Heritage Lottery grant of £1.28m for Eastcote House Gardens

Residents and voluntary groups in Eastcote are celebrating following news that Eastcote House Gardens has been awarded £1.28m by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

An application was made by Hillingdon Council, in partnership with the Friends of Eastcote House Gardens, to enhance the buildings and grounds. The application was one of just 11 in the UK to succeed under the charitable ‘Parks for People’ scheme.

Funding will be used to significantly restore and improve the historic gardens, known for the timber-framed 16th Century stables and mature parkland that were once part of the grounds of Eastcote House.

The grant will also enable the repair and upgrading of the listed stables, 18th Century dovecote and walled garden for educational and recreational use, while a new building will house a new café.

The volunteer group, Friends of Eastcote House Gardens, who have won many awards for their beautiful floral displays, will get a gardeners’ compound for training new volunteers.

Younger residents will be able to explore the stunning gardens, enjoying pond dipping, a new ecology walk and natural playground, while schools will benefit from the outdoor classroom.

The project’s estimated date of completion is summer 2015.

The Heritage Lottery Fund recently announced research showing that heritage-based tourism is now worth £26.4bn to the UK economy, £5.8bn higher than the previous estimate published in 2010.