Volunteers praised for £1 million "investment" at historic Doncaster beauty spot
A voluntary group which raises funds to restore and enhance an historic Doncaster beauty spot is celebrating its 20th anniversary, having played an important part in the equivalent of £1 million of investment.
Cusworth Park’s walled gardens, which date back to the 1740s, have benefitted from decades of care by the group.
The seven-figure sum, calculated by David Shore, the Park’s Development and Conservation Manager and driving force behind two decades of improvements,includes grant funding, substantial donations from the Cusworth Hall Gardens Trust (CHGT) and the monetary value of the combined work undertaken by members of the Friends of Cusworth Park (FOCP) and City of Doncaster Council.
Formed in 2006, the FOCP volunteers organise monthly public meetings and other money-spinning activities at Cusworth Hall and adjacent parkland, including open days in the Walled Gardens, where visitors can see one of the country’s earliest bowling greens and a 300-year-old pavilion - both brought back to life with their help.
“It’s possible to give a financial value to volunteers’ hours and I reckon that, since 2006, the time donated by the FOCP volunteers in the park, coupled with the work of the committee that supports them and organises the fundraising, is in the order of £110,000, which is a fantastic achievement, said Mr Shore.
“Strong partnership working between the Cusworth Park gardening team, City of Doncaster Council, the FOCPand CHGT has resulted in four key features from the past being restored since 2006 – the Bowling Green,Orchard, Flower Garden and Hall Garden.
“The FOCP volunteers have really dug in over the years, more than 250 tonnes of top soil has been brought in for back filling, areas previously overgrown have been cut back and given a new lease of life and support provided for on-going maintenance.
"There are currently 13 active volunteers who provide the additional manpower to our small park team, doing a great job.”
Work started way back in 2007 clearing the whole of the Walled Gardens area, restoration of the Bowling Green started in 2009, followed by replanting the Orchard, next in line was the Flower Garden, with spades digging in three years ago and most recently the Hall Garden, which was constructed and planted with volunteers’ helpover a six months period between October 2024 and April 2025.
Frank Carpenter, Chair of the FOCP, said: “The Friends are pleased to have contributed to the success of not only the Walled Gardens, but also the wider Cusworth Park, which is a much valued community asset and an important 18th century designed landscape.”
Recently, the fruits of the group’s money-raising activities paid for nearly 350 weather-resistant botanical nameplates costing £4,500, which are now clearly identifying 263 plants and 83 fruit trees. The funds came from admission fees at walled garden open days and will enhance the venue now the Walled Gardens are a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Partner Garden.
Entry is free for RHS members.