Stover Country Park’s restoration has taken the next step towards becoming a reality with the installation of a ‘Wishing Tree’.

The tree, a sculpted trunk, houses a new contactless payment system giving visitors the choice of making a donation to support the beauty spot’s restoration.

The sculpted tree is the work of local artist Gary Orange, and stands near the entrance to Stover Country Park’s Visitor Centre just off the A38.

The Friends of Stover Park, a local charity that organises fundraising events such as family trails and musical events, is praising the launch of the system which will allow those who enjoy one of Devon’s most accessible and popular hertige sites to help the park reach its £2 million fundraising target. The money raised will be used to support planned improvements.

Daphne Watts, chair of the Friends of Stover Park, said: ‘As a registered charity devoted to raising funds for Stover Park, we are keen to do all that we can to boost our fundraising total.

‘The Wishing Tree provides an additional means through which the public can choose to support Stover Park.’

The 114-acre country park, nestled within the wider 440-acre Stover Park site, is owned and managed by Devon County Council.

In March 2020 it was awarded a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to develop detailed plans for a £2 million Lottery funding bid towards a £4 million restoration project.

The key aims of the ‘Restoring Stover Parks’ project are:

to restore lost views and landscape features;

to repair two Grade II listed buildings and other listed structures;

to remove silt from the Stover Lake SSSI;

to expand the network of paths allowing visitors to explore the wider park;

to improve the visitor centre to provide a new indoor learning space and workshop facilities;

to develop a full activity and interpretation plan to engage underrepresented audiences.

Cllr Andrea Davis, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport said: ‘In the ‘Restoring Stover Park’ project, we are working with other landowners such as Stover School and Sibelco, and Statutory Bodies such as Natural England and Historic England.

‘We’re assessing the current condition of Stover Park including its landscape and historic buildings and develop plans for its improvement and future management.

‘But we’re also seeking support from residents, visitors, local community groups, schools and colleges and other local councils and organisations.’

The application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund will be made in May 2022 and then considered by the committee in September later that same year. The project is expected to run for the following three years.