FUNDING for further improvements at Rivington Terraced Gardens had been confirmed.

A grant of over £23,000, courtesy of the Lancashire Environmental Fund, has been approved to allow for repairs to the track that leads up to the gardens from the Lower House car park, also known as the Pigeon Tower car park.

Improvements to the state of Royton Lane Bridleway, which was formerly tarmacked before it fell into a state of disrepair, will allow for a wider range of people to be able to access the recently renovated gardens and enjoy the space.

Rivington Terraced Gardens

Rivington Terraced Gardens

Andrew Suter, heritage programmes manager at Groundwork CLM – which works alongside Rivington Heritage Trust, said: “The trust, on the back of successful bids for lottery funding for the gardens, is expanding the access to them with the help of volunteers, so more people can enjoy them safely.

“The improved track will give access to the gardens to those with mobility issues and will allow vehicles to take people with more needs up there.”

Back in 2016 the gardens was awarded lottery funding to the tune of £3.4m, which allowed for protective and restorative work to take place on the site.

Pigeon Tower by Michael Galea

Pigeon Tower by Michael Galea

Although a large sum, the trust was not able to use any of it to improve the track as this particular stretch of Royton Lane is outside the boundary of the gardens and therefore outside the scope of the funding provided.

This most recent funding has come at the perfect time as the gardens in line for a busy summer period. They are set to host the latest instalment of the Rivington Music Festival, along with other exciting events due to be announced soon.

Andrew Suter at the Pigeon Tower in Rivington Terraced Gardens.

Andrew Suter at the Pigeon Tower in Rivington Terraced Gardens.

“I would like the work to be done before March as it will help with the events we put on. It will help with the festival, and we’ve got a great event upcoming on May 27,” Andrew added.

“I am not yet able to release any details, but it is a performance that will be a bit of a departure from what we have done in the past, but really cool,” he added.