Half Moon Pavilion in Roberts Park, Bradford. Courtesy HLF

Parks across the UK are to share £11m from the Lottery to enable them to be restored as beauty spots and to create much needed breathing space.

Parks in Rotherham, Bradford, Hertfordshire and London will benefit from the scheme, which is being launched today by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund (BIG), to transform and regenerate community spaces.

The announcement coincides with the ‘Postcards from the Park’ photography competition. HLF and BIG have joined hands with GreenSpace in this contest, which challenges locals to capture images of their much loved parks.

Rose Garden in Bushley. Courtesy HLF

“Parks play such an important role for local communities, providing a much needed breathing space in built-up areas,” said Dame Liz Forgan, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund. “Money from the HLF has played a vital part in the renaissance of our historic parks over the last 14 years.”

Clifton Park’s 56 acre site in Rotherham has received a grant of £4.5 million to restore its Memorial Garden, Cenotaph and Memorial Rock garden. Its Garden House and restored bandstand will be used for events and activities.

Roberts Park in Bradford will receive £3.2 million to again restore lost features, such as a bandstand and Grade II shelters. Its statue of Sir Titus Salt will also be repaired.

Historic postcard of Salfaire Park. Courtesy HLF

Bushley’s Sunken Garden, with its dying summer house and paved surrounding area, will be brought to life again and re-opened to the public.

HLF and BIG are also developing 11 more parks across the country.

GreenSpace have joined hands with HLF and BIG for you to win £1,000 in Jessops vouchers. The competition is to encourage the public to get snapping in their local park to show us what they appreciate the most.

The best entries will be displayed in a national exhibition in September and be transformed into postcards in Lottery-funded venues nationwide.

'Paddling in the Princess Diana Fountain' - last year's postcard winner. © John Lane

‘Postcards from the Park’ runs from May until August 1 2008. For your chance to win see www.postcardsfromthepark.org.uk or text PARKS followed by your name and where the photo has been taken in the subject header to 0780 3851 600. The MMS will be charged at the operator’s standard rate.