Member Article

Ebsford Environmental Improve Harrow Park

Ebsford Environmental improve open space amenities and access to wildlife with the restoration of the 46-hectare site of Newton Park West in Harrow

As part of Harrow Council’s focus on healthy living the park will improve amenities and access to open space with the help of specialist remediation company Ebsford Environmental.

Ebsford who will undertake river restoration, flood defence works, create footpaths and two new bridges, and create visually pleasing landscaped areas and biodiverse wildlife habitats.

The plans include a river restoration and flood defence project along the Roxbourne Stream within Newton Park west which flows south-westwards through Newton Park west and the Park’s boundary within Malvern Avenue where it becomes known as the Yeading Brook East, part of the River Crane catchment.

Improving safety and risk to public health, dangerous tress and non-native species will be removed, three wetlands will be created and planted with aquatic plants that will naturally remove pollutants in the water, and flood defences will be increased to protect properties from risk of flooding.

The construction of a new flood defence wall at the south west corner of the road will raise the flood protection levels for 13 properties immediately downstream of the park which were identified at risk of surface water and river flooding in a 1 in 100 year event.

Cllr Graham Henson, cabinet member for environment said: “We know how much this park is loved and used by all our residents. That’s why we want to make it better, more attractive and encourage healthier living. Alongside the flood alleviation for the local area, our joint work with Ebsford Environmental will also introduce exciting new features that will help the environment, ensure easier access, and help improve the quality of life for local people.”

Adam Rolfe, director at Ebsford Environmental Ltd says:“ This is our latest in a series of collaborative projects with the team at Harrow. From the start our teams have worked hand in hand to develop and refine all elements of the scheme with the aim of maximising environmental, social and wider sustainability benefits. The Environment Agency, Thames 21 and specialist consultants Metis have also played crucial parts in the collaborative process by helping to take the original Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS) and turn it into a FAS, which includes: Wetland cells for improving water quality in the brook; Improved user experience within the park via new paths, interpretation installations and entrance treatments; Naturalised landforms with native wildflower meadows; and Bio-engineered erosion control using site won materials.“

The work will help the Council achieve key national, regional and local plan objectives in their Local Flood Risk Management Strategy, Core Strategy, Development Management Policies and Open Space Strategy. As a member of the Crane Valley Partnership, which is hosted by Green Corridor, Harrow Council will work collaboratively to establish a community volunteer park user group to help look after the restored park.

Ebsford Environmental specialises in the specification and implementation of leading edge, bespoke environmental and ecological remediation solutions both on land and in water.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ebsford Environmental Ltd .