Involving the community at Boultham Park

Involving the community at Boultham Park

Parents and children in a wood

Heritage Grants

LINCOLN, Lincolnshire, East Midlands
Lincoln
Linkage Community Trust
£2717500
This project was a joint venture between Lincoln City Council and the Linkage Community Trust, a charity supporting people with learning difficulties.

The project was grant-aided by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Big Lottery Fund Parks for People initiative, and has seen the restoration of the 50-acre Boultham Park in Lincoln.

Part-way through the project, the planned restoration of the ornamental lake was removed from the plans due to cost reasons. It is now a separate project. The Council has recently been successful in securing a grant from the Heritage Fund to complete the restoration of the lake. 

The park began as a family estate for the Ellison family in the 1830s. The semi-derelict stableblock and coach house was, thanks to this project, in 2017 turned into the Linkage Boultham Park Education Centre, a college campus for young people with learning difficulties. It includes a Changing Places facility for anyone to use.

The funding from Parks for People also improved the park and restored the historic bandstand, fountain, sundial and bridges. It also helped build a café with much-needed toilet facilities and glasshouse as part of the campus.

Activities involving the local community have included:

  • teddy bears' picnics for families
  • events involving residents of local care home
  • volunteer litterpicking and park maintenance
  • maintenance of the park with community payback schemes, community work placements and business volunteering
  • creation of a Centenary Garden
  • Mini Explorers (parents and toddlers exploring and enjoying nature together)
  • creation of a Community Quilt proudly displayed in the café

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