enable us to restore the gardens and maintain them to a high standard.  The town will be permanently improved by this project.  This grant will complement the already restored Jephson Gardens.”

Archie Pitts, Chairman of the Friends of the Pump Room Gardens, said; “This grant is a wonderful culmination of more than seven years work by the Friends to get the Gardens restored.  Our mission started with the reinstatement of the Linden Arches.  The grant shows that HLF believe these gardens are of national as well as local importance and should be restored. 

“The Friends are hugely grateful for the generosity of many local donors enabling them to raise their part of the matched funding.”

Today’s news comes as part of a £32million funding announcement for parks and cemeteries across the UK. Explaining the significance of the support, Head of HLF West Midlands, Vanessa Harbar said on behalf of HLF and the BIG: “Our parks are where we play some of our first games, where we make some of our first discoveries and where we spend some of our best times with family and friends. However we use them, parks are an important part of life, which is why we’re delighted to be investing National Lottery players’ money in parks from Bristol to Helensburgh to carry out vital restoration and create some wonderful opportunities for communities and wildlife.”

Notes to editors

More than £776 m raised by National Lottery players has been invested in parks since 1996.

Further information

HLF Press Office: Rebecca Lamm on tel: 020 7591 6027 and via email: Rebecca.Lamm@hlf.org.uk; or Katie Owen on tel: 020 7591 6036 and via email: KatieO@hlf.org.uk

BIG Press Office: Anupa Devi on tel: 0207 211 3940 and via email: Anupa.Devi@biglotteryfund.org.uk

Warwick District Council: Dave Anderson, Green Space Team Leader, on tel: 01926 456 214 and via email: David.Anderson@warwickdc.gov.uk

Friends of Pump Room Gardens: Archie Pitts, Chairman, on tel: 01926 885 532 and via email: ArchiePitts@gmail.com