The Heritage Lottery Fund supports the historic home of horticulture
On 24 August 2016, The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) announced that it had awarded the historic home of horticulture, the Royal Horticultural Society Wisley Garden, a project planning grant towards the restoration of the garden as a learning garden, with works to the original laboratory and lecture facilities and digital collection access for the nationally important collection.
The HLF wrote:
The ‘home of horticulture’ will restore an historic laboratory, secure the future of its incredible specimen archive and create new space and learning opportunities for visitors of all ages. A specimen collected by Charles Darwin on the Beagle and a piece of lavender dating back to 1731 are just two of more than 100,000 plant and insect specimens in RHS Wisley’s nationally and historically important collection. Many of these treasures are now set to be cleaned, restored and put on display for the very first time. Virtual visitors will be able to access the collection as records of some of the plants and insects will be shared digitally.
The garden’s historic laboratory will also be brought back into the heart of Wisley’s story. Dating back more than two centuries, the building houses old botanical labs, the original lecture theatre and a Herbarium. The project will restore these features and open up part of the building as an art gallery and museum space.
The project will revive Wisley’s original purpose as a learning garden.
A new Centre for Horticultural Science and Learning, complete with atrium and events space, will be built to house collections and share learning with visitors and researchers. Three new ‘Future Gardens’, exploring themes of Gardens as Nature Reserves, Health and Wellbeing and a World Kitchen Garden, will be created next to the Centre.
Stuart McLeod, Head of HLF South East, said: ‘Wisley is such an important site in the history of plants and gardens – a superb setting for some rare and fascinating plant specimens along with thousands of books, artefacts and photographs. This project will help build on the traditions of the place to reach out and attract new visitors and ensure people come here to learn about and enjoy horticulture for many years to come.’
RHS Garden Wisley has been awarded £212,000 to develop project plans and will apply for a full grant of £4.8million at a later date.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- The Heritage Lottery Fund.
- Wellbeing.
- History.
- Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
- IHBC articles.
[edit] External references
- Heritage Lottery Fund - https://www.hlf.org.uk/about-us/news-features/major-support-historic-home-horticulture
IHBC NewsBlog
BRE/BEIS project to modernise home energy rating scheme
The Building Research Establishment (BRE) has announced a new project with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to improve and modernise the home energy rating scheme used to measure the energy and environmental performance of UK homes.
Interdisciplinary IHBC accreditation recognised by CSCS for PQP Cards
Sector lead the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) has recognised the IHBC’s professional accreditation and support (CPD etc.) in awarding its PQP (Professionally Qualified Person) cards.
IHBC Heritage Marketplace provides learning-led virtual engagement
The IHBC’s 2022 Aberdeen School Heritage MarketPlace (4.30-7.30PM, 15 June) is designed to extend the scope of a traditional IHBC School exhibition floor.
Unearthing the history of Gloucester’s 'the Fleece' Hotel starts
Work to repair a fire-hit medieval hotel in Gloucester is underway as crews have started work to strip back some of the modern trappings and reveal the historic framework.
Booking Open for IHBC Annual School: Aberdeen, 16-18 June 2022
Options for in-person and virtual delegates to explore ‘heritage on the edge’ across up to 4 days of IHBC engagement & learning.
European Heritage Heads Forum statement on Ukraine
The Secretariat to the European Heritage Heads Forum has has coordinated its declaration of solidarity and support for Ukraine’s cultural heritage institutions.
Welcome to #IHBC25 – 25 years since we turned professional
2022 will see the IHBC mark a quarter of a century since our incorporation as a professional body supporting and accrediting built and historic environment conservation specialists. We’re kick-starting it by inviting your ideas on how to mark this special year!
IHBC launches new Guidance Note on ‘Design sources for historic building conservation'
The IHBC’s latest Guidance Note adds to the institute’s open-access, online practitioner’s Toolbox.
England’s communities empowered to shape design of neighbourhoods
Twenty-five areas in England from Bournemouth to Carlisle have been awarded a share of £3 million to help them set their own standards for design locally. "move from a vicious circle of generic development to a virtuous circle of regenerative development".
IHBC at COP26 - Conserving our Places Conserves our Planet - Podcast
The IHBC seeks to raise awareness and understanding of how building conservation philosophy and practice contributes towards meeting the challenge of climate change.