NEWS
Landscape works to the park during April 2003
The Kitchen gardens have been reopened. A small area at the southern end will continue to be used as storage and deliveries of construction materials.It will therefore remain closed for the duration of the landscape works
Timber decking and fencing work will be completed at the upper pond. The area between the dog fence and the pond will be re-graded and tidied up. Final preparation for planting works will also take place. Planting and seeding had been delayed while a silt analysis was carried out to determine whether the silt could be re-used on site. This planting and seeding will now go ahead. A gravel surface will also be laid to the paths. Camden's Nature Conservation team is monitoring the area for bird activity such as nesting and roosting.
Railings at the middle pond are being repainted. camden says they will not carry out any further works to this area while the moorhen is nesting.
Other works will continue with new shrub and ground cover planting and the pruning of selected vegetation. Work to the paths will continue and the boundary railings will start to be cleaned and repainted. Also the old toilet block to the north of Lauderdale House will be demolished and removed. The bandstand arear is currently being used for storage of materials, but will be cleared as soon as possible
The herbaceous plants in the two long borders to the west of the terrace gardens wil have to be temporarily relocated while rstoration works to the walls take place. Allthough the work to the walls in this area will not start until the summer, it is intended to move these plants shortly to enable them to establish in their new temporary location. It is hoped to reinstate the plants to the two long borders at the end of this growing season.
As with all planting schemes of this nature, it will be necessary to temporarily protect newly planted ,seeded and turfed areas during plant establishment. This will be done using chestnut paling fencing or plastic fencing where appropiate.
For further information :phone 0207 974 1693 or e-mail portia.baker@camden.gov.uk
Clearing the silt from the bottom pond.24/04/2003
Waterlow Park work starts at long last
Revamp underway after years of wrangling over project details
By Fiona MacRae
WORK on the troubled Two million pound refurbishment of Waterlow Park has restarted after a five-month delay.
New contractors have stepped in after the original contractors Landmark Design and Build went bust with around a quarter of the work still to do.
Camden Council is now confident the bulk of the radical
overhaul of the 45-acre Highgate park ground will be completed by the start of June, at no extra cost to the taxpayer.
The contract has been awarded to ISS Waterers and Camden's head of parks Martin Stanton is confident the ambitious project will not go over its original Two million pound budget which was mostly raised through a lottery grant. "We don't believe it should cost any more," he said.
But the Friends of Waterlow Park raised concerns that the project may fall even further behind with serious consequences.
Chairman Quentin Edwards said: "I am very worried that they have missed the planting season and that the work will continue into the autumn.
"If they can't plant the trees and shrubs this spring, they will have to leave it until October or November."
The steeply-sloping land, which was bequeathed as a "Garden for the gardenless" by Victorian philanthropist Sir Sydney Waterlow, will boast a new education centre, with a large .conservatory and exhibition and conference facilities. The centre, is part of an overall drive to make the historic park more appealing to the public.
Mr Stanton said: "We are living in a very automated age the park is a throw-back to a bygone era. The gulf between the 21st century and the 17th is not easy for a lot of people to grasp. So we are looking at bridging the gap in very easy pieces.
"First of all, we want people to have a great day out in the park. Then, when they get home and on their computer, we want them to look at our website and show their friends and family where they have been.
"So, by using modern day technology, we will be able to drag more people into the park and show then what a 17th century park has to offer in the 21st century."
The new-look park will also feature a restored kitchen garden, new wildflower areas and formal rose beds. The paths are all being resurfaced, new signs are being put up and new public toilets are being built. Large areas are being replanted and landscaped and the three ponds have been cleared and sport new decking. The bulk of the remaining work is due to be completed in around 10 weeks. The final few weeks of fine-tuning include restoring listed walls on the terraces around Lauderdale House. However, these are weather-dependent and will be carried out over the summer.
editorial@hamhigh.co.uk
Drained Bottom Pond 24/04/2003
New Wooden Bridge At Top Pond and Walkway
