NEW magnolia, acer and oak saplings have been planted in Darley Park to mark one of the finishing touches to an £850,000 restoration project.
Last year, Derby City Council gave planning consent and awarded a long lease to conservation developer Dr Tanya Spilsbury to restore the derelict grade two-listed Darley Abbey Stables and bakehouse.
Both buildings date back to the early 18th century and form part of the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site.
Two magnolia trees, two acers and an oak have now been planted in neighbouring Darley Park to replace five unspecified trees that were removed from the stables' boundary during the regeneration project.
The new trees were donated by Dr Spilsbury as part of the planning agreement with the council.
They are part of a wider conservation project, part-funded by the council's Regeneration Fund, to replenish the surrounding parkland with trees and plants.
The completed development of Darley Abbey Stables will host eight individual work spaces, including a pilates studio and physiotherapy room, in a central courtyard near Darley Park Terrace Café.
Councillor Martin Repton, cabinet member for leisure and culture, said: "This work is exciting and inspiring and is being done in an incredibly sensitive way, respecting the historic nature of the park and the importance of the flora and fauna.
"It is uplifting to see the progression of the restoration project. The council's regeneration and planning teams have been working closely with the developer to restore parkland features, as this is just as important as the work being done on Darley Abbey Stables.
"This superb project is going to make Darley Park a first-class attraction for local residents."
