Bushey Rose Garden secures lottery funds

Plans to return the Rose Garden in Bushey to its former glory have been given a boost after Hertsmere Borough Council secured lottery funding.

Plans to return the Rose Garden in Bushey to its former glory have been
given a boost after Hertsmere Borough Council secured lottery funding.

The council heard this week that the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big
Lottery Fund have awarded a development grant of £26,100 to the council
after it submitted a bid earlier this year. This means that the council will
be able to move forward with plans for a £1 million scheme to transform and
regenerate this much-loved park.

Cllr Derrick Gunasekera, portfolio holder for culture, said: “This is
excellent news as the garden is of historical and local importance to the
community. I would like to thank all those involved who have helped to
secure this funding, in particular the Heritage and Big Lottery Fund and the
many officers who have worked on this project.”

The Grade II listed garden is in a conservation area and contains several
Grade II buildings, but has deterioriated over the years and suffered from
vandalism.  The proposed works will restore all listed features, including
the summer house, paved areas and the pergola.

The Rose Garden plays an important role in the Bushey community.  Sir Hubert
von Herkomer RA, an eminent Victorian artist, ran an Art School on the site
from 1883-1912.  The garden replaced the art school in 1913, created for
Herkomer by pre-eminent landscape designer Thomas Mawson, who was given a
portrait by the artist in lieu of payment.

The funding for the Rose Garden is among the first from the ‘Parks for
People’ programme, a new scheme designed to invest lottery good cause money
in parks across the UK.

Robyn Llewellyn, Heritage Lottery Fund Manager in the East of England said:
“The Rose Garden is a real oasis in a built up area, but it is in desperate
need of restoration to save it for future generations to enjoy.
The ‘Parks for People’ scheme is designed to get the local community really
involved and to ensure a much-improved environment and standard of living
for all those who use the park.”

Debbie Pippard, Big Lottery Fund Head of London region, added: “Parks are a
vital free space in which people of all generations and backgrounds can come
together. Whether you walk the dog or like to jog, this investment will make
a huge difference to your park by transforming it into a more attractive and
safer place to be.”

The consultation period about all the plans for the garden has been extended until the end of October.  There is a detailed display at the Bushey Museum or leaflets can be picked up from the Bushey Library or Bushey Area Office.

A consultation leaflet and questionnaire can also be posted out to you. To receive one please contact Parks and Amenities on Freephone 0800 731 1810 or email parks.consultation@hertsmere.gov.uk.