The £3.4 million restoration of Alexandra Park is nearly complete, and a launch event to mark the formal reopening of the Park will take place next spring with gardening TV personality, Charlie Dimmock. We want many people as possible will come to the event - whether or not they are a park user - to come to the opening of the rejuvenated Victorian Pleasure Park on April 24th.
A dry and cold October has led to one of the finest displays of autumn colours for years. With such a range of trees - including some very rare ones - the Friends of the Park have decided to develop guided tree walks so that anyone can enjoy the many important trees. The guided walks will be available shortly.
Work currently underway includes planting, new bridges, new pillars and gates, repairs to the watercourses, boating lake and lighting.
Contractors are now planting the 27,000 shrubs and trees after careful cultivation give planting the best possible start. The plants and planting schemes have been chosen to recreate the approach of Victorian Landscape architect, Robert Marnock who laid out the original park in 1878.
Three iron bridges are being replaced because they were badly corroded. They will be painted in the park's green and cream colours.
Much of the stream through the park has been de-silted to improve the flow. Early next year, a range of repairs will be carried out to the streamsides and new grilles installed.
The main entrance at the top of Queens Road will see the old sandstone pillars and the majestic wrought iron gates replaced. The originals were installed at the turn of the last century and removed in 1941 as part of the war effort. The existing Portland stone pillars have been removed and will be re-used on another site.
Designs and techniques for restoring the boating lake are in their final stages. Work will include a new overflow and some drainage works to nearby wet areas.
Major works are about to start to Coronation Woods and Old Roar Gill - already designated as a Local Nature Reserve. Safer and improved access forms the mainstay of the works as many paths had become slippery and impassable. New surfaces, handrails, steps and bridges will be installed to improve access to the area.
Further clearance of vegetation will be carried out in the Shornden area of the park during the winter. This will improve views into and through the park, allow the best trees and shrubs room to develop and encourage regeneration of overgrown specimens. Ivy will be removed from specimen trees in the open but left on trees within woodland.
A more open outlook not only looks better, but also means that park users can feel safer.
Anyone interested in joining the Friends of Alexandra Park (currently £1 per year) can apply to Leisure Services on 01424 781122.
The Portland stone pillars weigh seven tonnes each and are seen here being transported for safe keeping until a new site is found for them.
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This page last updated: 15/12/2003