Parks in London, Newcastle, Fife and Swansea are among the locations to benefit from a share of £800,000 to help with the development of detailed application for grants totalling more than £10m. Projects in Somerset, Doncaster and Suffolk have also been awarded development funding.

Plans for the restoration of Bentley Park in Doncaster is in line to receive the largest share of funding, with a first-round pass of £143,000 to be used to draw up fully-developed proposals in a bid to secure a grant worth nearly £2.1m.

Penllergare Valley Woods in Swansea has been given the green light to pursue a grant of £1.95m to fund the conservation of a former private estate owned by 19th century philanthropist John Dillwyn Llewelyn, while Raphael Park in London is also on course to receive a grant of more than £1.6m.

Felixstowe Seafront Gardens in Suffolk is seeking £1.8m to help fund improve planting and pathways, while the Exhibition and Brandling Park in Newcastle has been earmarked nearly £100,000 to develop its bid for £1.96m towards a comprehensive overhaul of park facilities.

Marine Cove Gardens in Somerset and Pittencrieff Park in Fife have also been awarded first-round passes, which will give each of the schemes two years to prepare fully-developed proposals in order to secure funding.

HLF chair Dame Jenny Abramsky said: "Parks are enjoyed by everyone and they play a vital role in improving the environment, community life and people's feeling of wellbeing. This initial support from HLF will help bring about a series of transformations which will be enjoyed by future generations for many years to come."

Image: Penllergare Valley Woods - Len Beard

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