Reinventing Borde Hill

A Community-led Project

As an Estate with a rich botanical heritage, we are planning for the future while safeguarding our nationally important collection of rare plants and trees for generations to come. We care passionately about our natural environment and this project will enable us to unlock 110 acres of listed heritage parkland to new and diverse audiences, while enhancing the biodiversity that lies within the South Park and beyond.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has kindly awarded Borde Hill Garden Charity a grant of £2.25m for our ‘Reinventing Borde Hill’ project which will improve access to our nationally important heritage, connect local communities with the restorative power of nature, and inspire future generations through outdoor learning.

‘Reinventing Borde Hill’ is a community-led project and we have already consulted with over 1,000 local and national schools, groups, charities and individuals to develop our plans. We will continue to work with groups across the local community to deliver the project as we enter this exciting next phase of work.

Our aim is to ‘reinvent’ Borde Hill’s South Park as a thriving destination for the 21st Century while honouring and celebrating our rich and important botanical history. This will be achieved through a broader appreciation of our heritage via learning, engagement and wellbeing activities, and the provision of new facilities in the South Park which will offer a series of educational and community programmes to engage a new and diverse local audience.

Be Part of the Change

We are working closely with local groups, volunteers, and schools to develop plans for this project, ensuring we genuinely connect with our community. In our Development Phase we consulted widely with local stakeholders, and we formed an Advisory Group of key organisations, schools and charities to help inform our ongoing work.

As the next phase of our project progresses, there will be many opportunities to volunteer either individually or with a group in activities such as tree planting or small building projects. If you or your community group would like to register your interest for future community volunteering projects, or to find out about other ways to get involved with the project, please email: [email protected]

We would love to build partnerships with local businesses and organisations who share our vision to connect local communities with nature and safeguard our natural heritage for future generations. There are so many ways to get involved – from corporate volunteering days to event sponsorship and beyond. If you would like more information please email: [email protected]

‘Reinventing Borde Hill’ is our most ambitious project to date, and your support will help us to achieve these exciting plans and meaningfully benefit our local community.

It would make a huge difference if you would consider supporting us by making a donation – thank you.

Our Key Pillars

The South Park is the focus for this project, and features Grade II* heritage listed parkland, tranquil lakes, medieval grassland, and ancient woodland, making it an ideal setting for wellbeing and learning activities. 

Reinventing Borde Hill will enable us to address accessibility issues and bring our vision of wellbeing, learning and connection with nature to more people in our community.

Key elements of the project include: 

• A cycle / pedestrian route creating car-free access from Haywards Heath and its train station for the first time, making us one of the few visitor gardens in Sussex to be accessible with ease via public transport, and encouraging green travel 
• An all-year-round Eco Lodge on the edge of tranquil Robertsmere Lake serving as a visitor and community hub, with learning and wellbeing spaces, toilets, showers and a café. Visitors will be able to enjoy wellbeing activities including wild swimming in the lake, forging a close connection with nature in this peaceful lakeside environment
• With discovery, play and exploration at its heart, Dinosaur Wood will be a space for outdoor learning, inspiring children and young people of all ages through nature. Visitors will be able explore the journey of Borde Hill since the age of the dinosaurs, and learn about the evolution of flora and fauna in a truly inspiring setting
• The Growers Community Garden and Propagation Project will be situated at Sugworth Farm, to the East of the South Park. The Growers Community Garden will highlight the importance of biodynamic, locally grown produce and good horticultural practice, enabling community groups and individuals to connect with nature, while the Propagation Project will safeguard our nationally important plant collection for generations to come 
• Interpretation exploring the significance of our botanical history, and an established learning and volunteers programme will see initiatives across propagation, growing, outdoor learning and environmental sustainability

More Information

*National Lottery Heritage Fund grant applications over £250,000 are assessed in two rounds. Reinventing Borde Hill was initially granted round one development funding of £231,000 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which allowed Borde Hill Garden Charity to progress our plans.  A second round application was then submitted in February 2024 for the full grant amount of £2.25m, and The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded the full funding in Summer 2024.

Using money raised by the National Lottery, The National Lottery Heritage fund looks to Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk.

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund

Since The National Lottery began in 1994, National Lottery players have raised over £43 billion for projects and more than 635,000 grants have been awarded across the UK.