[T]he Wordsworth Trust has applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £4.75 million for its Reimagining Wordsworth project.

At Dove Cottage, in the English lake district, Wordsworth’s spirt remains alive. But so much more of his story could be told.

The Wordsworth Trust plans to tell William Wordsworth’s story in fresh and exciting ways, timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary celebrations of the poet’s birthday in April 2020. Their project, Reimagining Wordsworth, is currently in development phase and is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The project will expand and modernise the Wordsworth Museum, make Dove Cottage more authentic, open up new green spaces including a sensory garden and woodland trail, improve access, give visitors a better experience and create exciting activities for visitors of all ages.

The new website will be updated regularly with news, artists’ impressions and visual information allowing visitors and friends of the Trust to follow the project as it develops.

There is also the option to donate and support the project’s development. To unlock the potential £4million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Reimagining Wordsworth needs to match fund £1million by March 2018.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has a two-stage application process. The Wordsworth Trust has already received £655,000, which it has used to talk to local residents and current and potential visitors to Dove Cottage about their hopes for the project, and to pay architects, designers, engineers, access consultants and other specialist advisors to help it work up its ideas into a detailed proposal.

The rest of the funding is subject to the Wordsworth Trust meeting certain conditions, including raising the £1 million still required to complete the funding for the project. Donations towards the £1 million target will therefore help the Wordswort Trust to unlock the c. £4 million that the Heritage Lottery Fund has earmarked for Reimagining Wordsworth.