A BEAUTIFUL and historic terraced garden has been saved for future generations to enjoy – thanks to a £3.4m National Lottery grant.

The unique Rivington Terraced Garden – built by millionaire soap magnate Lord Leverhulme early in the 20th century – had started to fall into disrepair.

But thanks to the funding, the buildings and landscape will be repaired and protected as part of a three-year programme of work by heritage experts.

The Rivington Heritage Trust (RHT), working with Groundwork Cheshire, Lancashire and Merseyside, led the successful application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund Parks for People grant programme.

Bryan Homan, chairman of the RHT, said he was delighted with the grant. He said: “There was a real risk these gardens could have been lost forever if the bid had been unsuccessful, so we’re overjoyed to hear the news. This is a real victory for the local community, many of whom have already played an important role in our community forum. We hope even more people will now get involved and help us protect these great gardens for future generations to enjoy.”

The conservation work will eventually lead to buildings like the Pigeon Tower being repaired and opened to the public for supervised visits for the first time in decades. There will also be improved information boards, an interactive website and guided tours to help visitors understand the historical significance of the mysterious wonderland.

Dave Partington, a volunteer with the Community Forum which helped with the application, said: “This is a great result for the area. The Community Forum has worked on this project from the very outset to ensure that the views of local people and users of the gardens sit at the heart of the plans. A lot of volunteers have invested a lot of time in this process, and it’s fantastic to hear that we have received the National Lottery support.”

Lord Leverhulme worked with landscape architect Thomas Mawson on the design of the Terraced Gardens in the early 20th century.

Lord Leverhulme died in 1925 and the gardens almost immediately fell into a state of disrepair, with a new landowner, Liverpool Water Corporation, taking ownership of the site. They were opened to the public in 1948.

Now owned by United Utilities, the gardens are a Grade II listed park, and 11 of the structures, including the iconic Pigeon Tower and seven-arched bridge, are also listed.

The site was recently identified as one of the top ten lost gardens in the UK and was featured on a BBC Countryfile programme in November 2014.

The National Lottery money forms part of a wider £4m project to preserve and improve the gardens.

Andrew Darron, Executive Director at Groundwork Cheshire, Lancashire and Merseyside, which is working alongside the RHT on the plans, said: “This decision is a real landmark in the ongoing story of Rivington. It’s been a privilege to lead on this application, and my heartfelt thanks go to all those from the Community Forum and from our professional team who have made this happen.”

Project Manager Ben Williams said: “We’ve put a lot of effort into achieving the right balance of heritage conservation and preserving the landscape so loved by local people, and it’s great that the National Lottery has supported our approach and plans”.

The news comes as part of a £32 million funding announcement for parks and cemeteries across the UK.

Sara Hilton, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said on behalf of HLF and the Big Lottery Fund, said: “Shrouded in drama and mystery, the Rivington Terraced Gardens are among some of the most atmospheric places to enjoy nature in the UK.

“Thanks to National Lottery players our investment will help save this special place from further dilapidation whilst preserving its much-loved character and opening up its important history to visitors.”

It is expected work will start on site in the spring of 2017, with the main works lasting through most of the year. Work on the project’s activity plan will start in 2016, providing more opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved and help to look after the gardens.

People are invited to get involved by visiting the RHT website - www.rivingtonheritagetrust.co.uk - and registering their interest.