Tatton Park receives Sandford Award for the seventh time

8 March 2011

Tatton Park has been awarded with the Sandford Award for excellence in heritage education for the seventh consecutive time.

The historic estate in rural Cheshire East is one of only 37 UK heritage attractions to receive this prestigious award in 2010.  The award is jointly managed by Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln and the Heritage Education Trust.

Winners were recognised at a special ceremony at The Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 8 February, hosted by Loyd Grossman OBE and the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow MP.

Tatton Park was represented at the ceremony by Councillor Jamie Macrae; Brendan Flanagan, Tatton Park and Visitor Economy Manager and Lynn Podmore, Learning and Visitor Services Manager.

Tatton Park’s Learning department receives over 14,000 pupils per year.  Pupils engage in a wide variety of educational programmes set in and inspired by the historic buildings and grounds of the Old Hall, mansion, farm, gardens and parkland.

Tatton’s education team were externally observed and assessed for eligibility for the award.  The judge’s comments included: “The Education Programme at Tatton Park fully exploits the wide ranging heritage assets of the Egerton estate to provide high quality teaching and learning from Anglo Saxon times to the 1950s.  A key strength is Living History and Tatton’s team of talented actors and interpreters continue to inspire both pupils and teachers and help deepen their understanding of both local and national history”.   

Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cheshire East Cabinet member with responsibility for prosperity, said: “This is fully-deserved national recognition for the excellent work done by Tatton’s education team. They are a credit to the service and really help bring the heritage and history of Tatton to life – to inform, educate and inspire people of all ages. I am delighted for the team.”

Brendan Flanagan, Tatton Park and Visitor Economy Manager said: “It was a great tribute to Tatton’s education team to be recognised once again for this prestigious national award, which we will hold for the next five years. The judge was very complementary about the quality and effectiveness of learning opportunities at Tatton. The ceremony itself was in the wonderful setting of Parliament, where we rubbed shoulders with Loyd Grossman, the Speaker, and Lady Sandford, the wife of the award’s founder and took the opportunity of comparing notes with other recipients”.

Teacher Twilight Session: Wednesday 6 April 2011 – 4pm-5.30pm

Whether you are looking to inspire your pupils, or to create a memorable trip, Tatton Park’s education team will be on hand to answer your questions.
FREE. Booking in advance essential.  For more information visit our website: or call 01625 374428.

For more information about the Sandford Awards visit:
http://www.heritageeducationtrust.org.uk/

For further information about this release contact:
Eleanor Gorsuch  
Marketing Department     
Tel: 01625 374447       
Fax: 01625 374403       
Email: tattonmarketing@cheshireeast.gov.uk
http://www.tattonpark.org.uk/

Note to Editors

Tatton Park is managed and financed by Cheshire East Council on behalf of the National Trust.

This impressive historic estate receives in the region of 750,000 visitors every year all of whom come to enjoy its Georgian Mansion, Tudor Old Hall, award winning Gardens and 1930s rare breeds farm.  The 1,000 acre deer park is home to Red and Fallow deer and the estate also boasts speciality shops, adventure playground, restaurant and year-round events programme.

Tatton Park is one of Cheshire’s leading Gardens of Distinction.
Cheshire’s Gardens of Distinction programme celebrates the richness and diversity of Cheshire’s horticultural heritage and green spaces.  Building on the success of Cheshire’s Year of Gardens 08 marketing programme, the project aims to continue to achieve significant impact for the regional tourism industry from local, national and international markets.

Supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Between 2007 and 2013 the Northwest of England will receive a total of £521million (dependent on exchange rate) from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Managed by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), this funding will enhance the competitiveness of the region’s economy by supporting growth in employment and enterprise. For further information about ERDF please visit www.erdfnw.co.uk
For further information please visit www.cheshiresgardens.com