Marble Hill Park is undergoing its biggest transformation in nearly 40 years, creating a revitalised space for the many thousands of people who play sport, exercise, walk and play in the 'community's back garden' every week.

It involves the transformation of four woodland areas, improving the park's ecology, opening up Marble Hill House and bringing the historical story back to life.

The £6 million project, known as Marble Hill Revived, will:

* open up new spaces and improve biodiversity, with new habitats for birds and animals

* create a new play area for children

* upgrade the cafe

* conserve and re-present Marble Hill House, opening it free to the public five days a week for seven months a year

* restore parts of the historic gardens

* improve sports pitches and changing facilities.

Regular visitors to Marble Hill Park cannot have failed to spot the changes over the last months and, on a very chilly day, Twickenham Nub News was given a tour by Maureen Coyle, property manager of Marble Hill House, and Rachel Morrison, audience development manager to find out more about the plans.

"Marble Hill is hugely important, such a beautiful, wonderful site," said Maureen.

"It's one of the rare examples of a Palladian home along the Thames. But neither the house nor the park has had any significant investment since the 1980s.

"We had lost much of the park's original character and opening times for the historic house were limited. Across the whole park, the facilities need upgrading. We want to take the opportunity to invest for future generations."

Multi-million pound grant

That sweeping ambition has been made possible by a £4.08 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund, with the rest funded by by English Heritage.

The grounds that now make up the park were bought by Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk, and the house was built for her as a peaceful retreat from crowded 18th century London. From 1746 she made it her permanent home.

"The footprint of the park, 66 acres, is pretty much the same as when she acquired it," said Maureen.

The planned changes to the park are truly extensive. The team behind it aim to improve the way people - young and old, families and dog owners, sports teams and people with disabilities - enjoy the park, and also to restore its historic character in parts, revealing some of its untold stories in the process.

Four woodland quarters around the house, which were previously inaccessible and unmanaged, are being largely cleared and replanted, with the work being overseen by a "hugely knowledgeable" head gardener, Kate Slack, who will remain permanently in her role.

They will be opened up to visitors to enjoy, each with its own unique botanical character.

Planting is being planned with the advice of an independent ecologist, FOA Ecology. "We want to invest in the planting in these area so it is bio-secure," said Maureen. Plenty of light-loving hedgerows and plants that produce berries and flowers will ensure there is plentiful food for birds, insects and small mammals."

New orchards, wildflower meadows and picnic areas

The north-east quarter has already been replanted as an orchard of fruit trees - plums, damsons and cherries - as it was when Henrietta Howard lived there. There will be a wild flower meadow created with a cut pathway to allow people to walk through.

Rachel described the second woodland area directly opposite the new orchard as a haven for families: "We will have beautiful, curving paths all the way through, and lots of native planting. Kate's vision is to create something that is not only visually dramatic but that also gives off lovely scents as you walk through.

Rachel added: "The planting will go all the way down to the grotto. You can go in and have picnics, and enjoy lots of safe time with your family.

"Dog walkers won't be allowed into these spaces but we feel they won't miss them as they never were allowed to go into them anyway."

The north-west woodland space on the other side of the house will have an 'ice house seat' restored. English Heritage landscape historian Emily Parker has thoroughly researched the site and a map of 1749 suggests the ice house seat was a place where Henrietta was able to sit and enjoy her vista of trees running down to the river.

"When we reinstate Henrietta's seat it will be a lovely focal point for the community," said Rachel.

Nine pin bowling alley

Finally the fourth, south-west woodland area will reintroduce the Georgian outdoor nine pin bowling alley. "It was a fashionable thing to do," Rachel explained. "And Henrietta was always up with what was fashionable. She was a pioneer. Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, Horace Walpole: she knew and took influences from them all. Hence the grotto. So restoring these features in the grounds will give us a glimpse into fashionable Georgian life."

This area around the house will also see a restoration of some of the historic features of the park, including an arbour of trees which meant Henrietta Howard and her ladies could walk from the house to the river entirely in the shade.

In 2022 the team hope there will be full access to the woodland areas, and they will open the house, which is having damp courses, drains, windows and the electrics sorted out, and a lift installed to improve accessibility.

"The house has had its first coat of paint and we can't wait for the next coat shortly," said Maureen. "We want Marble Hill House to be a warm and inviting experience. We want to open the doors and get people interested in its history."

The remarkable Henrietta Howard

Rachel simply can't hide her admiration for Henrietta Howard, a woman who has been spoken of dismissively as George II's mistress, but was so popular with Queen Caroline that she ensured she remained in her company once the King had tired of her.

"We want to do justice to the remarkable Henrietta," Rachel said. "In the house we will explore her life through soundscapes and information panels. We will also have lots of opportunities for people to get involved by volunteering in the house as room guides to help share the story of Henrietta and Marble Hill."

In Part 2 of our special report on Marble Hill Revived, Twickenham Nub News will report on improvements for sports teams, a revived cafe, new children's play area and an inspiring programme of community events.

Find out what's on by visiting the English Heritage website.