The Wildheart Trust, which operates the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary in Sandown, has submitted a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to improve access to Sandown’s Granite Fort.
Through its plans, the Trust hopes to be able to preserve the heritage of the fort, and make the site accessible to those with specific access or special educational needs.
Wildheart’s Chief Operating Officer, Lawrence Bates, said: “We hope, through our plans, that we can preserve the heritage of the fort, promote inclusivity, improve accessibility and demonstrate our commitment to the regeneration of Sandown Bay.”
The funding application was sent off with a letter of support from the Island’s MP Bob Seely.
He said: “I have written in support of this application because it ticks lots of boxes. This project contributes towards education, preserving our history and promotes inclusivity.
“I’m always keen to support bids that provide opportunities to preserve the Island’s heritage and bring buildings back into use for both Islanders and visitors to enjoy.”
The fort, which sits near the entrance to the animal sanctuary, was built in the mid-19th Century to protect the bay against a perceived French invasion and during the second world war, it housed sixteen pumps for the PLUTO (Pipeline Under the Ocean) operation to supply allies with fuel.
