More than £26m to be used to restore UK cemeteries and parks

Lottery money will be used to restore the final resting places of Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, John Keats’ muse Fanny Brawne and inventor of the Christmas card.

The Grade I registered Brompton Cemetery in West London is one of the first cemeteries to receive funding through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund’s Parks for People programme.

And it is amongst 15 historic parks and cemeteries across the UK receiving grants today.

In total £26.5 million will be spent to restore many cemeteries and parks across the UK that will the historic landscapes of these parks and cemeteries restored, the wildlife habitats enhanced and facilities restored or opened up for local people to enjoy.

Carole Souter, chief Executive of HLF, said: "Eighteen years of Lottery investment in our public parks has transformed tired and in some cases under used green spaces into thriving community hubs.

"Our historic cemeteries, with their wealth of heritage, also offer huge untapped potential and we’re delighted now to include them specifically in this programme."

Brompton Cemetery was established in 1840 and there are 800 notable graves including Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, John Keats’ fiancée Fanny Brawne and the inventor of the commercial Christmas card, Henry Cole.

The 15 parks and cemeteries receiving Lottery funding today are:

HLF/Big Lottery Fund joint grants in England
Lesnes Abbey Wood, Bexley - £3,468,000
Wharton Park, Durham - £2,454,400
Grosvenor and Hilbert Park, Tunbridge Wells - £2,358,100
Wyndham Park, Grantham - £875,900
Brompton Cemetery, London - £3,777,800
Chase Park, Whickham, Gateshead - £987,800
Bowring Park, Knowseley - £1,937,300
Winckley Square, Preston - £894,200
Rhyddings Park, Oswaldtwistle - £1,461,900
Peel Park, Salford - £1,408,500
Pump Room Gardens, Leamington Spa - £901,000

HLF only funded grants
Belleisle Park, Ayrshire - £1,938,400
Hermitage Park, Argyll and Bute - £2,087,200
Wrexham Cemetary Project - £1,048,600
Warrenpoint Park, Newry - £932,000

In spring 2014, HLF will publish a report looking at the current state of the UK’s public parks and the challenges facing them.

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