Wolfson Foundation Grant for Worcester Cathedral

Worcester Cathedral is celebrating scooping a £200,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation towards the restoration and interpretation of College Yard.

Wolfson Foundation Grant Boosts Worcester Cathedral Landscaping Project

The project will see improvements to the main north entrance to Worcester Cathedral, transforming it into a more welcoming green square where the Cathedral and city come togeth­er. Work has begun in earnest this week with tree management plans in action and archaeological work is set to start in the coming weeks.

The landmark Cathedral has been at the heart of life in Worcester since its foun­dation in the 10th century, its physical presence making it a much-loved city landmark.

College Yard is blessed with significant monuments and trees, but has been plagued with car parking misuse, varying surface quality and poor signage, making it in need of a facelift.

This latest grant will assist the Cathedral in achieving its vision of providing an attractive greenspace, better entrance points and gate­ways, improved signage and wayfinding, and providing a safe and welcoming place for its visitors.

The plan is to further improve accessibility, encourage active travel and reduce on-site parking, improve biodiversity, surface water manage­ment, lighting, interpretation and opportunities for learning.

Matthew Hall, Chief Operating Officer at Worcester Cathedral, said: “On behalf of the Dean and Chapter of Worcester Cathedral, I would like to express our sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Wolfson Foundation for supporting this project, centred around the restoration and interpretation of College Yard.

“The landscaping work on College Yard represents a significant milestone for the Cathedral, as it constitutes the realisation of the first phase of the Cathedral’s landscape masterplan. It also represents the development of a significant partnership with the City of Worcester that will improve the links between the Cathedral and the City and encourage more people to enjoy, and engage with, the amazing heritage that we have to offer.“

Part of a bigger vision to improve the wider Cathedral precincts, work will continue throughout 2024 and beyond, laying the foundations for this exciting project.