Water levels restored at lake after major works

A lake at a park in Leicester has been restored following a major programme of works.

Water levels at the feature in Abbey Park fell to an all-time low last year due to the hot weather and the failure of a 150-year-old water system.

However, a new borehole system has now been installed, which can draw water up from the natural water table, supplying the lake with 20,000 litres of water each day. It can be switched off when the lake is full.

The project has also helped to create new wildlife habitats, with silt from the lake used to turn a former overflow pond into a bog garden, a marshy area which is permanently wet and can support certain plants.

The original system transported water on a three-mile journey from the canal at Frog Island.

But over time silt build up, tree damage and development stopped the lake from refilling, leaving the feature almost empty of water.

Assistant city mayor Vi Dempster said: "I'm very pleased that one of Abbey Park's most popular features is back to its best."

She added: "The severe heat last summer, combined with the failure of the system that has fed the lake with water for nearly 150 years, turned the lake into a muddy swamp.

"A new borehole means the lake's water supply is now assured, while the comprehensive improvements will help boost the lake's water quality and create new habitats for wildlife."

As part of the work, trees on the central island were also coppiced and overhanging branches cut back to reduce leaf debris in the water.

The feature was known as the boating lake and up until a few years ago, people could hire pedalos from a wooden deck to use on the water, but there are no plans to reinstate this.

Tony McKenna, director of AquaServe Maintenance, which carried out the work, said workers had to drill down about 40 metres to the water table, a depth below which groundwater sits, to install the pump.

"Obviously water supplies have to be conserved so we expect during the summer we'll lose a few inches and then over the winter it will pop all the way back up," he said.

He said the original source of the canal was unreliable and the water was poor quality.

"The borehole was more appropriate because we've got good quality water pretty much all-year round," said McKenna.

"When there's an excess of water, that will flow into a bog garden which will create a special habitat with water marginal plants."

Abbey Park has also been awarded a Green Flag Award - a scheme recognising well-managed parks and open spaces - for the 29th consecutive year.

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