Walking through Alexandra Park it is easy to see the progress that the £3.5m restoration project has made.
The middle lawn, which this time last year was covered with silt, dug up from the ponds, is now covered in grass again, level and it will be ready for use from early Spring.
Work on the new play area, which was designed with the help of park users, local play groups, parents and children, is well underway and it will be ready to use at Easter.
New park benches, designed using the original Victorian moulds have been installed in the Lower Park.
27,000 new plants and shrubs are due to be put into beds across the park, replacing old plants with new and totally revitalising the flower beds and shrubs. These should be in full bloom by next summer. Flower beds have been reshaped and designed in keeping with Robert Marnock’s 1878 designs.
Several residents were concerned about cherry trees being cut down. These were reaching the end of their life and will be replaced by a grand new scheme for that entrance. An indigenous kind of cherry, which not only flowers, but also has fruit which is loved by birds will be planted at different places in the park. Their leaves turn a beautiful red colour in the Autumn.
New turf is also being laid around the bandstand and café.
The derelict old shelter, opposite the bowls lawn in the Lower Park has been totally refurbished and repainted. It will be used as an information point, with updates including the Park project, events and Friends of the Park and will be Open for Easter.
Designs for new signs and community boards are also being drawn up. They should be in place later this year.
Rangers used shocking tactics to move thousands of fish from the boating lake to the newly improved ponds in Alexandra Park early this year.
The Environment Agency's fishing team waded into the boating lake with large nets and 415 volts of electricity were sent through the water, bringing the fish to the surface and temporarily stunning them.
The perch, bream, eels, carp and roach were moved into the boating lake last year while the lower park ponds were dug out to get rid of a build up of 180 years worth of silt.
The lower park ponds were so silted up that plant and animal life was being badly affected by the lack of oxygen and many of the fish were suffering from stunted growth.
Rangers were delighted to see that the fish have all grown considerably - many have quadrupled in size.
The boating lake has been drained and is being surveyed at the moment to check its condition and to carry out any repairs.
At the time of going to print, Kevin French, proprietor of Prestigious Catering Ltd was preparing to take over the running of the café. Cookers, fridges, display units and other necessary catering equipment are being installed. Adverts have been placed for local staff and interviews will have taken place by the time you read this. Park users will be able to enjoy a late breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea in the delightful surroundings of the café by the bandstand, either indoors or on the decking terrace, from early in April. Opening hours are expected to be from 9am to 5pm. Prestigious Catering run three other catering operations including the Tea Rooms at Eltham Palace, an English Heritage site.
Two bridges in the Lower Park are going to be replaced. Four others will have repairs carried out to them. This should happen by mid Summer
The Friends of Alexandra Park have been at the heart of the restoration project, and have made valuable contributions in terms of design, choice of furniture and future management of the site. They are also been very active in promoting events and community involvement for future use of the park.
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This page last updated: 04/04/2003