Work reaches completion at the National Lottery-funded Mount Pavilion and Gardens in Fleetwood

Wyre Council was delighted to have been awarded a £2 million ‘Parks for People’ grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund in 2018 to continue its work to revive the Mount Pavilion and Gardens in Fleetwood.

The seaward side was restored in 2017 thanks to a £1m personal donation from Mrs Doreen Lofthouse. This involved work to reinstate the Victorian railings, restore the shelters, repair the pathways and create new rockeries and planting. The council’s first-round application to the National Lottery’s Parks for People programme was also approved in January 2017 which supported research, planning, and pilot activities in order to prepare a second-round application submitted in 2018.With this submission being successful, the National Lottery grant together with the generous donation from Mrs Lofthouse, has funded the restoration of the garden areas including the pavilion and lodge over the past year.

Wyre Council would like to say a huge thank you Mrs Doreen Lofthouse for her generous donation and National Lottery players, without who these funds, and therefore this project wouldn’t have been possible.

David Renwick, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Regenerating and conserving public parks remains a high priority for us as we commit to promoting more environmentally-sustainable heritage and increasing people’s health and wellbeing. This is more important than ever before, as parks have provided much needed green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic for people to connect with nature and the outdoors in their local area. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are proud to have supported Wyre Council in their renovation of the Mount Pavilion and Gardens, and we’re delighted that it will reach its completion just in time for the festive period.”

Wyre council and the appointed contractors Rosslee Construction have been working hard to complete the restoration project as close to the original timeframes as possible despite the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for the construction industry.

Conservation specialists, Rosslee have been working on Grade I, Grade II and Grade II* buildings and projects of an historic nature since 2002 so they have had lots of experience to bring to the scheme and Wyre Council want to say thank you to them. As a Lancashire based company, they are committed to supporting a strong local economy by using companies and key supply chain partners based within Wyre wherever they can.

The council would also like to thank the surrounding neighbours of the Mount Pavilion for their patience throughout the project and hope that any disruptions that may have occurred during the restoration have been kept to a minimum.

The pavilion, originally built in 1901 is now restored and is set to be brought back into regular use as an education centre, exhibition space and a function room for public events, weddings and receptions. The lodge building and the upper floor will be opened as a tearoom and the lower floors, which will be used as a base for volunteers helping on the grounds and by an artist and scientist who will run activities.

The programme for next year has been curated by Wyre Council’s Development Officer for the Mount who will be working with schools and the community to offer opportunities to visit the site. In the New Year there will be a variety of opportunities for volunteers to help in the management and presentation of the Mount. The Mount has a strong navigational history and also beautiful grounds therefore there will be opportunities to work alongside the Development Officer and gardening team to manage the site and there will also be opportunities to help present the heritage of the site to the public. The development of a science and discovery club during spring will provide an exciting chance for young people to work alongside a community artist and community scientist with imaginative workshops and trails and to discover more about The Mount and its heritage.

Some activities have had to be postponed until later in 2021 because of the pandemic, however self-led activities are currently being developed and the play area is now open to enjoy.

Councillor Simon Bridge, Portfolio Holder for Street Scene, Parks and Open Spaces at Wyre Council comments: “On behalf of Wyre Council I’d like to thank everyone who has helped with the project – volunteers, those who took part in the consultation surveys and families who took part in the pilot activities, Rosslee construction, Mrs Doreen Lofthouse and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It’s an exciting time for the Mount Pavilion and the new activity programme for 2021. ”

Wyre Council hoped to host an open day to showcase all the work that’s been done, however given the current COVID-19 situation in Lancashire they are looking to do a virtual tour which will be shared on their website and social media soon.

For more information go to www.wyre.gov.uk/mount or to find out about future activities please contact the Development Officer, Kate Baird at [email protected]