Lews Castle Grounds has been awarded £3.9 million from the Lottery
The only historic park on the Western Isles, it has been ranked as ‘Outstanding’ in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes.
It forms the iconic backdrop to Stornoway Harbour and, through Stornoway Trust, is owned by the community. It includes formal gardens, ornamental planting, carriage drives and paths and extensive woodland making it dramatically different from the rest of the rugged island landscape.
Now the money will help towards a new project to encourage more people to use the grounds with better access and restored historic features which are currently at risk of being lost. It will also complement wider regeneration initiatives such as the redevelopment of Lews Castle and the Stornoway Townscape Heritage Initiative both of which have been part-funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Iain Maciver, the factor of Stornoway Trust, said: “This exciting news offers the Trust an opportunity to manage the restoration and regeneration of an outstanding asset. We are indebted to HLF for allowing us to further progress our vision for the revitalisation of our wonderful legacy.”
Dean Castle Park in Ayrshire was the only other big award with £3.34 million. That park is one of the most visited in Ayrshire and with both formal gardens and woodlands, has a 14th-century castle as its focal point.
Colin McLean, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: “Our parks, and the historic features in them, are a wonderful legacy from our ancestors. They are enjoyed by all ages and are often a community’s only green space in which to relax away from the pressures of daily life. Using funds raised through the National Lottery, HLF is able to protect these precious places helping make a difference to the quality of life for millions of Scots.”
