A Development Phase grant in excess of £200,000 was awarded to the Trust by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in November 2016. Following the conclusion of that project a Delivery Phase grant in excess of £1,500,000 was awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in March 2018. This further grant was to fund the detailed plans set out in the Development Phase. Work on the Delivery Phase started in May 2018 and is due for completion by the end of this year.
As at November 2021 the following has been completed:
- The Old Goods Shed has undergone a major renovation. This has resulted in a layout providing modern facilities for a wide range of uses, while retaining the external appearance of the building as a railway goods shed. Information about the railway at Clare and the history and ecology of the Park have been added inside the building.
- The moat has been desilted and the banks restored to something like their original state, to enable visitors to have a better understanding of its original look and purpose.
- Three major archaeological excavations have taken place.
- The two station platforms have been renovated.
- A number of attractions have been added without changing the basic nature of a country park, including a ‘Trim Trail’ for those who want to improve their fitness, a life size play train for children, and numerous new seats, including six carved sheep seats.
- New play equipment has been added to the children’s play area.
- The path up the motte has been resurfaced and an interpretive circular bench added at the top.
- The abandoned former South platform waiting room has been renovated and opened as a visitor centre run by volunteer stewards. A new path has been added to join the platforms, replicating the crossing of the railway era.
- A scale model recreating the railway complex at Clare is under construction and due to be installed in the visitor centre in the coming months.
- Memories of local residents have been captured for posterity: they have been used to create a video which can be viewed in the visitor centre and are currently being worked into a booklet.
- A Town Trail has been created, with signposts within the Park and town and an accompanying booklet.
- Information about the Park and its history has been added on signs and benches throughout the Park, and in leaflets available from the visitor centre.
- A signposted nature trail has been created with an otter sculpture at one end and a woodpecker at the other. Free family sticker trails to accompany the trail have been produced and are available from the visitor centre.
- New activities have been introduced, from outdoor theatre to self led children’s trails.
- The toilet block has undergone a complete refurbishment; facilities for families and visitors with mobility restrictions have been improved and an additional toilet has been added near the car park.
- New volunteers have been recruited and a programme of volunteer training has been carried out, to aid the future sustainability of the Park.
With a busy couple of months still to come and the ongoing and highly valued support of volunteers, the Trust is on target to complete this major project by the year end.