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21 Sep 2020

Bannockburn benefits from heritage emergency fund

A photograph of the statue of Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn, surrounded by parkland and with a row of trees in the background.
Funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will enable the Trust to add new elements to the visitor experience as Bannockburn reopens to the public.

Extra funding support for the Battle of Bannockburn experience in Stirling will enable the site to add new elements to the visitor experience as it reopens to the public on 30 September.

The Trust has received £250,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to make changes to the visitor experience, which make it more suitable for the current coronavirus restrictions, make best use of the site’s space and ensure that visitors have a safe and engaging visit to the site which tells the story of the 1314 battle where Robert the Bruce famously defeated Edward II.

The funding will also be used to enhance the experience for visitors in the grounds, adding information panels and an audio experience to the A-listed Rotunda.

The rotunda at Bannockburn at sunset. The sky is a bright orange to the left, with dark blue clouds to the right. Trees stand silhouetted beside the rotunda and flag pole.
The Rotunda at Bannockburn

Trust Chief Executive Philip Long OBE said: ‘Thanks to the National Lottery and its players we can now make a range of improvements to the experience at Bannockburn so that visits are safe, more enjoyable and engaging. We’re grateful that the National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting us at this crucial time – it’s a lifeline to us and others who are passionate about protecting our heritage and enabling it to be experienced and enjoyed by everyone.’

The funding was awarded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Emergency Fund. £50 million was made available to provide emergency funding for those most in need across the heritage sector.

The UK-wide fund aimed to address both immediate emergency actions and help organisations to start thinking about recovery.

Due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the National Trust for Scotland, the opening of the Battle of Bannockburn experience was on hold until 2022. Scottish Government funding means that the site will fully reopen in 2020, and that there were no redundancies at the Stirling property.

Caroline Clark, Scotland Director at the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: ‘As the enormous impact of the coronavirus pandemic became apparent, we had to act quickly to support Scotland’s heritage sector. We have worked hard to get funding out to over 100 diverse organisations, including the Battle of Bannockburn Experience. It will allow the experience to welcome visitors again safely, safeguarding jobs and boosting the local economy. We cannot save everyone and we know challenges still lie ahead, but we are grateful that, thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to help so many.’

Like the National Trust for Scotland, other charities and organisations across the UK that have been affected by the unprecedented impact of the coronavirus outbreak are being given access to a comprehensive package of support of up to £600 million of repurposed money from the National Lottery. This money is supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and span the arts, community, charity, heritage, education, environment and sports sectors.

Thanks to National Lottery players, £30 million is raised every week for good causes, including heritage of local and national importance. By playing the National Lottery, people up and down the country are making an amazing contribution to the nationwide-response to combatting the impact of COVID-19 on local communities across the UK.