A HISTORIC walled garden at a castle estate near Haverfordwest is set to be restored thanks to a national lottery grant.

Picton Castle and Gardens in Haverfordwest recently received the important news that it will be awarded the full grant of £670,000 towards the £1.2 million project from the National Lottery to commence work on the Walled Garden Project.

This project will carry out essential restoration and repairs to the unusual, rare and historically significant group of buildings within the castle grounds and bring them back into sustainable use.

Chairman David Ellis said: “We’re thrilled that the National Lottery has given us this support which enables us to continue to add new interest for visitors.

“This funding will enable the project to commence and preserve these buildings for generations to come and owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the lovely people who not only buy National Lottery tickets which have enabled this grant, but also to our loyal supporters who visit us so regularly.”

The project will protect the heritage of the walled garden for the future and provide an area for activity, training and education within the gardens.

Picton Castle is a Grade l Listed Building, with the Walled Garden and structures within listed as Grade ll.

The Gardens are also registered within Cadw/COMOS Register of Parks & Gardens as ll* and Picton Castle and Gardens is a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Partner Garden.

Development funding of £100,800 was awarded by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund two years ago to help the Picton Castle Trust to apply for this full grant.

Richard Bellamy, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Wales, said: “Gardens, parks and woods are a vital part of our heritage, and one that makes a real difference to people living in and visiting Wales – it’s very important to us to keep them safe and thriving.”