Lottery cash to restore park

The grant could help restore lakes and ponds

A Victorian park in Kent could be restored to its former glory thanks to a multi-million pound lottery handout.

Dunorlan Park, in Tunbridge Wells, has won a share of a £12m Heritage Lottery Fund grant to revamp green spaces in London and the South East.

Work to improve the park, which has fallen into disrepair since it was opened in 1860, could include restoring its lake, ponds and fountain and reinstating a Victorian garden.

Other green spaces to share the handout include Forbury Gardens in Reading and Dulwich Park, Peckham Rye Park and Telegraph Hill Park in south London.

Parks equal pleasure. They matter to people

Liz Forgan, Heritage Lottery Fund chairman

Liz Forgan, chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: "Parks equal pleasure. They matter to people.

"They are the forgotten heroes of our heritage - something we can all enjoy for free."

She said the organisation was committed to restoring historic parks for modern users.

"There is no quick fix but we hope that one day every community will have a park of which it can be proud."

The grant forms part of the Urban Parks Programme, launched in 1996 and expanded in 2002 to include all public parks.