The magnificent Shugborough Estate, near Stafford, has secured
£10,000 of funding to open Patrick Lichfield's private island
garden and create a new sculpture trail.
The tourist attraction, which is operated by Staffordshire
County Council, is opening Lord Lichfield's arboretum garden to the
general public in 2011 as part of Shugborough Revisited - an
ambitious development plan which will see Patrick Lichfield's
private apartments within the mansion open for the first time
ever.
The scheme will also see £50,000 of Heritage
Lottery-funded gallery improvements within the County Museum area
of the estate and the opening of the private island walk.
The arboretum funding has been granted by Cannock Chase Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty on behalf of Natural England. The money
will be used to create a stunning wildlife trail across the island
dotted with breath-taking sculptures created by students from
Stafford College. In addition, some of the horticultural work on
the island will be carried out on an ongoing basis by volunteers
from Oak Tree Farm Rural Project - a Staffordshire charity which
provides on-the-job training for adults with learning difficulties
in a rural environment.
The arboretum, which is surrounded by the River Sow, was Lord
Lichfield's lasting legacy at his stately home. The area, which has
never been publically accessible on a daily basis before, contains
150 specimen oak trees collected from around the world. These oaks
were lovingly planted by the famous photographer and there is even
one specimen grown from an acorn taken from the White House
lawn.
The arboretum has the finest views of the Shugborough mansion
house on the estate and is also a vitally important habitat for a
diverse amount of wildlife, including many endangered and
nationally scarce species. The island, which is accessed by two
ornate bridges, also houses a private boathouse used by the late
Earl.
Councillor Mike Lawrence, Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and
Enterprise said: "This national funding will help us open this
hidden Staffordshire treasure and make it publically accessible to
all who visit Shugborough's formal gardens.
"The money will also help us encourage the great artistic
talents of young people within the county and develop the rural
training opportunities for Staffordshire people with learning
difficulties."
The entire Shugborough estate sits within Cannock Chase Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). At just 26 square miles, Cannock
Chase was designated as an AONB in 1958 because of its beautiful
landscape, its wildlife and its history.
The Chase is the largest surviving area of lowland heathland in
the Midlands. This lowland heath is an internationally scarce and
threatened wildlife habitat.
Cllr Lawrence said: "Shugborough with its stunning views and
breath-taking wildlife really evokes a pride of place for the
people of Staffordshire and beyond. The opening of the arboretum
and the Shugborough Revisited project as a whole will create an
additional wow factor and give the estate even more added
value."