Benefits

The primary aim of Horkesley Park is to create a focus within a corner of the Essex landscape devoted to the many facets of the English Countryside – with particular emphasis on East Anglian “rural life”. Its perspective will be past, present and future. It will focus on factors which have influenced the appearance and character of the countryside in the past and which continue to touch the lives of people everywhere.  

Horkesley Park will also be relevant to contemporary issues particularly affecting people who live and work in the countryside – the need for conservation and management, for safeguarding our rural heritage, for diversification, for local employment and income, for new initiatives and sustainable development, for accommodating the rapidly expanding urban populations, and for economically vibrant and socially balanced rural communities.

There are many, many potential benefits of Horkesley Park some of which are detailed below:

Rural regeneration

The Centre will be a catalyst for sustainable regeneration of the surrounding countryside by positively addressing the key elements of conservation, heritage and culture.

Job Creation

Horkesley Park will be an important source of ongoing rural employment, creating directly or indirectly once Horkesley Park is fully operational, at least 270 full-time and part-time jobs (equivalent to 200 full-time jobs, made up of 155 FTE (directly) on site and 45 FTE (indirectly) off site after “multiplier, leakage and displacement effects” are taken into account).  

Horkesley Park will also provide jobs for as many local people as possible during the restoration, creation, construction and fit-out pre-operational phases.

Apprenticeships

Throughout Horkesley Park opportunities will become available for apprenticeships and other training opportunities, in particular, in heavy horse management, general restoration work, landscape gardening, horticulture, land management, nature conservancy, arts and crafts, catering and tourism.  Links will be forged with local colleges and other educational establishments to offer training and work experience in a wide range of different fields.

Preserving the Countryside

The Country Park and the adjoining wild flower meadows and parkland, will create one of the largest areas of continuous species-rich grassland within the Stour Valley and surrounding region.  The multiple use of this area for both recreation and animal husbandry will be achieved with minimal impact on the area.  Management techniques will be implemented to allow a level of public access that is compatible with ecological and landscape considerations.

The intention is to protect, conserve and enhance the landscape and biodiversity of the area.

Opening up the countryside to all  

The enhancement of the landscape within both the extensive Country Park and the Gardens will make a major contribution to the traditional character and beauty of the area. It will present one of the few opportunities for the general public to roam within an extensive tract of the Stour Valley whilst the implementation of the landscape proposals will play a major part in the quiet enjoyment of the area. 

Enhancing biodiversity

Horkesley Park will create new habitats and enhance existing ones supporting a greater level of biodiversity and increase the complexity and connectivity of habitat linkages through the establishment of new species-rich grassland, woodland, scrub, and hedgerows, the restoration of ponds as well as the establishment of “heritage crops” and livestock husbandry. 

Help to safeguard the future of the Suffolk Punch

A major Suffolk Punch Breeding Centre at Horkesley Park will substantially increase numbers of the Suffolk horse, East Anglia’s only indigenous heavy horse, to help pull back the breed from near extinction. 

Much will also be done to raise public awareness of the plight of these magnificent animals and to support other breeders.

Education for all

Education is at the heart of much of what Horkesley Park will offer.   It will be a large country park conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the area – a place for people of all ages and interests to access and enjoy as a quality environment.  

Here, they will learn about, become involved in and appreciate the rural heritage, conservation, art, gardens, crafts, traditional skills, food and farming particular to the region.

Facilities

Horkesley Park will be an all year round centre for local people and visitors alike. It will provide high quality facilities – educational, cultural, recreational and countryside leisure – in a rapidly expanding region where the development of sustainable tourism will be an important generator of employment.