Lottery cash to restore Parker Bowles garden

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has given £487,500 towards the £725,000 transformation of the gardens designed by Edward Augustus Bowles at his home, Myddelton House, in Enfield.

Mr Bowles's great-great-nephew, Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles - the former husband of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall - was set to start the work on the Bull's Cross site today.

The gardens once attracted visitors from around the world because Edward Bowles succeeded in growing rare and difficult plants despite poor soil.

He was so successful that more than 40 varieties of plants are named after him. Yet after his death aged 88 in 1954, the gardens fell into ruin.

Some work has been done since the Lee Valley Park Authority took over the site in 1984. But this project, which the park authority is co-funding, will complete restoration of the site, which will be free to visitors.

Wesley Kerr, chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund in London, said: "The broad outlines and some of the plants from one of London's most poetic horticultural plantations remain at Myddelton House in a remarkably peaceful and evocative setting." Paul Roper, of the Lee Valley Park Authority, said work will include renovation of the pergola garden, rose garden, peach house and artefacts such as pots and stonework in the main garden.

The restored sections of the garden are due to open in spring 2011. The rest of the garden is currently open.

Bryan Hewitt, a gardener at Myddelton House for a quarter century, said: "It was quite an influential garden in its time and people came from all over the world to see it."