Anyone spending time in the city’s historic Sydney Gardens just recently will know there is now evidence of work starting on the ‘Project.’
It’s a multi-million-pound scheme to restore historic buildings, invest in landscape and garden restoration works, and create new play areas for all ages, over a three year programme (2019 – 22).
The project is a partnership between Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Parks Team, The Friends of Sydney Gardens, local residents’ groups and the Holburne Museum.
In February 2019, the partnership was successful in a Round 2 bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund with a grant of £2.7m. The total funding secured to improve the historic park is £3.4m.
While most of the heavy stuff won’t get underway until next year, the Friends of the Gardens are keen to maintain interest in the former Georgian pleasure garden and have come up with a lovely idea to keep everyone amused and educated during the winter period.
The following has been taken from the Friend’s Facebook page.
You can download the trail leaflet via https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/new_sg_tree_trail_a4_downloadable.pdf
Meanwhile, for those of you who would rather read something about the Sydney Garden’s trees in greater depth, artist researcher Richard S White has constructed an amazing and well-researched walking tour which you could do from the comfort of your own home!
It’s entitled ‘Sydney Gardens, a reluctant heritage: a walking tour reflecting on botany, empire, and deep time.’ and you can access it via https://medium.com/sydney-gardens-bath/sydney-gardens-a-reluctant-heritage-a-walking-tour-reflecting-on-botany-empire-and-deep-time-789d71c0c288
