Parks for People
Boston Manor Park is a diverse landscape which forms the historic setting of Grade I listed Boston Manor House in Hounslow, West London.
By working with partners and the community, the project has ensured that the park meets the needs of those living and working nearby and plays a central role in their everyday lives.
The funding has enabled the project to:
- restore and unlock the site's heritage through new interpretation, and run an oral history project to capture memories of the estate
- improve access by removing physical boundaries, upgrading the path network and establishing new places to watch wildlife from
- grow the impressive local biodiversity, creating new habitats including deadwood and brash piles, bat and owl boxes, beetle pyramids and hibernaculum for amphibians and reptiles
- provide learning and educational opportunities through a training programme and apprenticeship scheme
- facilitate ways for people to connect with the house and benefit from social activities including creative writing, poetry and photography workshops
- implement sustainable funding and management models to ensure the park thrives and is financially resilient
Creating a better place to live and work has been central to the project. It aims to support people’s health and wellbeing by providing accessible, safe and quality green space in a densely urban area, with opportunities for social integration through a programme of events and activities.
Boston Manor House received funding around the same time, completing a project to breathe new life into the Jacobean property and open it up to the public once again.