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Stage 1 - Proposals

Buildings

Arboretum road entrance

  • Create a new pedestrian entrance to improve safety and make the park more welcoming and accessible.  Pedestrian entrance to lead to new all accessible path to Centre Green (in front of where toilet block currently stands)
  • Introduce traffic control measures to entrance to regulate and control vehicle access to park
  • Improve access for service vehicles by removing tree triangle at base of driveway  

Bandstand area and terraces

  • Create paved area between the bandstand and terraces, linking the performance space with the audience and providing an area for temporary seating during concerts and performances
  • Create level access to lower level of terracing and provide new seating on all terraces
  • Restore rockery walls and improve planting on terraces
  • Remove top level of terrace and boundary hedge to connect area to new path network to be created from Arboretum Road pedestrian entrance
  • Install temporary canopies over seating areas
  • Improve stream corridor

Broad Walk

  • Improve path edges and re-surface footpath  
  • Thin trees in grass to form open lawns and improve planting adjacent to the stream
  • Restore avenue character to main routes
  • Re excavate short section of the stream to form small island (as illustrated on Masterplan)  

Centre green area

  • Widen central path to form central promenade
  • Build new Visitor Centre on former greenhouse terrace (see buildings section)
  • Re site sculpture and create new footpath to Deep Pond lakeside with lawns and planting (As illustrated on Masterplan).
  • Restore Buchanan Avenue rockery and water feature and improve horticultural display
  • Repave Buchanan Avenue entrance ramp and provide handrail

Deep Pond

  • Create landscaped lakeside area linked to new Visitor Centre
  • Install aeration units in pond to improve water quality
  • Thin overhanging trees and open up views over lake from poplar walk and Lichfield Street boundary  

Clocktower entrance green

  • Remove gazebo to improve views to historic fountain
  • Replace or restore fountain and lower height of hedges around fountain to open up feature
  • Widen entrance path in front of Clocktower and remove low wall to improve aesthetics of the area
  • Widen lakeside path to enable route to be included in the Illuminations circuit  
  • Provide connections for temporary toilets and pay kiosks for the Illuminations
  • Improve horticultural displays

Former nursery area (off Broadway North)

  • Clear area and lay out areas to be used for demonstration gardens
  • Create secure green waste recycling area with vehicle access
  • Create entrances into area from public right of way and Lions Den
  • Replace/repair fenced boundaries to area and clear hedges to open up views across the site

Former tea garden

  • Demolish brick peacock house and break out slabbed area
  • Replace slabbed area with resin bound gravel surface to tie in with primary path network
  • Remove raised planting beds and fences to Broad Walk boundary to open up area and improve circulation
  • Open stream corridor adjacent to the bowling greens as per the historical design of the area
  • Renew fencing around weir adjacent to the old pump house

Former tennis lawns (off Arboretum Road)

  • Remove remains of old sports courts
  • Recreate lawned terraces overlooking the lake as per historic design of the area
  • Restore terrace walls and remove seating
  • Create new path network at accessible gradients, providing new route to lakeside and rear of bandstand terraces.  This will bring this currently derelict area back into use and formalise the Arboretum Road Pedestrian entrance.
  • Screen sub station with new planting to reduce its negative visual impact

Hatherton Lake

  • Recreate island adjacent to current location of lakeside café as per the historical design of the lake to create a sanctuary for wildlife
  • Establish new planting on the lake margins to improve aesthetics and wildlife value
  • Install aeration units to improve water quality
  • Remove submerged scaffolding
  • Remove disabled fishing area and create decking area overlooking the lake
  • Replant poplar walk in stages and repair low boundary wall of poplar walk
  • Create boat launch area with gated access to accommodate Sports Development watersports activity
  • Zone lake to create separate areas for nature conservation, fishing and water sports development

Lion's Den

  • Restore path network in tarmac and bound gravel
  • Conserve and interpret memorial trees
  • Selective clearance of trees to recreate avenue feel and create open glades
  • Provide seating and bins
  • Provide electrical infrastructure to allow the area to be used during the Illuminations

Lichfield Street Lodge and surrounding area

  • Restore terraced lawns as per historic design of the area
  • Adjust line of perimeter path to reduce its secluded nature
  • Create seating overlooks to the Deep Pond and undertake tree thinning to open up views into the park
  • Reinstate borders/rockery edges and improve planting
  • Improve gradient of entrance slope adjacent to Lichfield Street lodge
  • Remove steep ramp leading down to Poplar Walk

Recreation area

  • Replace derelict tennis courts adjacent to Buchanan Avenue entrance with grassland and recreate tree avenue as per the historical layout of the area
  • Resurface hard court area used for illuminations food court with resin bound gravel and provide service connections
  • Refurbish existing tennis courts
  • Create new access pathway to bowling greens to allow all ability access and remove old bowls pavilion base
  • Repair stone retaining wall to Beacon Way route and improve grass surfacing of Beacon Way route

Rose Gardens / Sons of Rest

  • Remove central arbour and handrail to ‘de clutter’ area and reinstate steep central ramp as lawn to improve setting
  • Simplify bedding areas in front of Sons of Rest and remove brick surround
  • Create parking area and turning circle behind Sons of Rest building for Blue Badge Holders

Seating strategy

  • New seats to be installed at regular intervals around the park to comply with Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) standards, with groups of seats in key focal points e.g. Clocktower Entrance Green and Bandstand
  • Seating to consist of steel or cast frame with timber seats

Park entrances and boundary restoration

  • Install new gates in appropriate heritage style at all park entrances to create a more welcoming environment
  • Repair historic brick wall boundaries to Lichfield Street, Broadway North and Arboretum Road boundaries
  • Repair boundary railings to both sides of the public right of way and Broadway North
  • Repair and repaint railings and brick boundary pier along Buchanan Avenue to Moss Close Farm

Internal railings restoration  

  • Replace surplus hoop top railings with low interlaced hop top pattern historically used in the park
  • Repair and redecorate railings where required
  • Reinstate gothic hoop top railings to new Boat house ramp  

Signage and interpretation

  • Entrance signage to be installed to create a more welcoming environment
  • Interpretation to be provided for key historic features

Footpath restoration strategy

  • Primary path network (Illuminations Route) resurfaced and edges repaired, finished in resin bound buff gravel
  • Secondary path network and Service Access routes-resurfaced and edges repaired, finished in tarmac
  • Woodland paths- redefined in buff bound gravel finish with rock edges  
  • Bandstand area- Temporary seating area and lower level of terracing, tarmaced and finished in resin bound gravel.
  • (See Masterplan for illustration of the Footpath hierarchy)  

Bridge restoration

  • Repair and restore stream footbridges and strengthen and repair bridge of Arboretum Road for service vehicle access

Illuminations infrastructure

  • Replacement of the gantries along the Poplar Walk with ‘heritage style’ pillars more appropriate to the park environment.
  • Where appropriate replace electricity boxes with pop up style supplies to reduce the visual impact on the park.

Youth facility

  • Creation of a youth play facility within the park adjacent to the children’s play area.  The exact nature of the facility will be determined through consultation with young people.

Buildings

New visitor centre

View an artists impression of the new Visitor Centre (PDF 224KB)

The flagship project at the centre of the restoration of the Arboretum will be the creation of a new Visitor Centre at the Centre Green, located on the current site of the terrace gardens.  

It is intended that the Visitor Centre will be a high quality versatile building based on sustainable principles, housing the following key services:

  • A high quality information point and staffed reception
  • Education classroom to be used as a base for extensive formal and informal educational activities
  • A range of meeting spaces to appeal to a wide range of groups
  • High quality and accessible toilet facilities including baby change and feeding area
  • Changing rooms to support watersports activities on the Hatherton Lake (Outdoor Adventure Team currently based at Sneyd Reservoir to relocate to the Arboretum)
  • High quality café facility with indoor seating area and external terraced decking

The following staff would be based at the Visitor Centre to collectively operate and manage the above facilities:

Arboretum Manager, Head Ranger and Park Ranger Service, Walsall Council’s Sport and Leisure Development Services Outdoor Adventure Team and a catering provider.

Boat House

The original park Boat house is a Grade II listed structure which is currently in poor condition.  

The intention is to restore the building and bring it back into use as a boat store/launch point, to be used by the Outdoor Adventure Team.

A new ramp will be installed to enable all ability access to the facility.

Leckie Sons of Rest building

The Leckie Building was built in 1902 as the original tea rooms for the park and is now the home of the Leckie Senior Citizens Club.

The building is a good example of Edwardian Architecture which will be restored to its former glory as a key focal point within the park. Repair work to the roof, drainage system and iron balcony structure will be undertaken.  (This work will be 100% funded by the Council as it is outside the remit of the Lottery Project).

Bandstand

A key feature within the historic core of the park the bandstand was built in 1924 and is currently used for a summer concert programme and during the annual Walsall Illuminations.

Repairs will be undertaken to the bandstand to include re roofing and replacement of decorative elements plus repairs to the cast and wrought iron framing.

The repairs to the building will be undertaken in tandem with the proposed landscaping and redesign of the external seating area and terraces to provide a high quality performance space within the park.

Ladies bowls pavilion (former Lido Cafeteria)

The former cafeteria building located on the tea garden area adjacent to the play area is currently used as a base by the Ladies Bowls Club.  

In the future the park catering facilities will be located in the new Visitor Centre which will allow the lido cafeteria building to be converted to a permanent pavilion/clubhouse for the Ladies Bowls Club.  It is also proposed to incorporate an accessible toilet facility into the building.

Lakeside Café

This building which is currently used as a café will be converted into a shelter, providing a covered seating area in an attractive corner of the park.  In the future park catering facilities will be located in the new Visitor Centre.

Buildings/structures to be demolished

Several buildings have been identified as surplus to requirements and it is proposed to demolish them as follows:

  • 'Broadway Toilets' - these unsightly buildings which remain locked due to anti social behavior for the majority of the year will be demolished and the boundary wall reconstructed in their place.  Replacement toilet facilities will be provided within the new Visitor Centre.
  • 'Centre Green Toilets' - the demolition of this toilet block will improve the aesthetics of the centre Green area.  Replacement toilet facilities will be provided within the new Visitor Centre.
  • 'Clock Tower Entrance Green Gazebo'- the removal of the modern gazebo will improve views into the park and of the historic fountain (due to be restored)
  • 'Lichfield Road Shelter' - this shelter is currently out of use and brings little benefit to the park.  As it is removed the boundary wall and bank will be reinstated and a seating bay will be formed in its place.
  • 'Peacock House and Shelter' - these modern additions to the park are no longer in use and bring little benefit to the area.  They will be demolished and the tea garden area landscaped.
  • 'Disabled Toilet (former pump House)' - this small building is located at one of the key entrances to the park and is visually unattractive affecting views along the stream corridor.  The building will be demolished and a replacement provided within the restored Ladies Bowls Pavilion.

This page was last updated on 08 December 2009