24-11-2010
Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) is embarking on a major new development to restore and enhance areas of the Bretton Estate that have never been open to the public before with support from Wakefield Council and a £500,000 grant from Natural England.
In 2009, with the support of English Heritage and funding from Natural England, YSP commissioned the Landscape Agency to produce a Historic Landscape Management Plan to provide YSP with an understanding of the historic development of the 18th century-designed landscape and to set out a framework for the conservation and future management of the Estate. For the very first time, following recent changes in ownership of Bretton Hall, this Plan was able to encompass the whole 500 acre Bretton Estate which is now under YSP’s management.
Following the recommendations in the Plan, Natural England are funding a £500,000 Historic Environment Special Project which will allow YSP to restore and enhance 85 acres of woodland nature reserve around two 65 acre designed lakes to restore water management infrastructure, historic footpaths, bridges, views, follies and incredible historical features including a Greek-style summer house, a now land-locked Boat House, an Obelisk, Stepping Stones and a magical Shell Grotto. The planned works, to include woodland management to open up historic vistas, will also allow the reconnection of the historic Grade II* listed Bretton Hall with the listed and designed landscape.
Margaret Nieke, Natural England’s Historic Environment Adviser said “Natural England are proud and delighted to be able to support this superb project. The work we are doing will not only open up new areas of the Park to visitors, but it will breathe new life into some wonderful historic features”.
These works will help protect these special areas for future generations and allow visitors the chance to explore new areas whilst providing ambitious new opportunities for artist projects and the development of YSP’s arts, ecology and nature learning, outreach and community programmes.
YSP Executive Director, Peter Murray CBE said “We are very proud that in these difficult economic times, YSP has been able to secure significant support and commitment for this major project, which will reveal a whole new area of the Park for our visitors. We are extremely grateful to Natural England and Wakefield Council for their support. It is testament to YSP’s success over the last 33 years that we are continuing to develop the Bretton Estate in order to create a unique centre for art, heritage, learning, space and landscape.
‘Great art for everyone’ has been YSP’s goal since opening to the public in 1977, enabling access, understanding and enjoyment of art and landscape for everyone, whilst dismantling many of the barriers that often exist between the public and contemporary art. This vision remains as strong as ever and the opening of a new area of the Park is central to this”.
Cllr Peter Box, Leader of Wakefield Council and member of the YSP’s Board of Trustees said “We are delighted that Yorkshire Sculpture Park has secured funding for this exciting redevelopment which will enable them to restore and enhance the grounds for visitors. I’m very pleased that we are able to continue to support its pioneering work”.
Patrick James, MD of the Landscape Agency, noted “I am delighted that our Historic Landscape Management Plan and Natural England's generous grant will help to open up a large area of YSP that the public has not seen before. The project will also re-connect areas of this remarkable landscape for the first time in more than 70 years. It is hugely exciting and will bring a whole new dimension to YSP”.
Work is underway on site and the newly restored 150 acres will be opening to the public in the summer of 2011.