Specialists in Water Management for Landscapes, Fisheries, Leisure and Conservation
|
Case study 4. Landscape Restoration |
Client: Private Client (Landscape Architect Elizabeth
Banks Associates)
Location: Rycote Park, Nr Thame
Description of Contract:
Rycote Park was the site of an Elizabethan royal palace, and the main house still incorporates part of that original building. The extensive grounds include a lake of almost 5 hectares, part of which dates back to Elizabethan times but which was considerably enlarged and landscaped by Capability Brown in the 18th Century. Very little work had been done to the lake since that time. By 2000 it was heavily silted up with only 0.5m depth of water over most of its surface area, and seriously encroached by alders, willows and marginal vegetation around the greater length of its banks.
Following an initial survey of the lake for the new owners of Rycote Park, Kingcombe Aquacare was tasked to restore the lake to the dimensions and character of the Capability Brown landscape. This involved not only the removal of over 43,000 m3 of silt, but also the restoration and upgrading of the dam to meet with current Reservoir Act requirements.
We carried out negotiations with the Environment Agency on behalf of the estate and were able to obtain an exemption under the Waste Disposal Regulations to excavate and spread the silt onto neighbouring farmland. Meanwhile the level of the dam was raised, new penstocks and other structures installed, and an emergency spillway designed and installed so that the retained Panel AR engineer was able to give the restored impoundment a clean bill of health.
Final landscaping included the installation of footpaths around the lake, the restoration of origianl water gardens below the dam, and the construction of a 17m bridge in green oak, built in our own workshops and designed by us to reflect the original Tudor history of the property.
Back To Top | Back To Water Engineering