A Garden Fit for a King

Royal Pavilion Garden, Brighton, BN1 1FN

Wednesday 26 October 2022

11am – 3pm

Bring the kids for some FREE half-term activities and discover some of the plans being developed to restore the Grade II Listed Garden.

As a unique Regency garden, designed by John Nash for George IV, it is a living museum which urgently needs to be restored to its original glory. At the moment, the garden is classified as ‘at risk’ by Historic England from overuse with over 3 million people visiting each year. The garden is suffering from too much litter, damage to planting and wildlife, crime and anti-social behaviour.

Brighton & Hove Museums have been talking to residents about ways we could improve the space and ensure it is a safer, more pleasant venue for all. This could include wider paths, better signage and improved boundaries as well as a learning area and nature trails. As part of a proposed funding bid to National Lottery Heritage Fund, we have carried out extensive consultation to discover a range of ideas suggested by the public and garden user groups which may be adopted. Our community day will allow us to share and trial some of the ideas that have been developed from the feedback on how people would like to see this space evolve.

Visitors to our garden community day will discover:

• Tours of the garden – plants and history
• Displays celebrating the history of the Regency garden
• Children’s craft activities
• Landscape and botanical experts to discuss the project
• Childrens’ trails
• Games for children

Bring a blanket and enjoy an autumnal picnic lunch on the lawns.

CEO of Brighton & Hove Museums Hedley Swain said: “The Royal Pavilion Garden is a beautiful, popular space at the heart of the city. We have gathered feedback from hundreds of people over the past months and we want to share what we have learnt as part of a community day exploring the garden.”

A Garden Fit for a King

Reawakening Brighton’s Royal Estate Phase 2

The Royal Pavilion Garden is the jewel in the crown for the Royal Pavilion Estate. A Grade II listed garden, designed for George IV, it’s one of the only Regency gardens in the world, considered a garden of national significance and one of the most loved areas of our city.

We’ve received funding from Brighton & Hove City Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) to explore how we improve the garden to restore it to its original Regency glory and to keep it a safe environment for everyone.

Alongside this we hope to increase learning opportunities, improve access and develop ways in which visitors can discover its history. Three priority audiences – people with disabilities, children and young people, and people with mental health issues – have been identified to help us transform the way we engage with visitors to the garden and to improve wellbeing.

The project is part of a wider plan developed by BHCC to enhance the Royal Pavilion Estate as a key cultural destination. Phase One of this plan is already underway and includes the refurbishment of the Grade I listed Corn Exchange and Grade II listed Studio Theatre. The garden restoration is Phase Two of these plans.

Contact information for press and media

For further information, images or interviews please contact Caroline Sutton on caroline.sutton@rpmt.org.uk or 01273 071296.

For urgent enquiries in my absence please contact marketing@rpmt.org.uk or 03000 290906.