Save Marston Park

Save Marston Park

We are at risk of closing. Without planning approval from the council, we may not be able to open again next year or carry out important restoration that is urgently required.

We need your help.

Please sign our petition with a comment of support

#savemarstonpark

Sign Here

Past

Marston Park is a man-made designed landscape created in the 1800s. The estate would have been widely used for entertaining and parties, with much of the surrounding population employed and connected with the day-to-day running of the working estate.

The 25 acre lake was hand dug (as a weekend job!) by the workforce building the train line to Penzance. More than 5 acres of the lake has now silted up and the original island has been lost.

During World War II, the estate was taken over by the American Army and badly damaged; bonfires were lit in the library of Marston House, jeeps were driven up and down the stairs, and the lake was used for D-Day landing practice. Historians believe there is a still a tank hidden somewhere in the lake!

The Bonham Christie family bought the estate in 1905 and in 2020 Charlie Bonham Christie partnered with Michael Fenna to start a journey to sympathetically and faithfully restore Marston Park.

The woodland is comprised of around 80% ash trees, which are becoming badly affected by ash dieback disease. It is easier to spot ash dieback during the summer months, when the tree canopies should be full and the bare branches can be seen. Ash dieback is widespread up and down the country, and there is no cure for the disease.
There is a rich biodiversity here and the wildlife that thrives at Marston Park relies upon the lake and woodland for habitat and food. This includes otters, bats, deer, insects, fish and a wide variety of birds. The depleting woodland and lake habitat puts this wildlife at risk.
Nestled around the lake are the ruins of the Keepers Cottage and Boat House, which are in need of extensive restoration.

Please sign our petition to

#savemarstonpark

Sign Here

Please sign and return a copy to Reception or [email protected]

Present

In 2020, for the very first time, we opened Marston Park to the public, offering free membership to day visitors and quickly becoming a huge hit with UK staycationers. Since then, it’s been wonderful to welcome over 20,000 visitors to stay, create, eat, drink, laugh, dance, and spend time together in nature.

Some have come to escape the city, write a script, reconnect with family and nature, or just to simply enjoy a new scene for a few days.

Our communal spaces have been used as a base for forest school, painting, pottery, yoga, meditation, performances and to soak up the natural views.

There has been a rich mix of collaborations since we opened, spanning wellness, art, music, education and much more.
Some of our artistic collaborations have included the iconic Futuro House, performances from the likes of Groove Armada and Faithless, and Bruce Munro’s spectacular Field of Light.
We hope you have seen our commitment to delivering a different experience to the area. The last couple of years have been just the beginning of what could be an exciting journey.
However, we are at risk of being closed. Without planning approval from the council, we may not be able to open again next year. We need your help. Please take a moment to sign a comment of support for our applications.

Please sign our petition with a comment of support

#savemarstonpark

Sign Here

Future

The Boat House is a beautiful building with stunning south facing views across the lake. The historic thatched roof and timber bay window are proposed to be restored, with the intention of making this a unique dining space.

The vision for the new Reception comes from the idea of a ‘view splay’. On opening a heavy door, you are presented with a spectacular view of the landscape, aromatic incense, a relaxing soundtrack, and intriguing furniture.
The Keeper’s Cottage is in danger of being lost forever without intervention. Designed to be a feature viewed in the landscape, the cottage would be restored, the formal garden reinstated, and then enjoyed as holiday accommodation for small groups.

The 20 Lodges would be discreetly positioned in the woodland, away from the lake edge, with framed views out over the landscape. They will be clad in natural timber to blend into their surroundings and have light touch screw pile foundations to tread lightly and have ultra low levels of light spill.

The Hub will be the main communal space for Marston Park. It has been designed to extend the man-made dam which formed the lake, and its structure flows down the side bank. This building will be below lake level, and therefore very well hidden
in the landscape, and will house a restaurant, bar, cafe, pool, gym and multi-function rooms.

The masterplan comprises of:

•Restoring the Boat House

•Restoring the Keeper’s Cottage

•Desilting 5 acres of the lake

•Replanting 50 acres of woodland

•Over 5 acres of new wild flowers

•20 new Lodges

•A new Reception

•A new Hub

•Creation of 43 new jobs and spin-off benefit to the local economy of £1m+

The applications for our important future plans are likely to be decided by a planning committee in the coming months. If you like what you see, and you want to see it thrive, please take a moment to sign a comment of support for Marston Park to help secure the future of this beautiful place.

Thanks so much for your support.

Please sign our petition with a comment of support

#savemarstonpark

Sign Here

Read our mission statement

Click Here

Read our sustainable tourism policy

Click Here