Wentworth Castle in Lottery Awards

The Wentworth Castle Trust (www.wentworthcastle.org) has made it to the finals for the National Lottery Awards. The final stage of voting started on the 2nd September, with "Wentworth Castle Trust", one of the top three nominated in the Best Heritage Project category.

Lottery players raise £28 million each week for projects all across the UK. Since the Wentworth Castle Trust was established in 2002, a total of £17m has been raised from a wide variety of private and public funders including the Heritage Lottery Fund. This has enabled the majority of our historic buildings and monuments to be repaired, namely Stainborough Castle, Wentworth Castle, Home Farm, the Corinthian Temple, the Sun Monument, the Gun Room (envelope only so far), Duke of the Argyll’s Monument, the southern and northern Ha Ha's, the Serpentine Bridge, Strafford Gate, and most recently, the Rotunda.

The 60-acre pleasure gardens have also been restored including the Union Jack Gardens, Victorian Flower gardens and Fernery while most of our paths have been resurfaced. Our National collections of Rhododendrons, Camellias and Magnolias have also been enhanced. Stainborough Park has been reunited with the gardens and 'follies' under our ownership after 60 years apart - and public access provided for the first time. The park is now stocked with deer once more and we have planted 35,000 trees to restore its historic woodlands and avenues.

New Director, Claire Herring said: “We are thrilled and delighted to have made it to the finals of The National Lottery Awards. We are genuinely grateful to have the chance to show everyone who has ever played the Lottery the real difference their money has made to our project – we simply could not have done it without them". Now we are hoping that our local community, our friends and supporters will come out to vote for us to win "so that our staff, volunteers and everyone involved at Wentworth Castle Gardens receive the recognition they deserve.”

The BBC recently sent a film crew to the Gardens to interview volunteers and staff about their contribution to the project. The film will be used to profile the hard work and achievements of the many people involved since the Trust was formed in 2002.

Public voting for the final ends at midday on 26th September. To register your vote please call 0844 836 9718 or visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards to cast your vote "for free". Every vote counts, so we would really appreciate any support you feel able to give.