Work is due to start soon on the second phase of the Boultham Park Restoration Project in Lincoln, thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The £1.17 million project is the latest development in a larger scheme which will focus on improving biodiversity and restoring the historic lake by improving water quality and lake edges in a way that ensures sustainable management.
Breaking the news, City of Lincoln Council’s portfolio holder for Remarkable Place, Cllr Bob Bushell said: “The announcement that The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded this scheme £658,700 is wonderful news and means that the work, which could take up to a year, will be able to begin soon.”
With the focus on improving biodiversity and restoring the lake, the project, which is supported by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and the Boultham Park Advisory Group, will give more opportunities for people to get involved in the park, create more space for wildlife to flourish and open up natural and cultural heritage to existing and new visitors.
“We are also planning to improve access to and around the lake and reintroduce lost activities including occasional boating."
“New activities will also be available including volunteering and learning opportunities focussed on subjects like wildlife, habitat management and history,” said Cllr Bushell.
The 90 year old public park has already benefitted from a £4.1 million project that has restored key heritage features including the bandstand, main gates, a fountain garden and sundial.
As well as new pathways, park furniture, way-finder signage and interpretation, the project created a new park café and glasshouse and restored the old stable block building to create an education centre for the Linkage Boultham Park College.
This was a partnership project between City of Lincoln Council and Linkage Community Trust, with £2.7 million funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund’s Parks for People programme. The new restoration and improvements to the lake can be considered as Phase Two of the overall Boultham Park Restoration, building on the success of the initial restoration and the National Lottery’s previous investment Water aeration equipment will be installed to stop the build-up of silt and reduce existing silt over a period of time.
Improvements will also include bank restoration work, lake edge and woodland understorey planting, tree removals and replanting, footpath improvements and provision of fishing pegs.
This phase is heavily focused on biodiversity and, with direction and guidance from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, work will encourage healthy plant and animal life to flourish in and around the lake.
There will be a public art trail which will encourage people to explore the lake area with detailed information on wildlife and how people can help encourage and protect biodiversity available along the route.
A programme of activities will be delivered with the emphasis on biodiversity, community events and restoring lost activities. These activities will take place over three years and will be aimed at encouraging a wider range of people to get involved and learn more about the lake and its natural and social heritage.
Cllr Bushell said: “Much has already been achieved at Boultham Park thanks to the National Heritage Lottery Fund and lottery players, and our great band of volunteers, and news that this latest work is now going ahead will ensure that the lake will be another jewel in Lincoln’s already gleaming crown.”
In addition, Tammy Smalley, Head of Conservation at Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust said, “The Trust is excited to be part of the delivery team for this project in the urban setting of the majestic city of Lincoln."
“The chance to deliver nature’s recovery with people engaged in that process is a real boon. People need wildlife for lots of beneficial reasons, and at Boultham Park, people will own that recovery including planting out native Lincolnshire wildflowers, learning techniques in how to manage that habitat going forward and getting appreciate the rainbow of colours and myriad of life that will come."
“Great work by the team at the City of Lincoln Council and it’s super to get the backing of The National Lottery Heritage Fund and their players.”
Drew Bennellick, Head of Land and Nature Policy at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Urgent action is needed to help nature recover. National Lottery funding is creating incredible opportunities for people to take such action for species under threat and, crucially, equipping a new generation with the skills and passions to make a real difference for the future of our natural world.”