Walking through Rickerby Park in Carlisle recently I noticed that scaffolding surrounds the War Memorial and new information boards have been installed in the park.
It is a couple of months since my last visit to the large green park on the edge of the city centre and I was amazed with the amount of work that has gone on.
You may remember I mentioned that on my last visit trees around the War Memorial had been felled. Well I am please to say that new ones have been planted nearby and appear to be growing happily. I think they may be oaks but until the leaves come out I can not be sure.
Work also is underway on the memorial itself. Six stories of scaffolding surround the Sir Robert Lorimer designed memorial which was unveiled on Thursday 5th May 1922.
It is constructed from large blocks of Shap granite.
I am not sure what work is being done, but it could be part of some originally scheduled for 2011 at a cost of £14,500.
Information boards
Also spotted on my walk are new interpretation boards. The wooden displays feature various aspects of the park from the wildlife to the history of the area.
Colour photographs and easy to understand text gives any visitor to the park a little bit detail about what they can see and hear around them.
They also provide an ideal shelter for small dogs like me if we get caught in the rain without our coats.
Willow bank protection
Way back in 2009 Buster mentioned in a blog article, some recently planted willow saplings on the banks of the River Eden in Rickerby Park.
Those small sticks now tower above me and have grown to be many metres tall. The idea is that the tree roots bind into the soil and stop erosion and damage to the river wall.
Only time will tell if this method of stabilisation will work but at least it is a start and may just be the answer.
With my walk in Rickerby Park almost at an end I try out the new steps positioned close to the Eden Bridge Gardens.
Previously the way out of the park was via an often slippery muddy path.
Constructed of timber and stones, the new steps avoid me getting covered with mud as I leave the park. They also reduce the risk of dad falling over as I pull him up or down the banking.
Well done to the Friends of Rickerby Park volunteers who have done much of the work to improve this area of the City of Carlisle.
Until next time
Licks and wags
Charlie
War memorial and other pictures gallery
