Ward Park Environmental Improvement Scheme

Background

Ward Park is a 37-acre urban park in the City of Bangor. Originally the site of a brickworks, it was designed by Cheal’s Nurseries in 1909 and gifted to the people of Bangor by the Ward family. The Park is owned and managed by Ards and North Down Borough Council. It provides a key ‘green lung’ in what is otherwise a built-up urban environment, the park being surrounded by residential properties, a hospital, schools, a college, a public library and sports facilities and enclosed on three sides by roads.

One of the Park’s main attractions is that it is well-wooded with different varieties of mature, semi-mature and young trees including popular large willows. It is accessible to all ages and widely used by children going to and from school, by dog walkers, by families attending the play park and feeding the ducks, by residents and visitors enjoying free summer events, by sports groups including Park Run and NDCC and by many who simply want to enjoy some fresh air in beautiful surroundings. 

£5.5M Environmental Improvement Scheme 

Ward Park is one of our Borough’s most attractive assets, popular with residents and visitors of all ages. The Environmental Improvement Scheme aspires to largely retain the traditional landscape and recreational benefits of the park, while sympathetically creating a modern park environment that will enhance biodiversity and help safeguard the park for future generations. 

The scheme aims to:

• Improve the current pond structure.
• Provide a modern approach to the management of wildfowl and waterfowl.
• Retain historical features, while improving the built environment/ infrastructure.
• Create educational and play opportunities.
• Promote biodiversity.
• Help safeguard the Park for future generations. 

The scheme also aims to resolve the problem of silt build-up in the ponds and to mitigate against this recurring. Desilting (or dredging) of the ponds is the first phase of work for the scheme.  

Works will commence during the week commencing 13 November 2023 and it is anticipated that these works will be completed before Christmas. Our contractor will make every effort to minimise disruption for residents and park users during the works.  

Following the completion of the desilting works, we look forward to progressing the other elements of the Environmental Improvement Scheme. It is currently anticipated that this will begin in the winter of 2024/5. We will provide updates through this page and through our usual media channels. There will also be several information sessions in advance of the works, where you will have the opportunity to engage with the Council team delivering the project and put your ideas for the park improvements to the team.

For more information see the FAQs section below or email andparks@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Frequently asked questions

What are the aims of the Environmental Improvement Scheme?

The Ward Park Environmental Improvement Scheme aims to:

• Improve the current pond structure.
• Provide a modern approach to the management of wildfowl and waterfowl.
• Retain historical features, while improving the built environment/
infrastructure.
• Create educational and play opportunities.
• Promote biodiversity.
• Help safeguard the Park for future generations.

What does the Scheme involve?

As set out in the Planning Application (LA06/2016/1108/F) this scheme will deliver

environmental improvements to the park that will enhance biodiversity and help
safeguard the park for future generations. This includes:
• removal of sediment from ponds
• enlargement of the upper pond and island
• introduction of aquatic planting to pond edges
• repair work to walls at pond edge and provision of new coping stones
• upgrade of the footpath network
• installation of a boardwalk and decking to the ponds
• replacement of two existing pedestrian bridges
• upgrade of the existing inlet structure
• replacement and refurbishment of the existing bird enclosures
• new signage, seating, picnic benches, lighting, landscaping and planting.

What is the value of the Scheme and how is it being funded?

This improvement scheme is being funded directly by Council and has a cost of over £5.5 million.

When was Planning Approval Secured?

Planning approval was secured in April 2021. The scheme was first presented to the public in 2015, with events held in that year and 2016. Three letters of objection were received over the period before the final approval. There were no objections from statutory bodies.

When will works start on site?

The first phase of the improvement scheme will be desilting of the pond network (see more details below). This will start the week commencing 13 November 2023 and it is anticipated that this will be completed before Christmas. Work on other elements of the Scheme is hoped to start in the winter of 2024/5.

What is pond desilting?

Desilting (or dredging) is the removal of silt, sediment and other materials that have built up over time from the ponds. Desilting decreases the possibility of flooding and will improve the environment for wildlife including fish, birds and insects. As part of the improvement scheme, a more effective silt trap will be introduced at the upstream end of the ponds to prevent, or significantly reduce, future siltation. These works will restore the ponds to their original capacity and condition and will create a more positive outcome for wildlife and ecological biodiversity and activity.

How do I find out more?

If you wish to contact the Parks Team please do so via the e-mail: andparks@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk or ring us on 0300 013 3333