Project updates

Last updated April 2, 2012 

West Lake

The West Lake is still filling and the ducks, geese, swans, moorhens and coots have returned and are starting to build nests. The natural water from bore holes continues to be pumped in now that the final earthworks have been completed around the new Pagoda Island. You will notice the green algae bloom; there is little we can do with this in a lake of this size, it is a natural process and, hopefully, when the water level is high enough and given some time the lake will find its natural balance. The algae tends to be worst at this time of year, especially in warmer weather.

The Cascade

As soon as the water level in the lake reaches its optimum height, we can start the cascade which will pump water out of the two slots at the top and down the big granite stones and drop onto the big splash stone in the lake. The gentle flow created by the cascade around the islands will help to keep the water aerated and stop the channels silting up. This is another aspect of the project that will help maintain a much healthier lake.

Bonner Bridge

Bonner Bridge is now complete. The restored railings are all in place and the final stage, the red tarmac path, is now finished. It is difficult to remember the bridge before work started with its missing/broken balustrades and coping stones many of which had been pushed into the canal. Minor repairs to the main Bonner Gates where the hinges have failed have now been completed

Chinese Pagoda and island

The roof of the new Chinese Pagoda with the new zinc roof detailing is complete and adorned with the eight golden dragons. When the tree works are complete, views from the lake edge will show the roof at its best with the ornate ball and spire on the top, especially when the sun shines. The timber detail is complete with all the ornate ‘Chinoiserie’ patterns that overlay the jade green plaster. Green slate cladding is complete to the lower parts of the walls and York Stone paving has been laid to the surrounding.

Earthworks are nearly complete on the island ready for new tree and shrub planting around the pagoda.

The new paths will be connected completing the circular walk.

Rustic Bridge

The timber Rustic Bridge made from green oak is beginning to tone down and twist so it is now starting to look truly ‘rustic’. Minor works to the structure will be finished in the next few weeks with infill panels to the balustrade on the bridge. The completed channel has had shelves added to allow the marginal planting to take place. The temporary causeway to the new channel will be removed and some final maintenance work to some of the trees on the islands is being completed which will enhance the views of the new pagoda.

The Rustic Shelter

The Rustic Shelter repair and restoration works are now nearly complete. The shelter has been almost completely rebuilt because so much of the original timber was rotten. New specially made comfortable benches have been fitted over the new tiled floor which reflects the original has now been installed. The new oak uprights replace the old blue rotten ones, including new roof struts to support the additional load of the new patterned tile roof.

Pennethorne Bridge

Work to the Pennethorne Bridge is now complete and you can see the bright colours of the new bridge have been recreated as James Pennethorne originally intended. When open in a couple of weeks, this will allow access onto the new island and the Chinese Pagoda and link to the Rustic Bridge giving a new circular walk from the café.

East Lake

The lake is almost full with water from the bore hole; as with the west lake, this is a fairly slow process but we are nearly there. Restocking with fish will be specially tailored to encourage suitable fishing and the proposed new platforms will help teaching fishing skills. The new dipping platform at the eastern end to help local schools and other interested parties study the lake and its wildlife is now complete with additional support for people with disabilities.  New picnic benches have now been installed.

The park staff continue to work with the Environment Agency. Looking to the future, they want to encourage fishing for all ages. The Environment Agency and other experts are advising on the types of fish that will be returned to the east lake when the conditions are right.

English Garden

The reinstated York Stone paving in large areas is now complete with only small areas left to allow access. Work is also now complete on laying of new York Stone paths that increase the path network (yellow coloured). The new links run through the old deer park which has been newly landscaped and gently mounded to complement the existing land form.

The specially cut and shaped green slate stone that will form the pools has now been completed. The ryll (narrow channel) that joins the two pools with a run of water has been finished with a York Stone trim.

The grass lawns and floral herbaceous borders with new tree and shrub planting are being completed at the moment. In the recent hot dry weather, we have had to water plants already from the new bore holes.

Burdett Coutts Fountain

The stone masons have carefully reconstructed the stone floral and other sculptured features of the fountain. Now the scaffolding has been removed it is possible to see all the repairs and conservation works.

The roof has now been fully repaired which will stop rainwater running down into the building and the internal arches, it is the leaks that caused some of the damage although most erosion is due to wind and rain over many years.

The weather vane has been removed for restoration by a local specialist craftsman and will be returned as one of the final pieces of the restoration process at the end of April. The original gilded mermaid is being recreated.

The final process of cleaning and repairing the cherubs is being finished and a new door will be installed in the next couple of weeks.

The four large reflective pools with granite lining and York Stone cladding to match the new York Stone paving that surrounds the whole structure is now complete. The coping to the tops of the pools are complete and just being finished by hand.

The new bedding out borders will be broken down into 16 individual beds giving new colour to the east side of the park with a traditional range of floral bedding.

The final overall Burdett Fountain feature with restored ornamental stone work, large areas of paving, reflective pools, and new planting will collectively form a significant new feature in this part of the park. Plenty of new seating will make this area a fantastic new focus for the east park.

Victoria and Alexandra Playground

The new trees (Wing nuts) and shrubs have been planted:, Red Dogwoods, Viburnums and lots of herbaceous plants are now establishing. The first year is always the most difficult for new plants. To the edge of the play area, large new bamboo plants provide enclosure and should grow quickly in the spring to provide a dense and high green screen. We have areas where grass still needs to be established so in the short term some areas will need to be locally fenced off to give them a bit of shelter and protection. We are now seeding these protected areas in the play area.

The water features have been installed these are now being well used and mixed up with sand and gravel as the children experiment with all the different dishes, channels, pumps, gates and dams.

V & A Building

The V & A Building is complete. The roof needs to have final repairs following the damage caused by the tree falling on it in the recent storms. New paving around the building is complete with bike racks in various areas at entrances and the new paved entrance will be complete in the next couple of weeks.

Pools' playground

The water play features are complete and now need the water pipes and electrical works to be installed in the new pump room. The new pump room is complete and the complicated pumps and tanks are being finalised but will take some time to complete and commission, but should be ready for May when the summer begins.

In the meantime, the rest of the play equipment is almost complete with as many areas as possible being opened over the Easter holidays. As with the V & A playground, we will have to keep some areas fenced off until we can get grass established. Some areas of this play area are also going to be restricted while the surrounds of the Hub Building are completed over the coming weeks.

Model boating lake

The boating lake repairs are complete except for the new planting to go around the edges. So model boats can now be seen again after the long break. It will now be filled automatically with water from the bore hole, so will only drop by a maximum of three inches before it starts filling again.

Hub building construction

In many respects, the building is now complete services are all connected so the building systems have all been tested. The flooring and final decorations are just being finished so that it can be handed over and the external paving and landscaping can be completed.

The operator is planning the fit out for the new kitchen ready to open in the spring. The green hoarding is being removed so we can begin to see the new building in its final setting.

The Hub will provide a new focus for the East Park and facilities that can be used by the community, the new paths will allow easy access from all directions including good links to the pools' play area.

Wheelpark

The tarmac link path is now complete and allows access the wheel park which is complete except for the final ground works and seeding works which will be completed in the next few weeks. We will be adding additional temporary fencing to protect the banks and allow them to be seeded and established. The wheel park is very well used and has already hosted its first event.

The Wheelpark is one of the few facilities to offer the cradle feature for the more advanced users, while beginners can get going on the more gentle area near the Hub.

Bore holes

The three new bore holes 100 metres deep are complete these will supply water in the future to both the lakes and to the new Hub building. A large tank has been installed to store water ready for irrigation and supply to the Hub building for non drinking functions.

The bandstand

The area around the bandstand has been paved and new seating added.  Access has been improved with a new ramp and a new power supply has been installed so that electricity is always available for any event edge. The band stand repainting will start and be completed over the next couple of weeks.

Planting, wild flower meadows and bulbs

New bulbs which are spread all over the park are starting to show and shrub and tree planting is on-going. During spring, the shrubs start to grow and we are starting to see the benefits of the heavy pruning and clearance work that has been carried out to many of the old and overgrown shrubberies. Light and air and removal of the dead wood will allow fresh new vigorous growth.

The Old English Garden is nearly finished, but we still have some careful preparation works to undertake ready for seeding. Recent dry weather has made this final preparation difficult to establish seed.

The new planting has had specialist guidance from the planting designer to make sure the layouts and arrangements are just right and in time will provide a much more colourful display than the old garden.