Blooming great news for Victoria Park
Victorious Victoria Park has been honoured again – with Erewash Borough Council scooping the national Horticulture Week Custodian Award for Best Heritage Park.
The council’s top title was announced at a glittering ceremony held at Woburn Abbey last week, beating other heritage contenders from across the country and turning the national spotlight on Ilkeston’s historic park.
This latest tribute – one of the most prestigious park awards – is a salute to the major restoration project made possible by National Lottery players. Thanks to a £740,800 National Lottery grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), the project has seen the Green Flag park returned to its Victorian glory.
Key features like the bandstand, entrance gates, pergola and bowls pavilion have all been restored to original designs, while new heritage activities held in the park and bedding schemes in the restored floral garden continue to win widespread praise from residents and visitors.
The council’s Green Space and Street Scene officer Caroline Pollard and horticultural apprentice Sam Pickering were joined by Richard Daniel, of the Friends of Victoria Park group, in collecting the award at the celebration ceremony.
Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, said:
“What an absolutely unbelievable accolade for Victoria Park. With the help of the National Lottery funding it has been restored its former glory and is a much-loved place of enjoyment for the residents of Erewash. Congratulations to everybody who has been involved with the restoration and gardening works, it is certainly a well-deserved award and we are thrilled to receive such a prestigious honour.”
Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands, said:
“This is fantastic news for Victoria Park and the local community. The Victoria Park project was delivered thanks to money raised by National Lottery players and it’s great to see that it has been recognised by this award. The project transformed Victoria Park and restored its historic features for future generations to enjoy. Congratulations to all those involved in the project.”
