Role: Landscape Architect 

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Clients: JPR Environmental, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

 

The lake at Hillfield Park required desilting, and restoration. Benthic surveys by 35percent and JPR Environmental gave an accurate picture of siltation levels, and from here, designs were developed to reprofile and extend banks, using membrane retention, and natural bank stabilisation techniques.

 

Around the lake concrete inlet structures were removed, and replaced with natural structure, hazel fascines, logs and wetland vegetation. Select tree work allowed sunlight in, to support planting at the water's edge.

 

A stormwater inlet was reprofiled, replacing a previous concrete channel with natural bank profiles and coir protection. The removal of a concrete weir, and instatement of a new fish pass, has optimized benefits for wildlife at this inlet.

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Spilsbury Croft, to the north of the site, was widened and re-meandered. Minor alterations, particularly at tree roots were
proposed, in order to enhance processes of erosion and deposition.  A small online pond and backwater were formed by way of a bund and weir.