A yard at a cathedral will be spruced up in a bid to make the entrance more enticing for visitors.

St Albans Cathedral has teamed up with landscape architects Johanna Gibbons and Neil Davidson, of J & L Gibbons, to provide a more “welcoming and beautiful” approach to the Cathedral.

Sumpter Yard, the area off Holywell Hill at the east end of the Cathedral, has taken on a variety of roles over the decades, from vegetable patch to carpark.

However, constant changes have had a “detrimental effect” on this entrance for visitors.

However, following fundraising the revamp will be undertaken alongside the Heritage Lottery funded Alban, Britain’s First Saint project, which is currently underway to build a new Welcome Centre.

Johanna Gibbons, partner at J & L Gibbons, said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to prepare a landscape masterplan for St Albans Cathedral.

“This is a unique landscape and architectural heritage of great time depth and spiritual significance, much loved by the community.”

The Dean of St Albans, the Very Revd Dr Jeffrey John, added: “We are very much looking forward to working with Johanna and Neil and those at J & L Gibbons.

“At this exciting time in the Cathedral’s development, beautiful landscaping would not only provide a fitting welcome for visitors, but also space for the community to use and enjoy long into the future.”

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