![\"Floating](\"https:\/\/ablogfrommydog.com\/contents1a\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2009\/02\/floaters_rickerby_park_feb09_gallery9.jpg\" "\\"floaters_rickerby_park_feb09_gallery9\\"")
<\/a>We came upon our first floating humans this morning, and I have to say they looked rather funny.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They were in the river, in front of the Sands Centre, and they had a single brightly coloured leg which was stuck out in front of them. \u00a0<\/p>\n
They bobbed around on the water using their arms to waggle a stick firstly to the left, then the right as they attempted to swim upstream.<\/p>\n
Don’t they know that it is much easier to swim with the flow of water and that sticks are for fetching!<\/p>\n Our walk continued up to Eden Bridge where we turned right and climbed the small bank up to the ornate gardens.<\/p>\n Eden Bridge Gardens<\/a>, or known locally as the Chinese Gardens, are actually Italian inspired and are undergoing a large amount of restoration work.<\/p>\n A scheme, funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund, started in October 2008 and will result in the gardens returning to their former glory.<\/p>\n Behind the formal garden, with the covered seating area, is a pond and embankment.<\/p>\n This area has all been cleared of dead shrubs and overgrowth and is allowing light back down to soil level with the result that long forgotten plants can now flourish.<\/p>\n Charlie inspected the crocus, daffodils and iris from his vantage point overlooking Scotland Road, whilst I took a bit of a rest on some bark chippings nearby.<\/p>\n You can read more about the gardens over at Heritage and History <\/a>\u00a0where my mum writes regularly about the restoration work.<\/p>\n Leaving the park and\u00a0traveling into town across then under Eden Bridge, we noticed the path, which had been previously closed for flood defence work, had reopened.<\/p>\n This path had been closed since August<\/a> as work to create a flood barrier was carried out. \u00a0We have reported many times on this work and it was great to see all the metal grills have been removed and we can take a close inspection of the work.<\/p>\n Charlie, as always, was out in front and was impressed with the finished re-aligned \u00a0subway entrance.<\/p>\n White capped walls and soil embankments give the whole project a natural feeling and Buster and I agree that it is much improved from the old main road crossing point. \u00a0<\/p>\n Charlie inspected the new steps and the ramp and took a good look at the pristine white coping stones wondering how long it would be before some human came along with a marker pen or a spray can and made their mark.<\/p>\n Now we just wait for the underpass to be cleaned up and improved so it looks as professional as this new installation.<\/p>\n Work continues on the flood defences elsewhere in the city with the builders recently moving in to an area to the rear of the Sands Centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our circular route took us next in to Victoria Park and we were greeted with a path lined with colour.<\/p>\n Thousands of crocus flowers had erupted since our last visit and now provided the park with a carpet of purple, white and yellow flowers.<\/p>\n Dad took the chance to take many photographs, as these little fragile signs of spring only last a few days.<\/p>\n Our walk was almost at an end as we returned back into Rickerby Park but not before we noticed a new gate had been installed.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>