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Help Restore Barnard Castle's Riverbank Walks

07/01/2010

Would you like to play a part in restoring Barnard Castle’s riverside path? 

Work will soon begin to improve the riverside walks, sculpture garden and views in Barnard Castle between the Castle and the River Tees.  As part of this, a team of community volunteers will be responsible for clearing, replanting and managing the foliage, and helping to restore the area. 

The purpose of this project is to improve the entire area, so the walks are more attractive to residents and visitors, and views of the Castle are opened up from the north side of the river.  The first part of the project will begin in February with the improvement and upgrading of the riverside path below the Castle. 

If you are keen to play a part in restoring one of the most beautiful parts of Barnard Castle, please come along to one of two public meetings in January 2010 at The Witham. The first meeting takes place at 7pm on Thursday, January 14th, and the second at 10.30am on Saturday 16th. 

The aim of these meetings is to bring together a team of volunteers.  Please note, all those keen to participate must be physically capable of fairly strenuous gardening work.  The team will be working with standard gardening tools such as pruning tools, loppers, spades and rakes.  

The project was suggested by landscape architects Chris Burnett Associates (CBA) as part of their landscape study of the town.  They specialise in the management of historic landscapes.  CBA has worked on a number of landscape projects including Wray Castle in Cumbria, Tarn Hows and Monk Coniston Estate in the Lake District, and Bosworth Battlefield in Leicestershire. 

Working together to develop this project, Barnard Castle Vision and Barnard Castle Town Council have recently secured funding from North Pennine Dales Leader, an organisation formed to support innovative rural development projects in the North Pennines and Dales.  Combined with funding from Barnard Castle Vision, some £37,000 will be committed to improving the town’s landscape through improving pathways in the area, and completing any civil works necessary. To achieve the objectives of Leader funding for the project, it is essential that the community feels involved in the project and feels able to play an important part in its delivery. 

William Weston of Barnard Castle Vision said: “The people of Barnard Castle are rightly passionate about this town.  I am sure that many will be keen to play their part in transforming the views of the Castle, one of the most beautiful aspects of our area.  Currently, several views along the riverbank are obliterated by overgrown trees and shrubs, whilst there are also some paths that are difficult for elderly or less mobile people to navigate.  Clearing the undergrowth along this stretch will make a tremendous difference.” 

Cllr John Yarker, Mayor of Barnard Castle, said: “Barnard Castle Town Council is enthusiastic about this scheme.  The walkways between the castle and the river will be transformed to the benefit of both residents and visitors.  We are keen to encourage anyone interested in gardening to get involved.  The completed work will be something they will be immensely proud of.” 

The project will be managed by Groundwork North East, an organisation that is already actively involved in over 500 regeneration projects.  Rotters will also be helping with the removal of the green waste material.   In order to open up views of the Castle, it is likely that one or two overgrown trees will be felled by contractors during this course of this project.  Barnard Castle Vision and Barnard Castle Town Council will replace any trees removed, and are committed to ensuring that in the restoration of this landscape a higher number of new trees will be planted. 

To find out more, please come along to the meetings.