What is the Heritage, Nature and People project?

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Thanks to National Lottery players

The Heritage, Nature and People project sets out to link our natural and built heritage to health and wellbeing through outdoor activities, audience development, volunteering and training.

A round one application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) was submitted and approved in March 2020 and a development phase grant was awarded to further develop the project.

The project is targeting National Lottery Heritage Funds of £4,000,000 towards an estimated £6,000,000 investment.

This project is managed and funded by Wigan Council in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF). Special recognition is also extended to our community partners the Friends of Haigh Woodland Park and the Friends of Haigh Walled Kitchen Garden

Project aims

The project presents a real opportunity to develop a vibrant, culturally rich heritage attraction serving both local and regional visitors. The project aims are as follows:

  • Repair and restore heritage at risk
  • Improve the setting and understanding of the Hall (Grade II*) and its wider historic landscape
  • Put in place a long-term masterplan for the park, informed by the Conservation Management Plan
  • Increase the physical accessibility of the heritage assets within the Park including those that are currently derelict
  • Build upon the significant level of public and stakeholder interest and develop a supported and expanded volunteer network
  • Establish a greater level of education provision within the park
  • Support the local economy through jobs creation
  • Create a unique best practice model of wellbeing delivery set within a heritage asset
  • Establish a resourced long-term Woodland Management Plan integrating priorities set around biodiversity enhancement and increased managed access, use and appreciation
  • Realise new commercial opportunities to support the future management and maintenance plan and business plan for the park
  • Enhance the level of physical and virtual interpretation and understanding of the rich social and industrial history of the park.

National Lottery Heritage Funding (NLHF) priorities

The following NLHF priorities have influenced the project decisions to date and continue to guide us as we refine it.

  • Heritage will be in a better condition
  • Heritage will be identified and better explained
  • People will have developed skills
  • People will have learnt about heritage, leading to change in ideas and actions
  • People will have greater wellbeing
  • The funded organisation will be more resilient
  • The local area will be a better place to live, work or visit
  • The local economy will be boosted.

How will we achieve the project aims?

To achieve these aims, we'll be focusing on the following areas:

When will works begin?

The project is currently in the development phase, which involves the submission of a round 2 application. The programme for works is influenced by the NLHF decision making process, and the headline targets are as follows:

  • Planning and listed building applications submitted for the capital proposals - February 2022
  • Round 2 submission to the NLHF - May 2022
  • NLHF delivery phase grant award decision - expected late summer 2022
  • Commencement of works on site - Summer 2023
  • Completion of works on site - Spring 2025.

Share your feedback

We welcome comments and suggestions from all stakeholders and residents on the project proposals.

Stakeholder engagement

We intend to share our proposals with stakeholders and residents throughout the duration of this project.

If you wish to join the project stakeholder database, you can share your details via our feedback form.

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