The Friends of Victoria Park were delighted to learn that Ashford Borough Council has been awarded more than £3 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund to revitalise Victoria Park.
Much of the total budget is allocated to improvements to the Park.
We have reproduced the Masterplan of the proposals below.
Hover over numbers to read an outline item.
A preliminary tree planting plan has now been prepared
We will add more information as the proposals are developed.
1. Fountain & setting (piazza)
• Tree / shrub clearance
• Resurfacing and creation of new
seating areas
• Re-render fountain basin and clean
coping stones
• Repair cracks on existing wing walls
• Interpretation / signage
• Feature tree planting
2a. Park Entrances (existing)
• Tree / shrub clearance
• Entrance rationalisation
• Entrance signage
• Feature paving thresholds
2a. Park Entrances (existing)
• Tree / shrub clearance
• Entrance rationalisation
• Entrance signage
• Feature paving thresholds
2a. Park Entrances (existing)
• Tree / shrub clearance
• Entrance rationalisation
• Entrance signage
• Feature paving thresholds
2a. Park Entrances (existing)
• Tree / shrub clearance
• Entrance rationalisation
• Entrance signage
• Feature paving thresholds
2a. Park Entrances (existing)
• Tree / shrub clearance
• Entrance rationalisation
• Entrance signage
• Feature paving thresholds
2a. Park Entrances (existing)
• Tree / shrub clearance
• Entrance rationalisation
• Entrance signage
• Feature paving thresholds
2a. Park Entrances (existing)
• Tree / shrub clearance
• Entrance rationalisation
• Entrance signage
• Feature paving thresholds
2a. Park Entrances (existing)
• Tree / shrub clearance
• Entrance rationalisation
• Entrance signage
• Feature paving thresholds
2a. Park Entrances (existing)
• Tree / shrub clearance
• Entrance rationalisation
• Entrance signage
• Feature paving thresholds
2a. Park Entrances (existing)
• Tree / shrub clearance
• Entrance rationalisation
• Entrance signage
• Feature paving thresholds
2b. Park Entrances (proposed)
• Formation of new entrance
• Paving thresholds and signage
3. Potential Bowling Club Car Park
(A planning application for a car park in this location was refused due to the potential impact on protected trees
Ashford Borough Council Planning Case Ref: 17/00294/AS)
5. Existing Car Park to be improved
• Surfacing repairs & rationalisation
• Way finding
• Horticultural improvements to existing planting
6. Existing MUGA to be enhanced
• Selective tree / shrub clearance
• Refurbish / repaint existing fencing & metal work
7. Proposed hub / grand axis
• Existing building re purposed and extended to include Nursery (ABC), Public W/Cs and new café
• Outdoor seating & flexible events space
• New tree & shrub planting
8. Proposed Volunteer & Ground Maintenance Team Compound
• Tool storage containers and working compound area for park based volunteer activities
9. Existing Secret Garden to be managed to create Sensory Garden
• Selective tree and shrub clearance
• Repair & improvements to existing surfacing and access
• Proposed shrub, perennial & woodland planting
10. Bridges (existing)
• New handrails
• Refurbish and repaint metalwor
10. Bridges (existing)
• New handrails
• Refurbish and repaint metalwor
10. Bridges (existing)
• New handrails
• Refurbish and repaint metalwor
11. Existing Adventure Play Area to be refurbished / improved
• Refurbish and relocate existing furniture
• Creation of sight lines / vistas through selective tree & shrub clearance
• Feature semi mature tree planting
• New access paths
• Repurpose existing access road as running track
• New dirt track and teen play area
12. Enhancements to River Stour Corridor
• Hibernacula including nesting boxes and log piles
• Improvements to woodland & scrub structure
• Timber dipping platforms & seating areas
• Ecological improvements to river corridor including long term vegetation clearance and replanting by volunteers
• Signage & interpretation
12. Enhancements to River Stour Corridor
• Hibernacula including nesting boxes and log piles
• Improvements to woodland & scrub structure
• Timber dipping platforms & seating areas
• Ecological improvements to river corridor including long term vegetation clearance and replanting by volunteers
• Signage & interpretation
12. Enhancements to River Stour Corridor
• Hibernacula including nesting boxes and log piles
• Improvements to woodland & scrub structure
• Timber dipping platforms & seating areas
• Ecological improvements to river corridor including long term vegetation clearance and replanting by volunteers
• Signage & interpretation
13. Proposed Watercress Fields access path
• New pedestrian access path 1.8m wide
• Feature tree planting
14. Existing Community Orchard
• Extend and improve existing community
orchard including diversity & range of
species as well as provision for the
planting of feature specimen trees e.g
crab apples (universal pollinators
15. Proposed children’s playground
16. Long grass area for maze project
17. Existing Ford River crossing
• Replace / repair existing broken
concrete surfacing
• New seating area. Feature tree and
shrub planting
18. Proposed new access bridge from adjacent housing development (part of separate phase of works by others)
19. Outdoor gym equipment (by others)