A COUNTRY park in Purbeck will receive £900,000 in funding to help restore and enhance its “lost Victorian landscape.”

Durlston Country Park near Swanage has been awarded the cash as part of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Parks for People programme.

The cash will go towards the Durlston Pleasure Grounds Project, which aims to restore the park’s features which have been lost or hidden over the years.

Durlston Park Estate was developed in the late 19th century by George Burt, who bought land around Durlston Head with the aim of creating a park and housing development. The park was created but the houses were never built.

The country park and National Nature Reserve is owned and managed by Dorset County Council.

Over the next three years, volunteers will work with rangers, artists, landscape specialists and countryside management experts to create a landscape which is “inspiring, accessible, educational, playable and sustainable”.

The improvements include enhancing the Victorian landscape to realise George Burt’s vision for people to “look round and read great nature’s open book.”

Viewpoint areas will also be improved through artist designing seating, path improvements and tree pruning.

While timber will be extracted by a green-wood worker and heavy horse, alongside volunteers, to improve woodland areas.

Dorset County Council said by using horses, it will keep mechanical work to a minimum “while retaining tranquillity.”

A new volunteering hub called The Shed will be created which will give volunteers and school groups a space to work indoors during bad weather and store tools.

There will also be path and transport improvements to help Durlston become “one of the best places in the country for people with disabilities or reduced mobility to enjoy wildlife and the countryside.”

Cllr Peter Wharf, the county council’s Cabinet Member for Workforce, said: “The Pleasure Grounds Project will realise a long-held Victorian vision for visitors and the local community and help secure a historic, wildlife-rich area for future generations.

“It’s a great chance to improve how Durlston can be used for recreation, training and creativity and promote physical and mental well-being through this fabulous place.”

Ali Tuckey, project leader at Durlston Country Park, said: “This grant is the result of many years of hard work by staff, volunteers, Friends of Durlston and partner organisations, and we are really grateful to everyone who has helped so far – now the real work starts.

“The Durlston Pleasure Grounds Project will help make sure Durlston can play a part in improving the lives of local people and we hope that the work we are planning would make George Burt proud."

Ros Kerslake, chief executive at the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: “Parks may vary in size, location and design but what they all have in common is the wealth of benefits they deliver to local communities.”