Today, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced confirmed funding of £1.9million for an innovative project run by the Woodland Trust to help restore the UK’s endangered ancient woodland and create a step change in the way our oldest and most precious woods are maintained.

In addition, initial support worth £16m, including development funding of £1.3m, has been awarded to the following four sites across England and Wales:

• Bristol Aerospace Centre, at the birthplace of British aviation, including a new hangar for Concorde 216
• Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire, one of the Industrial Revolution’s most complete and significant mills
• Victoria Pier at Colwyn Bay, Wales, a much-loved Grade II listed pier
• Headstone Manor, the earliest surviving timber framed building in Middlesex

Carole Souter, Chief Executive of HLF, said: “This month we’re celebrating the breadth of the UK’s heritage. ‘People power’ is a vital ingredient at the heart of each of these projects. It’s present in everything that we support. We are always working to help protect the things communities value and we’re proud that our money will help people get actively involved with and enjoy these fascinating sites.”

Support has been awarded to:

The Woodland Trust: PAWS, restoring the UK’s woodland heritage – confirmed grant of £1.9m
Since 1930 around 45-50 per cent of ancient woodland in the UK has been lost or damaged making it one of the least wooded parts of Europe. The project will enable the restoration of Plantation on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS). It represents a completely different approach by funding the education and influencing of landowners to save ancient woodlands rather than through the trust’s acquisition of land. This is a cross-territory project spanning Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and five English regions: East Midlands, West Midlands, South West, South East and Yorkshire and Humber.

Bristol Aerospace – initial support for a £4.4m HLF bid, including £243,600 development funding
Filton, South Gloucestershire, is one of the birthplaces of British aviation and the only site with a continuous history of design, development and production, which continues today. The project will provide an aviation heritage and learning centre in Filton to inspire, entertain and inform present and future generations through engaging with the stories and collections of Bristol's aerospace industry. Two First World War Grade II listed hangars, built by the Royal Flying Corps and later home to Bristol’s 501 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force, which played a vital role in the Battle of Britain, will be conserved with important collections preserved. Filton led the design, development and testing of Concorde and every British Concorde was assembled and took off from its runway. As part of the project a new hangar will house Concorde 216, the last complete aircraft ever built on the site and the last in the world to fly.

Quarry Bank Mill (National Trust), Cheshire – initial support for a £3m HLF bid, including £164,400 development funding
Built in 1784, Quarry Bank is one of the most important complete early textile manufacturing communities in the world, telling the story of mill workers, entrepreneurs and how the Industrial Revolution changed the world. This project aims to transform the experience of visiting Quarry Bank and ensure the long-term conservation of one of the country’s most significant sites from the Industrial Revolution. The plan is to transform it from a series of components to one cohesive story, while safeguarding the future of the site and encouraging a wider range of people to become involved in its heritage.

Harrow Museum and Headstone Manor - the Medieval Heart of our Regeneration, Middlesex – initial support for a £3.6m HLF bid, including £255,300 development funding
The Headstone Manor site, established in 825AD and designated an Ancient Scheduled Monument, is of national significance. The Grade I listed Manor House once owned by Henry VIII, and rare medieval water-filled moat sit with an adjacent Grade II* tithe barn (1506) and a Grade II small barn (1550). The project will conserve Headstone Manor, the earliest surviving timber framed building in Middlesex, and convert it to become the proposed new home for Harrow's historic and nationally important collections. The 5,000 objects from the collection provide an insight into Harrow’s past, including collections from the Kodak factory and Whitefriar’s glass factory and archaeological finds from the Roman period.

Victoria Pier Renaissance, Colwyn Bay, Wales – initial support for a £5m HLF bid, including £594,900 development funding
The Grade II listed Victoria Pier was constructed with a Moorish-style pavilion between 1897 and 1902 and extended in 1903 to its current 750ft. The project will restore the pier as a viable and sustainable mixed-use facility for local people and visitors to enjoy. The 1930s Art Deco pavilion will be restored as a multi-functional community arts and entertainment venue. A Bay Discovery Centre will be created on the seaward end showing the history of the development of Colwyn Bay as a resort. The promenade will also be retained and brought to life by events and activities. In addition, a full programme of learning, skills training and participatory opportunities will be available.

Further information

HLF press office: James Steward or Katie Owen on 020 7591 6056 / 6036, out of hours mobile: 07973 613 820.