Latest news with #TarynNixon
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Garden house reopens after nine-year restoration
A 19th Century former gardeners' house within a public garden has officially reopened after a £3.1m restoration project that took nine years. The Gardeners' House in Penzance was previously where the Morrab Gardens' head gardener lived, and had also been used as a stable for donkeys who pulled lawnmowers. The team behind the new centre said it aimed to create "a welcoming space for our community to connect with us and the spaces around us". It includes a sensory garden and a local archive and features a modern extension. The project was funded by £2.2m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and £896,000 from the Penzance Town Deal Fund. Taryn Nixon, a trustee of the heritage fund, and said: "It completely aligned with our strategy which is to save local heritage and protect the environment - doing it inclusively and sustainably." Miki Ashton started her involvement as a volunteer and, nine years on, has become the project director. She said: "If you look at the pictures of what it was then and what is is now, it's an extraordinary transformation. "It was originally a stable, it housed the donkeys of the gardens... then it was storage, then it was something else until it got to the point where ivy was growing through the windows." The project includes a "living archive", which it described as "a growing collection that documents the rich history, stories and natural landscape of our region". Its website says: "We want to expand our collection with the help of our community. "The restoration of our historic building in Morrab Gardens will also provide a welcoming space for wellbeing workshops, community-led green projects, and a sensory garden." Penzance Town Mayor Stephen Reynolds was on hand to cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony on Saturday. He said: "On time and on budget are not words you often hear these days with publicly-funded projects. "Many people in this community have volunteered and given their time for free and with that you get far more value for a project like this." More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Lottery £2.2m grant funds green community hub The Gardener's House National Lottery Heritage Fund
BBC News
15 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Penzance Gardeners' House reopens after nine-year restoration
A 19th Century former gardeners' house within a public garden has officially reopened after a £3.1m restoration project that took nine Gardeners' House in Penzance was previously where the Morrab Gardens' head gardener lived, and had also been used as a stable for donkeys who pulled team behind the new centre said it aimed to create "a welcoming space for our community to connect with us and the spaces around us".It includes a sensory garden and a local archive and features a modern extension. The project was funded by £2.2m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and £896,000 from the Penzance Town Deal Nixon, a trustee of the heritage fund, and said: "It completely aligned with our strategy which is to save local heritage and protect the environment - doing it inclusively and sustainably."Miki Ashton started her involvement as a volunteer and, nine years on, has become the project said: "If you look at the pictures of what it was then and what is is now, it's an extraordinary transformation."It was originally a stable, it housed the donkeys of the gardens... then it was storage, then it was something else until it got to the point where ivy was growing through the windows." The project includes a "living archive", which it described as "a growing collection that documents the rich history, stories and natural landscape of our region".Its website says: "We want to expand our collection with the help of our community. "The restoration of our historic building in Morrab Gardens will also provide a welcoming space for wellbeing workshops, community-led green projects, and a sensory garden." Penzance Town Mayor Stephen Reynolds was on hand to cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony on said: "On time and on budget are not words you often hear these days with publicly-funded projects."Many people in this community have volunteered and given their time for free and with that you get far more value for a project like this."
