Essex Environment Trust Supports Scheme at Marks Hall

Published: April 2010

Marks Hall Gardens and Arboretum  is pleased to announce the award of a £10,000 grant from the Essex Environment Trust towards access improvements.

The grant closely follows the award recently made by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and will allow the creation of a physical path network leading to the central area of the gardens, and a number of interpretation boards to help visitors understand and enjoy the landscape they are visiting.  The new grant comes courtesy of Essex Landfill Operators, Lafarge Aggregates Limited, Cory Environmental Limited and Veolia Environment Services.

Regular visitors have already welcomed the new path network to be in place by the end of the year.  The area can often be wet and present difficult walking conditions.  In the future everyone, including those with walking difficulties, and using buggies and wheelchairs, will find the path network can safely take them to the Walled Garden, the site of the Mansion and the Church and all the popular viewpoints alongside the lakes.

Marks Hall will be working with a number of community and educational groups throughout the project; ranging from physical help with the path network to asking school groups to contribute ideas for the content and design of the interpretation boards which form part of the information package being put in place.

Visitors will have seen that work has already started on setting out and making  ready the route of the paths.  An information board in Marks Hall Visitor Centre will keep people up to date with progress and current work.

Agent, Richard Ramsey, tells us “We are most grateful for every donation, the more funds we raise the more we will be able to do.  Not only will the experience of visiting Marks Hall Gardens and Arboretum will be better for our existing visitors but the ease of access and information will encourage more local people to enjoy the wonderful landscape and planting we have to offer throughout the year.”