The Victoria Park and Watercress Fields Project
Restoring and conserving Ashford's largest and most central park.
The Victoria Park and Watercress Fields Project was a £4.5m project delivered by Ashford Borough Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund to improve and protect Victoria Park for the local community. The project focussed on the natural, built and social heritage of Ashford’s largest public park, and particularly aimed to improve it for residents by updating the community facilities and play spaces.
Highlights from the new and improved facilities include
- Modern public toilets (including family, disabled, and Changing Places),
- A new café with community space, a new wetland, a new bike track,
- A new flagship playground for the town.
The project team also developed a new corps of volunteers for the park and local community alongside an activity programme to help get the most out of everything in Victoria Park. Events and activities included a Christmas Fair, The Big Lunch, art workshops, celebrations of the park’s heritage, and hands-on conservation.
Funding and Delivery Partners
National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF)
NLHF are the largest dedicated grant funder of the UK’s heritage. Locally connected and with national expertise, NLHF are a change-maker working to enhance and champion the value of heritage for all. As part of this work NLHF joint funded the Victoria Park and Watercress Fields Project by directly contributing £3million.
Visit The National Lottery Heritage Fund Website.
Kent County Council (KCC) and British Cycling (BC)
KCC are funding cycling and walking improvements around Kent, whilst BC are funding community cycling facilities through their Places to Ride programme. Together, both organisations contributed approximately £80,000 to provide improved cycling facilities in the park, including upgrading a planned BMX “dirt track” to a more challenging “pump track”.
Visit The Kent County Council Website.
Visit the British Cycling Website.
Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership (KSCP)
KSCP work closely with landowners and local communities to promote both landscape and nature conservation in areas effecting or effected by the River Stour. KSCP were contracted to deliver a range of conservation activities throughout the park as part of the Victoria Park Project including things such as training, practical conservation days and family events like the 2021 October Scarecrow Trail.
