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2004
Trentham awakes | |
|  | | Perseus 'guards' Trentham lake |
| | After years of neglect, one of Staffordshire's most famous leisure attractions - Trentham Gardens - is reopening as part of a £100 million regeneration project to restore it beyond its former glories... |
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| | A £100 million regeneration project by St Modwen Properties PLC and Willi Reitz (a German leisure entrepreneur) aims to make Trentham a unique visitor destination of national significance.
The leisure park, now simply known as 'Trentham' will once again be open to members of the public from midday on Saturday 29th May 2004.
A three-day Bank Holiday programme of family entertainment including street entertainers, tethered hot air balloon trips and various local brass bands heralds the reopening of the 750-acre estate formerly known as Trentham Gardens.
Perseus returns
As part of the reopening, the famous statue of Perseus (see main picture at the top of the page) returns fully restored to its prominent position at the head of Trentham Lake.
The statue is a 19th century copy of the 16th century masterpiece by Benvenuto Cellini in Florence.
Flower collections
The impressive Italian Gardens are also undergoing extensive restoration.
Tens of thousands of flowers will make up the largest flower carpet of its type in Britain and more flowers will be put in each year.
The Italian Gardens were originally created in the 1830s by Sir Charles Barry.
One phase at a time
The opening of the leisure park represents just the first phase of the redevelopment.
In the future, there will be such attractions as craft centres, a winery, a monkey forest and even a family hotel on the site of the old hall.
To find out more about the new Trentham, why not take a trip down there and see the plans for yourself!
The Trentham timeline | | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 | | completed for May 2004 | by late summer 2004 | by 2005/06 | First stage restoration of the Italian Gardens, parkland, woodlands and lake
A new visitor centre
A garden tearoom
| A number of heritage, arts and craft based retail outlets
Adventure activities and nature trails within the woodland
Several cafes and restaurants
A major garden centre | Additional heritage, arts and craft retail outlets
Wildlife attractions
Family hotel
Pub and restaurant
Lakeside cafe
Sports and leisure retail unit
Winery
Outdoor pursuits centre
Unique Monkey Forest
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| |  | BBC Stoke and Staffordshire
Cheapside
Hanley
Stoke-on-Trent
Staffordshire
ST1 1JJ
tel: (+44) 01782 221281
e-mail: stoke@bbc.co.uk |
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