Crystal Palace Park Trust has secured a grant of £500,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation towards the regeneration of the historic park, which is being delivered in partnership with Bromley Council.
The grant, over two years, will support work to preserve and regenerate historic features and landscapes within Crystal Palace Park, including conservation of the Grade I-listed Crystal Palace Dinosaurs.
Unveiled in 1854, the statues - of dinosaurs, prehistoric marine animals and more - were the world’s first full-scale, 3D representations of prehistoric creatures. They are both unique and scientifically important, as well as a much-loved part of our ongoing fascination with prehistoric life. Their planned conservation work should see them removed from Historic England’s Heritage At Risk Register and saved for future generations to enjoy.
The Garfield Weston grant will also support renovation of the park’s Geological Court and Tidal Lakes - the landscape surrounding the prehistoric models - as well as the creation of a new Visitor Centre housing interpretation and displays telling the story of Crystal Palace Park, a heritage trail around the park and a new dinosaur-themed playground.
The grant sits alongside an award of £5m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for this phase of the Crystal Palace Park regeneration, as well as grants from the Wolfson Foundation, Pilgrim Trust and the London Marathon Foundation.
