City park lake set to become wildlife haven
Feb 27 2010 by Tony Henderson, The Journal
ENVIRONMENT Editor TONY HENDERSON on people who have rallied round their parks.
“The Lakeside Explorer project aims to create an area of biological-diverse wetland suitable for the formal and informal exploration of the natural environment, providing an accessible, absorbing experience of pond life, particularly for young people and families.
“The existing cracked concrete and tarmac surround to the lake, which is unsightly, will be removed. Boardwalks will give safe access to dipping and viewing platforms located around shallow pools formed from soil filled gabions and encircling reed beds.
“Pools will have varying depths and planting to create an environment of diverse habitat appropriate for a variety of different creatures.”
Jason Gaskell, from Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: “At present the lake is like a giant, concrete bath tub and it is not much more exciting than that. This scheme will turn it into a great educational resource.”
The scheme has been designed by Mike Evans, a partner in North Shields-based E2 landscape architecture.
He said: “At present the lake is quite sterile but we hope that the flowing lines of the design, the planting and the bays and reeds will be a wildlife attraction and an educational facility.”
It is hoped to de-silt the lake for the first time in many years, and in the future create two islands planted with trees and shrubs as a safe refuge for wildlife.
The scheme follows the successful drive, led by Barbara Hogg, to transform the neighbouring Brandling Park, which is connected to Exhibition Park by an underpass, and had suffered from the expansion of the main road network.
Keith said: “The original Brandling Park had a paddling pool, seats and attractive flower beds, but what was left of the park was a grassed area, with an underpass.
“It was a fairly desolate place – bland, anonymous and run down. But it has been changed by local people getting stuck in.”
The Friends of Brandling Park planted new flower beds, reinstated crab apple trees which had been a feature of the original park and painted over graffiti in the subway. This led to the park winning a Green Flag award.
Barbara said: “It was terrible seeing how the park had become and we decided to do something about it.”
People are being invited to air their views on the Lakeside Explorer scheme and Exhibition Park restoration at a consultation event which will be part of the Jesmond Festival.
Contributions can be made between noon and 4pm on March 28 at Jesmond Cricket Club in Osborne Avenue.
