Work has begun in Portsmouth's Victoria Park as part of a plan to improve its value as a community space, a wildlife haven and a much-loved part of the city's heritage.
Portsmouth City Council have derived a plan to develop Victoria Park through the building of a new community hub, improvement of the aviary, restoration of historic monuments and the creation of a new play area.
The plan was made possible by a £2.4m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and was developed by the help of the local community. Work on the park will begin this month, with 27 trees being planted to form part of a new nature area and a wildlife meadow.
The project will cost about £3.2m in total, with the rest of the funding sourced by the council.
In the new year, work will begin on building a community hub with accessible toilets, a meeting space, a volunteering office and an outside sheltered area. The hub will be on the site of the current council depot, opening up a new area to the public.
The construction is expected to take around a year to complete. While work is taking place - like restoring the fountain and improving paths and gates - some areas of the park may need to be sectioned off.
Cllr Steve Pitt, the council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development, said: It's great that we will soon start to see exciting changes that will make Victoria Park an even more valuable and attractive green space for local people.
"We want to enhance the heritage in the park, make it more of a home for wild creatures, and ensure it's a real part of community life."
Stuart McLeod, director of England, London and South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "Regenerating and conserving public parks remains a high priority for us as we commit to promoting more environmentally sustainable heritage and increasing people’s health and wellbeing."
The full project to revitalise the park is due to be complete in 2026. It was launched after more than 2,500 park users, residents, local organisations and community groups shared ideas through a citywide survey.
More activities in the park are planned, including community fairs, markets, family fun days and community-led events as well as heritage tours, community gardening sessions, litter-picks and wildlife workshops.
