The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded Birmingham Botanical Gardens £9.075m to conserve and enhance this nationally significant botanic garden.
Originally opening in 1832, Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens is a much-loved part of Birmingham’s physical and cultural landscape. Home to a living collection of 30,000 plants, repairs and restoration are urgently needed to secure the future of this treasured and nationally significant historic site.
This latest NLHF funding has secured over 90% of funding towards ‘Growing Our Green Heritage’, a capital project that includes urgently needed repairs and restorations to the Grade II*-listed Victorian glasshouses. Donald Insall Associates is acting as conservation architects and heritage consultants, collaborating with lead architect Howells.
The project will also enhance visitor infrastructure and amenities, improve sustainability and expand public access to education, horticulture, heritage and nature in this unique green space. Plans for an outdoor classroom and Engagement and Learning programme will also develop the Gardens’ relationship with new and existing audiences.
“Our uniquely biodiverse natural environment is one of the UK’s most significant historic botanic gardens and part of Birmingham and the West Midlands’ richly diverse cultural history and way of life,” said Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ Chair, Sue Beardsmore.
“We are immensely grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for this unique opportunity to restore an important part of Birmingham’s heritage, champion biodiversity and the environment, and reconnect people with nature. As we approach our Bicentenary, we can now ensure that BBG, the unique Living Collection and tangible and intangible heritage of this ‘miracle green space’ can be researched, shared and enjoyed by everyone for the next 200 years”.
“The National Lottery Heritage Fund has given a huge endorsement of the importance of the Gardens to Birmingham and the significant development progress to date,” said Sara Blair Manning, Chief Executive at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. “It is a testament to our team’s dedication, expertise and strategic planning and we thank National Lottery players who have made this grant possible, which will enable us to improve and safeguard the Gardens for future generations”.
“The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s support represents an exciting strategic investment in the Gardens’ long-term vision. It also evidences the national importance of nature, and its related health and wellbeing benefits, for everyone. This £19.4m project is the first phase of a transformational masterplan development for the Gardens to be delivered over the next 10 years”.
Liz Bates, Director, England, Midlands & East at The National Heritage Lottery Fund, said: “We are pleased to support Birmingham Botanical Gardens with a grant of £9.075million, as we celebrate awarding a total of £2bn of National Lottery and other funding to projects across the Midlands & East of England.”