SPETCHLEY Park, the Palladian mansion two miles east of Worcester, is to receive more than £1m from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards the restoration of its Victorian gardens.

Owned by the Berkeley family since 1606, the nationally important Grade II registered park and garden includes a 17th century deer park, 19th century landscape park and 20th century Garden. The Lottery grant of £1,017,800 will go to the Spetchley Revival Project, which is part of a long-term vision to restore this historic landscape to its former glory.

Henry Berkeley from Spetchley Gardens Charitable Trust said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded this grant. Spetchley is a very special place that has always hidden its light under a bushel. This grant will allow us to restore Spetchley’s horticultural and landscape heritage thus raising its profile and keeping it for visitors’ enjoyment in the future. We are indebted to the HLF for supporting us.”

The money will help towards the development of a heritage centre and education room, the restoration of the garden lake, tree planting, improved access to the deer park, and the restoration of the 18th century Sovereign Coach, one of only 20 left in the country.

The funding will also support a programme of public events and activities aimed at encouraging local pride in the park and gardens. The old cart sheds will be transformed into a learning and interpretation centre, not only ensuring the future security of the heritage of the buildings, but enabling visitors to learn about 400 years of history at Spetchley and the Berkeley family who have been its custodian.

The park and gardens are run by the Spetchley Gardens Charitable Trust, a not for profit charity. It was one of the first gardens to open its gates to visitors in 1924 under the National Garden Scheme with the attraction focusing on the horticultural and landscape legacy left by successive generations of the Berkeley family. The garden was enlarged and improved in 1910 by the celebrated Edwardian horticulturalist, Ellen Willmott. It is nationally recognised for its plant catalogue and holds one of the finest collections of rare plants that can be seen outside the major botanical gardens in the UK.

Reyahn King, head of Heritage Lottery Fund West Midlands, said: “We have one family to thank for the fact that this splendid garden exists and has been cared for during the past four centuries. This project will enable further horticultural and landscape improvements but also educational facilities to be developed to provide future visitors with even more enjoyment.”