RESTORATION work to bring a war memorial in Poole Park back to its former glory has begun.

The work on the Poole Municipal War Memorial and other historic features is part of the Poole Park Life project, which has been given £2.7m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The war memorial forms the centre piece of Poole Park and includes the Poole Cross (World War I and World War II), the Burma Star and Mountbatten obelisk in the rose bed, and the adjacent memorial gates. This year marks the centenary of World War I, with the renovation work set to improve access and ensure these structures are well preserved for future generations.

The war memorial gates have been removed for extensive cleaning and restoration, Poole council says. This includes the fabrication of new iron details, such as leaves and scrolls to restore damaged pieces.

Work will also begin later this month to re-point the obelisk shaft, replace old and broken stonework and clean the memorial. A later phase will see new additions including the laying of Purbeck stone paving and the creation of a new accessible entrance into the park that leads to the war memorials.

A Poole council spokesperson said: "All of these proposals are largely preventative maintenance, but require specialist works to ensure the quality and integrity of the war memorials is maintained and where possible improved. Funding has been made possible by a £31,280 grant from the War Memorials Trust and a proportion of the National Lottery funding that will cover the landscape improvement elements.

"The previous stages of the National Lottery-supported Poole Park Life project saw extensive consultation with stakeholders, including the Friends of Poole Park and the local public. Workshops, questionnaires, heritage guided walks and drop-in sessions have all been held where the public have been very supportive."

Cllr John Rampton, cabinet portfolio holder for the environment, said: “Poole Park is 'the People's Park' and is the most loved open space in the area. At the heart of this is the war memorials, being the central and formal focal point and playing the lead role for the town to remember those who have served our country. These improvements are essential to ensure the war memorials are in the best possible condition for years to come and so they continue to reflect the local pride in them.”

Frances Moreton, director of the War Memorials Trust, said: "War memorials are a tangible connection to our shared past, creating a link between the fallen and today. It is vital we ensure all our war memorials are in the best possible condition for their age and the charity is delighted to support this project. The centenary of World War I is a wonderful opportunity for local communities across the country to protect and conserve their war memorials."

A free heritage guided walk will take place on Saturday, May 12, from 11am to 12.30pm. Meeting at the War Memorial, the walk will take in the historic features being restored as well as the history and heritage significance of the features found around Poole Park. No booking is required.