Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Park’s Department has opened its new aerial walkway at the Great Dell – providing a series of breath-taking viewpoints, among the trees and across Royal Victoria Park.
The Great Dell is a sunken wooded area, situated in the north part of these historic 46 acres alongside Weston Road. It is a former stone quarry, designed by William Beckford.
It was planted out in the 1840s with a collection of unusual and specimen trees, including large North American conifers. The walkway was built 20 years ago but closed in 2011.
The £74,000 restoration of the walkway will ensure that this special viewpoint can once again be enjoyed by residents and visitors.
Councillor Martin Veal (Conservative, Bathavon North), Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “I’m delighted that residents and visitors can once again enjoy this forgotten corner of Royal Victoria Park.
The views from the aerial walkway through the trees and across the park are stunning and I’m sure it will prove to be extremely popular year round.”
Cllr Veal will officially open the restored aerial walkway on Monday 5 October at 2pm at the entrance to the Great Dell.
Meanwhile, work is also nearing completion on a new, colourful wildflower meadow in the middle of Royal Victoria Park. Rock and rubble excavated from the site of the refurbished skate park, which would otherwise have gone to landfill, has been recycled to help create the new meadow.
It’s design will also help to prevent unauthorised access onto the park, obstructing vehicles and preventing anti-social behaviour.
The new ‘Gait-Wilson Skate Park Meadows’ will provide ideal conditions for rare wildflowers and will be sown with seeds sourced from nearby St Catherine’s Valley. The seeds should begin to germinate in Spring.
