GARDEN: Plan brings huge benefits

As reported in the Northumberland Gazette, The Alnwick Garden has submitted refreshed plans for Lilidorei Play Village, a major new visitor destination for our town.

Lilidorei is a unique opportunity to bring huge benefits to Alnwick without asking for a penny from the county council. Rather, The Alnwick Garden Trust will apply for funding from sources outside the county, which we are very well placed to secure.

The Alnwick Garden is a community project operating on a not-for-profit basis. Lilidorei will be run in the same way. Better play for children is at the heart of our plans, so every Friday local schools will have opportunities to visit free.

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The Alnwick Garden has deep roots in the local economy and we are building on a record of success. It has had more than 5.5 million visitors and grown the local economy by £236million, half of which is spent with Northumberland businesses. Lilidorei will multiply these benefits.

In 2016, people walked from the Garden to the town 378,000 times. Lilidorei will bring visitors to Alnwick all year round, meaning more customers spending money in local cafes and shops.

The Alnwick Garden currently supports 123 full-time jobs. Lilidorei will mean an additional 60 jobs and more opportunities for local people to gain training and work experience.

Northumberland is an amazing place to do business and a great place to invest. The Lilidorei plan is a huge vote of confidence in Alnwick and Northumberland.

Mark Brassell,

Director, The Alnwick Garden