Princess Anne officially opened Chatsworth’s new learning centre
HRH The Princess Royal toured the ‘Chatsworth Renewed... Past, Present and Future’ exhibition, met artisans involved in the ten-year restoration project and officially opened Chatsworth’s new learning centre on 5th October.
A potting shed in the heart of the historic garden has been converted to create a fully accessible bespoke indoor learning space that is capable of hosting up to 70 students at a time. Run by the Devonshire Educational Trust (DET), the new facility has been in use since May and has already hosted a range of learning activities for primary, secondary, higher education and community groups. Its creation has been made possible by funding from the Derbyshire Charity Clay Shoot, the Duke of Devonshire’s Charitable Trust and the Garfield Weston Foundation. As well as 20,000 formal educational visitors a year, Chatsworth’s education team works with a range of disadvantaged groups including children in care, young carers, refugees and local BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) community groups. The new centre will allow them to develop and improve their educational programme and increase the number of people taking part.
Lord Burlington, chair of DET, said: ‘As well as expanding what we offer, the new Learning Centre will help us to provide an even deeper level of connection with the vast array of resources available at Chatsworth, not only for children but for people of all ages, by offering them learning opportunities of the highest quality.’
For details visit www.chatsworth.org/plan-your-visit/education/plan-your-education-visit or email education@chatsworth.org
