Made possible by National Lottery players, the Nature + Love proposals aim to make the Horniman more inclusive and accessible, and to place environmental sustainability and a commitment to fighting the climate emergency at its heart.
The Nature + Love project will enhance visitor experience and open up previously under-used areas by creating three exciting new attractions:
- a Nature Explorers Adventure Zone, introducing a nature-themed play area and children’s café, encouraging learning and wellbeing through exploration and play
- a Sustainable Gardening Zone with new plant nursery and sustainable planting displays encouraging improved health and wellbeing
- a redisplayed Natural History Gallery and indoor Nature Explorers Action Zone, exploring human understanding of and impact upon the planet, and supporting people to make changes on a local and personal level.
These will be complemented by a range of nature-focused partnerships and activities to diversify the Horniman’s audiences.
A love of nature and time spent in natural environments is a value we all share, and which has gained significance through the pandemic.
As London’s only museum of global nature and culture, the Horniman is in a unique position to engage a wider range of people with heritage and the natural world, and we’re incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for recognising the compelling urgency of our Nature + Love project.
We’re especially delighted to be able to announce this new funding as we mark the two-year anniversary of our Climate Manifesto, since Nature + Love is a key part of our plans to mitigate against the climate and ecological emergency, and to help shape a positive future for generations to come.
The Horniman will now begin developing detailed plans to be submitted to The National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2023, with the aim of starting the Nature + Love redevelopment in 2024 and completing in early 2026.
* National Lottery Heritage Fund grant applications over £250,000 are assessed in two rounds. Nature + Love has initially been granted round one development funding of £475,00 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, allowing it to progress with its plans. Detailed proposals are then considered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund at second round, where a final decision is made on the full funding award. Using money raised by the National Lottery, we inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. heritagefund.org.uk.
