The £7 million work to restore a park estate is finally complete after six years.

Brighton's Stanmer Park has had some of its 18th century landscape and buildings restored.

New facilities have also been introduced and the project has focused on improving access for visitors to enjoy Stanmer’s “beautiful” estate and woodland.

Funding for the project came from a £4 million grant from the National Lottery heritage fund and The National Lottery community fund, topped up with investment from Brighton and Hove City Council, Plumpton College and the South Downs National Park Authority.

The proposals were developed after consultation with the public to deliver improvements across the wider estate with a focus on key historic areas.

The areas included the parkland and visitor approach to Stanmer House, the Home Farm Complex, Stanmer Village and the Walled Garden and Nursery.

Stanmer has evidence of over 5,000 years of human activity and the area has had a long and interesting life.

The estate remains a rare near complete example of an 18th Century designed landscape and is Grade II listed on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

There are 27 listed buildings and structures on the estate including Grade I listed Stanmer House and Grade II listed stables and Stanmer Church.

The estate was purchased by the council after Second World War when it had previously been used as a military training ground, including a Canadian Tank Regiment, to practice for the liberation of Europe. 

Before the restoration, the walled garden primarily consisted of 20th century glasshouses and parking areas with restricted access to the public, except where plants were sold from the glasshouses.

Now known as One Garden Brighton, the Grade II listed brick and flint heritage walls have been repaired and a range of new gardens and green spaces have been created to provide an operational kitchen garden and for visitors to enjoy.

Councillor Tim Rowkins, chairman of the city environment, South Downs and the sea committee, said: “As the city’s largest park and the gateway to the South Downs National Park, Stanmer is a real treasure and we’re lucky to have such a beautiful and historically significant park within our city.

“Preserving the estate’s history was a key part of the project and the parks team have delivered fantastic improvements across Stanmer.

“With the six-year project now coming to a close, we are entering an exciting new era for Stanmer Park. We hope residents and visitors take an opportunity to visit this summer and enjoy all that Stanmer has to offer.”

One Garden is now looking to restore the Palm House, an ornate greenhouse on the Stanmer Estate.

It was previously used to grow and display native and tropical plants and is just one of three remaining structures of its kind in England.

One Garden aims to complete the project and open the doors of the Palm House to visitors in 2024.