We are delighted to announce that greenspace scotland has received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to kick-start the development of an Endowment Fund for Scotland’s parks.

This project will develop a £1million endowment fund for Scotland’s parks.  It is the first step towards our ambition for a multi-million endowment fund which will help to keep Scotland’s parks in good heart for future generations to enjoy. Over the next 3 years, the HLF grant of £500,000 will be matched with donations from individuals, businesses and trusts to raise that first magic million. The funds will be invested to provide an endowment to support Scotland’s parks in perpetuity.

Julie Procter, Chief Executive of greenspace scotland said:
“Scotland’s parks are well-used and much loved. We want to ensure they continue to be cherished and nurtured so that we hand them on in good heart for our children and grandchildren to enjoy. The Scottish Parks Endowment Fund is an easy and simple way for everyone who uses and loves Scotland’s parks to make a donation, large or small, to support our treasured parks. And it’s a great way to grow the value of your donation: the HLF matching grant means that every £10 donated with gift-aid, becomes a £25 investment in the Park Endowment fund; every £100 becomes £250 and so on.”

greenspace scotland is working in partnership with MyParkScotland, park friends, community groups and park lovers across Scotland (and beyond). MyParkScotland already helps people to discover, enjoy and support our wonderful parks and provides Scotland’s only crowdfunding platform specifically for parks and greenspaces.

Ian Goodman, MyParkScotland Project Manager said:
“Scotland’s park users have already shown their love for parks and demonstrated their generosity by making donations to crowdfunds to support a range of park and greenspace projects, from mini-orchards to play areas and community gardens.  Most of these donations have been gift-aided and that extra funding has already been invested in the Parks Endowment.  This grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund will really help us to grow the endowment fund for Scotland’s parks.”

Parks and greenspaces are really important as amazing local spaces on your doorstep for play, relaxation and exercise. They make a huge contribution to our health, our quality of life and our community spirit. And we really love them: each year, Scots make over 160 million visits to local parks and greenspaces. Free to use, open and available to everyone, parks are great community assets. They are used in a wide variety of ways by people of all ages and backgrounds – for walking, jogging, playing, connecting with nature, picnics and sport, or simply just taking time out of a busy day to sit and watch the world go by.

Julie Procter said:
“Parks are also places of magic and memory: with many of us having treasured childhood memories of playing in the park – feeding the ducks, playing hide and seek, making daisy chains, whizzing down the slide…and we see our children and grandchildren enjoying these same simple pleasures. The Parks Endowment Fund provides a way for all of us to show how much we love and treasure our parks.”

More details about Scotland’s Parks Endowment will be coming soon but meantime if you would like to make a donation you can do this easily and safely online here or by text – to donate simply text (PARK17) plus an amount to 70070 – for example: ‘PARK17 £10‘ to donate £10. You can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10. If you wish to Gift Aid your donation please REPLY to the Gift Aid text.