One of the finest gardens in England awarded Culture Fund rescue package from government’s £1.57 billion recovery fund

The Garden House, in Buckland Monachorum, Devon, has received a grant from the DCMS Culture Recovery fund to enable it to stabilise its operations post-lockdown and start to rebuild the much loved garden and grounds as a vital Dartmoor visitor attraction.

• Almost 450 heritage organisations in England, including The Garden House have been awarded cash from the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage

• Grants of up to £1 million will deliver a lifeline for the heritage sector in England with further support to follow and larger grants for capital projects awarded through the Heritage Stimulus Fund

• First major tranche of funding from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund

The Garden House is one of 445 heritage organisations across the country set to receive a lifesaving financial boost from the government thanks to the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. 

The Dartmoor charity, which hit the headlines in Spring, when it successfully launched a crowdfunding campaign on Crowdfunder.co.uk to raise the vital funds it needs to survive, applied to the government fund which is designed to make sure Britain’s most loved historic attractions and cultural venues are saved for their local communities.

#HereForCulture

The funds, part of Government’s #HereForCulture campaign, will now be used to maintain operations at The Garden House, keep it open and be used to help the business start to grow again.

The funding means the garden can continue to stay open to the public over the winter on a limited basis on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays 11-3pm. Social distancing rules will be observed and shop and plant sales will be open on a limited basis. Please see website www.thegardenhouse.org.uk

Trustee, Ian Douglas, The Garden House said: “We are absolutely thrilled at this result,” said “This is wonderful news - the funds couldn’t have come at a better time - and will enable us to stay open for the local community and visitors to Dartmoor. The Garden House is a very special place and we are determined it’s preserved for generations to come.”

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “As a nation it is essential that we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past. This massive support package will protect our shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help us prepare for a cultural bounceback post covid.”

Kate Mavor, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: “This support for our nation’s heritage is fantastic news.  Over the last few months, our teams have been working hard to welcome visitors back safely to the great castles, stone circles, abbeys and historic houses in our care. This funding will help us invest to safeguard the historic fabric of these much-loved places, which everyone can learn from and enjoy.”

The beautiful Devon garden filled with rare and beautiful plants, is looked after by a small and passionate team of staff, students and volunteers, has featured on BBC Gardeners World and is a favourite of Toby Buckland and Carol Klein. It’s become famous for its annual Snowdrop Festival, wildflower meadow and stunning Acer Glade.

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/v8J_hrNUGds

The Garden House is owned by The Fortescue Garden Trust, a charity dedicated to continuing to look after the beautiful garden and preserve it for generations to come. The charity aims to be able to continue to share this unique and special place which brings the community together, nurturing a love for nature and educating young and old alike.

The house and gardens that form The Garden House were bought in the 1940s by Lionel and Katharine Fortescue. Over the next 40 years the Fortescues created a garden which was – and continues to be – viewed as one of the finest in Britain. 

The Garden House is now run as charity with a social purpose. It aims to help people in respect of:

• Education/training

• Arts/culture/heritage/science

• Environment/conservation/heritage

• Recreation