Burscough Water Garden

Background

In 2001 a local schoolgirl, Amy Phillips, won a school competition to design a garden.

Water Garden Plan - To view full size plan click on the image (419Kb)

The prize was to have design created at Southport Flower Show. She was inspired by Monet's paintings of his garden at Giverny, especially those of the lake and Japanese bridge. Amy's father, Barry Phillips, approached West Lancashire District Council (WLDC) to recreate design at Platts Lane Lake, Burscough and a feasibility study was undertaken by WLDC Countryside Service, with support of Burscough Parish Council. The initial intention was to engage a designer from Flower Show to re-create design on site, however, this did not materialise and Groundwork (Wigan and Chorley) were involved in creating a project design.

Scheme

To regenerate a pond area linked to Platts Lane Lake from a dark, overgrown, wetland area full of fallen trees and branches, to an open, light, wetland garden of pleasing appearance, with good public access. This was all to be based on the famous Monet paintings of the Japanese bridge and lake at his garden at Giverny.

Funding

Implementation

The works undertaken between December 2002 and April 2003 included:

• Clearing pond of fallen trees and branches
• Selective felling of mature willow trees on edge of pond
• Selective felling of trees around site
• Grading and top soiling of banks of pond
• Planting of variety of wetland and marginal plants
• Construction of wheelchair accessible paths
• Installation of “Monet theme” arched footbridge
• Construction of boardwalk and dipping platform
• Installation of seating and picnic tables
• Production of on-site information board
• Development of educational worksheets for local schools
• Planting of ceremonial weeping willow tree

Community Involvement

Groups involved:

• Millhouse training - local training centre undertook some of the tree felling.
• Groundwork (Wigan and Chorley) - Green Team employees and New Deal work experience volunteers cleared and graded the pond, constructed path and boardwalks, and installed seating.
• B.T.C.V. - learning disabled training scheme helped clear woodland and plant flowers.
• WLDC Ranger Service – Rangers and Volunteers felled mature trees, cleared woodland, and supervised flower planting. Also co-ordinated provision of on-site interpretation and education scheme.
• Local schoolchildren - three local schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) were involved in flower planting around the pond.

  

• Probation Service - community service participants helped with general site clearance.
• Local residents – are assisting WLDC Ranger Service with on-going management of site.

Problems Encountered

• Initially, a designer from Flower Show was to have designed and managed project. However, due to conflicting commitments on the part of the designer, it was decided to engage Groundwork to design the scheme and WLDC Ranger Service to manage it.
  
• The top soil imported to help grade pond was contaminated with Japanese Knotweed creating on-going problem to be dealt with.
  
• Management of planting area is on-going commitment which needs constant supervision.

Main Benefits of Scheme

A significant environmental improvement in site from dark, overgrown, pond area to pleasant, open site which is attractive to visitors. As a result public use of site, particularly families, has increased markedly since project has been completed.

The added value to the cost of the scheme was due to range and numbers of volunteers and trainees involved. This also enabled management of woodland area that WLDC would otherwise not have had resources to undertake.

Additionally the scheme attracted a good level of publicity and ongoing community involvement.