Restoration work to begin at The Italian Garden at Great Ambrook thanks to National Lottery funding
The Italian Garden at Great Ambrook, which has been described as Devon’s answer to the Lost Gardens of Heligan, has been awarded a £48,900 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The National Lottery award will help fund a two-year project to carry out essential conservation works and launch a programme of community engagement at the Italian Garden at Great Ambrook, near Ipplepen in South Devon.
The National Lottery funding will enable work to improve the garden entrance, provide on-site facilities and launch a programme of events including opportunities for volunteers, skills training, art and educational workshops as well as guided tours for visitors.
The Italian Garden has a wonderfully rich history. It was commissioned in 1909 by Arthur Smith Graham of Great Ambrook House and designed by acclaimed architect T H Lyon to bring a taste of Italy to South Devon. It was intended to be used as a private space for entertaining friends and intellectual discussion. Over the years the garden fell into decline, was finally lost during the 1960s and only rediscovered again in the late 1980s. It is a rare example of an early 20th Century designed landscape - a walled, secret garden of pools, terraces and garden buildings - all hidden away in the Devon countryside.
Commenting on the award, Stephanie Berry and Kim Partridge, directors of the Community Interest Company that manages the garden, said, "We are thrilled to have received this recognition and support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund which will help raise The Italian Garden’s profile and allow us to share it with the broader community. This funding will launch a vital restoration programme of the buildings and structures which make this garden so unique”.
“We are thrilled to have received this recognition and support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund which will help raise The Italian Garden’s profile and allow us to share it with the broader community. This funding will launch a vital restoration programme of the buildings and structures which make this garden so unique.”
Stuart McLeod, Director, England, London & South, said: “The Covid-19 crisis has proved how much we cherish our outdoor heritage spaces and also how important volunteers are. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, this project will benefit the future of both at The Italian Garden and ensure it can be enjoyed by many more people.”
Details of events, activities and project updates will be available on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ItalianGardenAmbrook or on our Events Page.
Please contact the project directors via Our Contact Page or Facebook if you would like to be involved in this exciting journey.
Notes to editors
About The Italian Garden at Great Ambrook C.I.C.
The Italian Garden at Great Ambrook C.I.C. is a not-for-profit, Community Interest Company whose main activities are to secure the conservation, protection, management, restoration and maintenance of the Italian Garden at Great Ambrook near Ipplepen, South Devon.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund
Further information
For further information, images and interviews please contact the owners Stephanie Berry or Kim Partridge via Our Contact Page or the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ItalianGardenAmbrook