An exciting array of leisure, sport and community improvements will be carried out at Castle Park in Bishop’s Stortford thanks to a lottery grant of almost £2 million.

News of the £1,939,700 award from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund means that a project can be implemented making grade I listed Waytemore Castle – a scheduled ancient monument – and the war memorial the focal points of the park.

The scheme also includes a new events area, cafe, toilets, community rooms, tennis courts and improved recreation space for teenagers.

The roots of the project stretch back to the start of 2017, when an initial £250,000 was awarded through the Parks for People programme (part of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund) to enable East Herts Council, Bishop's Stortford Town Council and Herts County Council to develop an improvement programme.

EHC's executive member for environment and public space, Cllr Graham McAndrew, who is also a town and county councillor, said: “I am so pleased that the Heritage Lottery Fund has seen the potential of this project.

"The new park and its multiple enhancements will be a very welcome addition to the town, providing a great range of facilities for residents and visitors of Bishop’s Stortford.”

The Castle Park vision brings together Castle Gardens, owned by the district council, and Sworder’s Field, which belongs to the town council, with the intent of creating one “exciting, vibrant” open space.

The recently established Friends Group, supported by a new community engagement officer, will help to develop and look after the park.

Improvements in a planning application currently under consideration include:

• Crucial work to conserve the castle remains on top of the mound, planting wildflowers and replacing the boundary hedge with fencing.
• A new events area, a war memorial garden and community garden.
• Refurbishment of buildings to create a new community space with a café, toilets and community rooms.
• A new bridge over the River Stort linking Castle Gardens and Sworder's Field, with attractive planting and restoration of the waterway to improve visibility and draw rare wildlife into the area, including otters and water voles.
• A network of paths to improve access for the community, including older and disabled people. The children’s play area and splash pool will be better connected by the new bridge.
• A space designed especially for teenagers, with exciting features such as a skate park extension, new sports facilities and social gathering.
• Three new tennis courts on the northern boundary of the park, near the recreation area for teenagers.

Cllr Derrick Ashley, Hertfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for environment, planning and transport, added: “We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund will be supporting this important project.

"The project, co-ordinated by our Countryside Management Service with EHC and BSTC, has brought together local government and local community groups to develop these exciting plans.

"When completed, the work will celebrate the role Castle Park has played in the past and enhance it for the future.”

On behalf of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund, HLF chief executive Ros Kerslake said: “From economic prosperity and ecological diversity to personal well-being, parks are essential to the health of the nation. This National Lottery investment will empower local people to maximise the potential of Castle Park as a community space and safeguard its heritage for future generations.”

Since 1996, more than £950m raised by National Lottery players has been used to support the regeneration and conservation of public parks and cemeteries across the UK.

* A number of events for the community, such as guided walks, will be arranged from April. Further details of these will be shared shortly.

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CGI images courtesy of Milligan Knight Architects.