A HISTORIC hall has received a £5.5 million boost to develop its grounds.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has been awarded two major grants to support the development of RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford.

Money will go towards development of the 11 acre walled garden, one of the original features of the historic grounds at Worsley New Hall in Salford, and the garden’s lakes.

An opening date has been set for 2020 and the development has been described as ‘the piece de rèsistance’ of RHS Garden Bridgewater.

RHS director general, Sue Biggs, said: “We are delighted by these grants as they demonstrate the level of confidence and faith that people have in our plans to bring this remarkable garden back to life.

“The walled garden and our beautiful lakes are at the very heart of our ambitious plans to make RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford one of the best in the country.”

A grant of £5 million has been awarded by The Garfield Weston Foundation to support the development of the walled garden, and £500 thousand has been awarded by the Arcadia charitable fund for the restoration of the lakes and construction of a new lake.

Clearance of brambles and overgrown shrubs in the walled garden – which dates back to the 1840s – has already begun, and it will be the first area to be planted.

The outer walled garden will include gardening, community allotments and therapeutic garden, while the southern walled garden will concentrate on vegetable and fruit production.

The centre will be a flower garden complete with a lily pond.

In the years ahead, a new Learning Centre will be added, as well a glasshouse on the site of the old house ruins.

The initial cost of creating the garden is £31.2 million and RHS has committed £14.2 million to the project.

Salford City Council will also fund a further £5 million towards onsite infrastructure costs.

Fundraising for RHS Garden Bridgewater continues, with a target of £6.5 million still to raise to achieve the opening of the RHS vision in Greater Manchester.