December 22, 2022 9.53 am This story is over 25 months old

Lincoln gardens will be “returned to former glory” after trust take over

New life for the public garden in uphill Lincoln

City of Lincoln Council leaders have said a Lincoln green space will be “returned to its former glory” after agreeing to hand it to a community trust.

The authority’s executive committee voted in favour of handing the John Dawber Gardens, at the Lawn, to the newly-formed Dawber Gardens Community Trust.

It will also save the council around £14,000 in maintenance costs.

The city garden celebrates the work of Lincolnshire botanist Sir Joseph Banks and has been enjoyed for nearly 40 years.

However, the City of Lincoln Council said it can’t afford the repairs or upkeep due to the extreme financial pressure.

Councillor Bob Bushell, Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place at City of Lincoln Council, said: “It’s great news that this community group has come forward and will strive to improve this unique green space for the good of the whole city.

“Community groups are able to access funding that the city council cannot, which provides them with a fantastic opportunity to obtain investment that will help them make the improvements required.

“The gardens are closely linked to our twin cities in Germany and China, and so it will great to have them returned to their past splendour and I look forward to seeing the outcome of the group’s hard work.”

The leaders have agreed a five-year lease for nominal rent.

Carholme Ward Councillor Neil Murray said he was “incredibly pleased” to have helped the community group.

“The group is well on its way to gaining charitable status and, once this is achieved, they will be stepping-up their fund-raising activities to help return the site to its former glory for the good of the whole community,” he said.

The community trust said it would use a combination of volunteer works, business investment and external funding to manage the site.