Work has now started on a six-month programme of shrub pruning and landscape improvements in Bath’s historic Sydney Gardens..
Bath & North East Somerset Council is working with the local community on a long-term plan to help conserve the space for future generations.
The public park is a remnant of what was a Georgian pleasure garden which provided outside catering, grottos, mazes and swing boat rides for those prepared to pay an admission fee.
Councillor Martin Veal (Conservative, Bathavon North), the Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “This is crucial work that will really improve the park for local people and visitors to Bath.
We aim to open up the park, allowing views across the city whilst removing some of the more secluded areas to help combat anti-social behaviour. It will create new spaces for planting and restore the original landscape design for the gardens.”
The Council’s contractors may need to restrict access to some areas temporarily and members of the public are asked to follow advice on signage. Pruning over the summer will be supervised by a qualified ecologist to avoid disturbance to any nesting birds.
The Council’s parks team will continue to work with the Sydney Gardens Steering Group – a partnership of friends and residents groups, representatives from the Holburne Museum, and local Councillors – to help improve the space over the coming year.
Jonny East, Chairman of Friends of Sydney Gardens, said: “The Friends of Sydney Gardens promotes the preservation and conservation of Sydney Gardens, together with community-supported improvements.
To this end we are delighted to work with Bath & North East Somerset Council on the programme of shrub pruning and landscape improvements.”
More information on the pruning and landscaping works is available at www.bathnes.gov.uk/sydneygardens
I hear some sort of anti-skateboard surface is going to be added to the main pathway to stop what is becoming a bit of a dangerous hazard.
