Your Tameside Reporter this week throws its weight behind a campaign to save the historic John Nield Conservatory in Stamford Park.

The ‘Save Stamford Park Conservatory Group’ is spearheading a major push to raise £10,000 to secure, rebuild and re-open the iconic building with an array of educational and well-being uses for the public.

As part of the campaign, Quest Media Network - which incorporates the Tameside Reporter, Glossop Chronicle and Tameside Radio - is pledging to match fund the appeal, donating £5,000 to the cause when £5,000 is raised and to help ensure the £10,000 is reached as quickly as possible.

The money is needed to fund highly qualified and professional specialists to assess the historic conservatory, identify its full rebuild costs in the most sustainable way and plan for its future once it has been returned to its former glory. 

The conservatory has been closed since 2015 

The initial campaign to save the iconic structure began back in 2019, when Tameside Council voted to demolish the conservatory and replace it with a formal garden.

But the announcement was met with a huge backlash and public outcry, with the creation of the ‘Save Stamford Park Conservatory Group’.

Chair of the group and fundraising organiser, Jane Whittaker, said: “The conservatory was gifted to the community in 1907, for our use, free of charge, to infuse and teach us the joys of horticulture, which we may not get to see elsewhere. It was never the council’s to demolish.”

Since then the council has agreed to a community asset transfer, with the planned demolition of the conservatory being halted to allow time for the group to put forward a case.

The banana plant at the conservatory, which once bore fruit and still lives on to this day

The group’s plan is to restore the site to its former glory, using industry specialists to repair the existing building before opening it up to the public and community groups once again.

Jane explained: “We would like to refurbish it back to its original status and then get it listed again, to ensure it is safe for future generations.

“Obviously we’re definitely going to maintain the hot house and the banana tree which has survived because it is so fantastic.

“But we want to open it up to all other groups as well, like mental health groups, educational groups, and different age groups.”

Jane Whittaker, promoting the appeal on Tameside Radio

Jane said: “We are quite fortunate in that it hasn’t been overly vandalised. I think what the problem for the council, mainly, was the cost of running it.

“When the council took out the old oil burner from the cellar and replaced it with an electric heater the cost of running it was extortionate. 

“Obviously we’re not going to do anything like that - we’re hoping to have the most eco sustainable heating system installed which will make it a lot easier to manage.”

This week the group launched a huge poster campaign to highlight the campaign and get the money rolling in.

“We’ve had quite a big response,” said Jane. 

“We’ve got about 15,000 members across all our social media platforms who engage with us, but we want to attract more attention - but we’re really grateful to Chris Bird at Quest Media Network for backing our campaign.”

A look inside the conservatory in Stamford Park 

Quest Media Network Executive Chairman Chris Bird said he was delighted and determined to step in to help.

“Throughout Tameside we have some amazing spaces to experience from Portland Basin to Werneth Low Country Park, and we need to take great care of all of them,” he said. 

“The conservatory is not only an important heritage building, it now presents us with the opportunity to create a unique space and attraction for generations to come. 

“Following the last two years health, well-being, education and community have never been more important. 

“Saving this beautiful location will offer another unique space for the people of Tameside, young and old, as well as providing visitors to our borough to enjoy the many different experiences and opportunities this campaign and the revitalised conservatory will deliver.”

If successful in securing the community asset transfer, the group will then set about the task of applying for funding to transform the site. The group estimate that the project, from conception to completion, will take around three years.

To support the campaign, head to their Facebook group ‘Save Stamford Park Conservatory’ or if you want to donate, head to the GoFundMe page: 

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