Cambridgeshire conservation park opens

  • 26 May 2009 |

Stockbridge Meadows, a new park in the village of Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, has recently been opened to the public.

The park, which was designed by a team of landscape architects and ecologists from CSa Environmental Planning, serves both as a recreational resource for the public and as a wildlife conservation site.

The opening of the riverside conservation park marks the end-point of a consultation period between the local planning authority and developers Manor Kingdom. After carrying out an initial site survey to identify potential wildlife habitats, the CSa Environmental Planning team developed detailed proposals for a park that would be both attractive to visitors and ecologically sound.

The scheme focused on improving public access to the park – for example, through the clearing of scrub vegetation to create a network of footpaths – while also providing ecological benefits. A boardwalk offering easy access to the riverside passes over two newly created ponds that are home to dragonflies and amphibians. Wildflower planting not only brings seasonal colour to grassy areas, but also provides a food resource for invertebrates, such as grasshoppers and butterflies, while the planting of fruit trees brings new life to orchards in the southern part of the site.

The success of the project is seen in the frequency of visits from local residents, many of whom have volunteered their time to help manage and maintain wildlife habitats in the park. David Mowatt, chairman of Melbourn Parish Council, commented: “This park will make an exciting addition to Melbourn’s open spaces, while also helping to restore important habitats that have been lost in recent years.”

| More
Commenting is not available in this section entry.
Talking Landscape