§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support(a) his Department and (b) the National Lottery give to gardens. [76162]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthMy Department does not directly fund gardens. However, English Heritage (EH) can offer grants under its Historic Parks and Gardens Grant Scheme and in recent years it has offered an average of £200,000 per year to garden projects. In the past three years it has assisted 20 sites. Grants are, however, restricted to outstanding historic gardens which are graded I and II* on EH' s Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. EH is also currently considering a new integrated grant scheme for gardens, buildings and monuments.
The Heritage Lottery Fund, National Lottery Charities Board and UK Arts Councils have to date contributed over £84 million to over 223 projects which create, restore or enhance gardens.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 12 March that £125 million of Lottery money will be made available through the New Opportunities Fund, under its Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities Initiative, to help urban and rural communities across the UK to understand, improve and care for their natural and living environment and improve the overall quality of their surroundings. Gardens may well benefit from this new initiative.