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UPM Tilhill starts work to Restore Sussex Historic Park

UPM Tilhill has begun work on the restoration of Hotham Park in Bognor Regis. The contract, worth in excess of £1 million was awarded to the company’s South East England team by Arun District Council following allocation of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

UPM Tilhill’s South East England team will spend the next ten months restoring a 2 hectare section of the park, formerly known as Rainbows End Pleasure Park – which began life as a Zoo in 1947. Currently cut off from the rest of the Park and home to derelict buildings and overgrown brambles, grasses and weeds, work has already begun to clear the site before restoration work begins before Christmas.

Leader of Arun District Council, Cllr Mrs Gillian Brown, expressed her excitement at the extensive work being undertaken by UPM Tilhill:

“It has taken a long time and much hard work but restoring Hotham Park to its former glory will create a tremendous asset to the town and ensure that we can retain the park as a major attraction for both residents and visitors.”

A wildlife conservation area with a pond, wildflower meadows and native tree planting will be created, as well as an open grass area for events. Two new entrances and new pathways will be constructed to ensure better access opportunities for all, as part of broader works to integrate the area into the wider park landscape. Once complete, it will be the first time for nearly 60 years that walls or fences haven’t divided the area from the rest of the park.

In addition, UPM Tilhill will create Italian and Mediterranean Gardens together with major restoration works to the Clock Tower - which includes renovating the clock face and replacing the lead cupola roof. Arun District Council’s consultants, Chris Blandford Associates, prepared the restoration masterplan which was approved by the Heritage Lottery Fund in September 2006.

“We are delighted to be working closely with Arun District Council and Chris Blandford Associates to bring a long planned project to fruition,” said Dai Lewis, District Manager, UPM Tilhill. “It’s great to be able to build on our expertise in restoring historic parks and see the real benefits that such projects bring to local people and visitors from further afield.”

UPM Tilhill is scheduled to complete the contract in August 2008.

Press for further information contact:
Ruth Roy, Head of Marketing, 01892 861008/07771 940494, ruth.roy@upm-kymmene.com

UPM Tilhill Marketing. November 2007