By the late 1990s the Arboretum had been neglected for several years. Many of its buildings were dilapidated and a spate of vandalism attracted a lot of local media attention which resulted in fewer people visiting the park.
Investment
Huge financial investment was needed to restore the park to its original splendour and encourage people to use it again. Derby City Council consulted local residents and found that although people were reluctant to visit it in its run-down state, most valued the park greatly but were unhappy about its decline and were aware and very proud of its history.
There was very strong local support for the park to be invested in and improved and the Council submitted a bid to Heritage Lottery to gain funding to provide better facilities and improve the park’s security.
The bid was successful and, with £3 million from Heritage Lottery, along with funding from the Council Single Regeneration Budget, European organisation URBAN and the Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership - DDEP - the restoration project began in 2002.
Today, the park has been transformed and is once again attracting many visitors each day.
Improvements
The buildings have been repaired or renovated. The park entrances have been improved and new ones created and the park has been landscaped.
Security has been significantly improved with floodlighting and CCTV cameras in and around the park.
There is also improved signage, along with information boards which give details about the park’s layout and its history.
A new Heart of the Park building has a variety of uses and includes two blocks – a Community block and a Sports block.
The Community block includes:
- a secure office used by the local police beat officer
- an office and enquiry desk for the Park Rangers
- a Community Hall with Quiet Room and a Meetings Room
- a large entrance with display and interpretation area
- a cafe
- public toilets.
The Sports block includes:
- separate changing rooms for referees and disabled users
- public toilets and baby changing facilities.
The building is environmentally friendly and minimises energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and water use.
While the poor quality buildings had to be removed, the park’s listed buildings have been restored. All the buildings have been designed to give disabled people easy access.
Grove Street Lodge is now the main historic resource centre in the park and provides educational information about the park’s history and horticulture. It has exhibition space and a teaching support room.
Rosehill Street Lodge is now used as a gallery and workshop by Q Arts.
At each entrance to the park, a "welcome panel" explains the park’s importance to visitors.
Qualified staff are on hand to lead tours and show groups of visitors around the park by arrangement.
Although some of the original trees had to be removed because there was insufficient space for them to grow, or because they were diseased, new trees and shrubs have rejuvenated the park and have been planted in-keeping with Loudon’s original plan.
Park Rangers are based permanently at the park and are on duty during the park’s opening hours.
Contact us
For more information contact the Arboretum park office.
Telephone 01332 292612
email arboretum.park@derby.gov.uk