Friends Of Derby Arboretum awarded the highest honour, a King's Award for Voluntary Service

Wed 6 Dec 2023

The Friends of Derby Arboretum have been awarded the King's Award for Voluntary Service, the highest honour a local volunteer group can receive in the UK. The group received the award for its work transforming a derelict building into a vibrant community hub and garden, and for hosting popular community events throughout the year.

The Friends' community hub, Loudon Lodge, is nestled within the Derby Arboretum, the first park in the UK to open its doors to the public. Originally an end-of-terrace house, Loudon Lodge was spared from demolition and served as the Joseph Strutt bowls club for many years. However, the bowling club ceased using the building around 2010, leaving it vacant and boarded up.

The Friends of Derby Arboretum stepped in, leasing the building from the city council and embarking on a comprehensive refurbishment project. With the support of volunteers from the Rotary Club of Derby and generous funding and funding from the police and crime commissioner’s NICE fund, the National Lottery and Garfield Weston. Loudon Lodge has been transformed into a welcoming and modern community hub.

The bowling green, once an eyesore, has been lovingly transformed into a thriving community garden thanks to the dedication of volunteers. The garden boasts a semi-formal layout, featuring espalier fruit trees and bushes, raised beds brimming with produce, and year-round displays of colourful blooms.

The Friends of Derby Arboretum organizes three major events each year: Mayfest, Lark in the Park, and Luminate, a captivating lantern parade held in November. These events draw crowds from across the city and beyond, fostering a sense of community and celebrating the unique beauty of the arboretum.

His Majesty The King has approved the KAVS National Assessment Committee’s recommendation that the volunteers of The Friends of Derby Arboretum should receive The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) 2023. The King states “This represents a tremendous achievement and we hope that the group’s volunteers will feel immensely proud of it.”

The Friends' mission is simple: to encourage greater and safer use of this cherished green space, just a stone's throw from Derby's bustling centre. The arboretum, the first of its kind in England, is adorned with an array of magnificent trees, interconnected by a network of paths and adorned with charming ornaments. The Friends' efforts are aimed at enhancing the arboretum's appeal and encouraging wider appreciation of this valuable asset.

Thanks to the combined efforts of Spiral Arts, the Rotary Club of Derby, and the Park Department, the Friends of Derby Arboretum has witnessed a surge in membership, with many local residents signing up to join the group and contribute to its noble endeavours.