Tree planting marks final stage of restoration project at historic park
One of Bath’s most beautiful and historic parks is planting 4,000 trees, shrubs, ferns and bulbs as its restoration project completes its final phase.
Prior Park Landscape Garden, possibly designed by Capability Brown, recently took delivery of 26 large trees, marking the start of the final phase of the dams restoration project.
During the autumn the gardening team and volunteers will plant some 4,000 trees, plants and shrubs, grown specifically for the project, to recreate the shrubberies that frame the lakes.
“The plants will breathe life into the landscape,” said Alice Norland, head gardener at Prior Park. “The dams project has been on-going for four years now and the planting starts the last phase of the project. After so many years, it’s very exciting to see the fruit of all the hard work.”
In November 2019, the National Trust began work to restore the historic dams that sit below the iconic Palladian Bridge and enable water to flow between the three lakes. The middle dam had been leaking for many years, an issue exacerbated by burrowing American signal crayfish.
The lower dam was also in need of improvement to cope with extreme weather.
Since the summer when the construction work was completed, and the middle lake refilled with water, visitors have been able to enjoy the reflections of the Palladian Bridge and sound of water once again.
Now, in the very last stage of the work, 18th century shrubberies are being reinstated with the planting of the trees, shrubs, ferns and bulbs, but only plant species which would have been cultivated in the UK in 1764 have been selected.
“This marks a significant moment in the dams project, to see the months of sourcing and planning coming to life and it’s wonderful to finally get our spades in the ground,” said the senior gardener Kate Lock.
Care has been taken to ensure everything selected speices and ways of planting reflect the 18th century. The 26 trees are a mix of tulip, beech, walnut, black locust, hawthorn, cherry, yew and field maple. There are large semi-mature trees and smaller ones which will add shape to the garden.
The dams project has been on- going for years now and planting starts the last phase of the project. After so many years, it’s very exciting Alice Norland