Back in August 2013 we reported that one of Preston’s award-winning parks received a funding boost.
£49,082 was allocated to Haslam Park in Ashton-on-Ribble enabling it to recover and conserve threatened plants.
The Haslam Wetland Plant refuge Project, led by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, is now well underway with work progressing to create a varied wetland designed to serve as a refuge and recovery area for plant species threatened due to local, regional and national habitat loss.
Work was due to start on 14 February but was delayed due to the closure of the bridge over Savick Brook.
The recent severe storms brought down many trees in the park. A large tree was uprooted and smashed across the bridge damaging the railings and blocking the path.
The wetlands on the far side of the park where the work is taking place will be closed for at least eight weeks while heavy machinery is on site.
Haslam Park was developed by the Victorians as a formal park incorporating a lake, grass and woodland. The land adjacent was formerly farmland and is dissected by two brooks, Savick and Sharoe. The former farmland and parts of the formal park have been adopted as a Local Nature Reserve.
The Wildlife Trust directs people towards the Friends noticeboards in the park for more information and for an explanation of what is happening.