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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Broadwalk Bridge


The Island planting near Tipkinder is now complete and the gardeners will be moving onto the other Islands to prepare them for planting


The second section of the bridge is in and they are putting the decking on. The rest of the section are being put on hold until Tuesday as the strong winds are giving problems with the crane

Monday, March 29, 2010

Broadwalk Bridge



The bridge over Broad walk was being put into place today but due to the size and complexity they were having trouble getting it to fit. They had to take it out and put it back a few times and by 3 o'clock they only had the first section in and it looks as if it will continue tomorrow.



The Daffs our now coming out along the main walk at a rapid pace


Lots of gardeners were out planting the island today as it needs to be done before any water is in the lake.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Broadwalk Bridge



As reported the other day they had trouble getting the giant steel support into and in the end it had to be done the next day. It was just down to a safety computer on the crane which wouldn't let it lift the steel as it was to windy.
However on Thursday the wind had dropped and the support was in place.


There is now some work to do on site welding the top supports onto the steel and as you can see in the above picture that is now going ahead the bridge its self which you can see in the background will be lifted into place on Monday as the men are working over the weekend to get everything ready


The metal supports for the end of the bridge were lifted into place. The work will then be completed by Thursday night when all the bridges will be fully installed. One of the Burma Bridges has yet to be lowered a few feet after the initial settling period. The contractor Tolent will then be leaving the site after Easter but its hoped they will get the Cafe contract so they can start work straight away

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Whats on in the Quens Park this year

Broadwalk Bridge



Work Started today trying to get the giant steel work in for the Broadwalk bridge which will be lifted into place on Thursday. They managed to get the base fixed with little problems. But then the giant crane hit a snag it has a computer control which measures the wind speed and it would not let them lift as the wind speed was to high. They needed to lift the massive steel supports very high over the trees in order to lower it into place but by 3 o'clock they still couldn't do it due to high wind speed. I have know doubt they lifted it in the end but we watch for several ours as they kept trying only to be defeated by the computer and weather. More reports tomorrow

Friday, March 19, 2010

Queens Park Grandest Bridge To Be Lifted Into Place


Picture the new massive steel structure on site on Friday ready for installation on Monday

Another milestone in the multi-million pound restoration of Crewe’s Queens Park takes place next week with the installation of its grandest bridge.

Following this week’s positioning of the Burma Star Bridge, Thursday (March 25) will see the 40-metre Broadwalk bridge hoisted into place over the Coronation Walk dip.

The structure, which is six metres wide, will span the steep incline to improve access between the two halves of the park.

A giant crane will lift the arches in four separate pieces and install them on a huge steel central support.

The bridge beams are constructed of sustainable ekki hardwood, a longer-lasting timber which reduces the pressures of logging on the forests of the world.

Self-preserving and with self-repairing properties, its timbers can only be machined as the wood is too tough to work with hand tools.

The new structure is the latest development in the Heritage Lottery-funded £6.5m restoration of the 45-acre park, which will eventually house five impressive bridges.

Councillor Andrew Knowles, Cabinet member with responsibility for health and wellbeing, said: “The lifting into place of the Burma Star Bridge was a sight to behold and I am sure the Broadwalk installation will be just as spectacular.

“The new bridge will be a very impressive structure and will be particularly welcomed by people with pushchairs and wheelchair users, who will no longer be forced to negotiate the steep incline.
Below the last bridge on Burma island now fully installed



“The park restoration is really gathering pace now thanks to the hard work of the design team whose members are seeking to complete works ahead of schedule wherever possible.

“Over the coming months, park users will notice more big changes as more areas re-open to the public.”

The next stage in the restoration will be the completion of the lake edges and bed, with the filling of the lake scheduled for summer.

The design and selection of the new playground equipment - in conjunction with Sir William Stanier School - is currently being finalised and will be installed in time for the school summer holidays.

Anyone who would like to find out more about the restoration is welcome to attend the next meeting of the Friends of Queens Park this Wednesday (March 24) at 6pm in the park cafeteria.

Regular updates are available by mail. Please contact Queens Park Manager Elaine Dodd on 01270 537896 to register your details.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

EXPERIENCE BEAUTIFUL WILDLIFE ON YOUR DOORSTEP



Bringing a local park into the 21st Century and ensuring the continued wellbeing of its native wildlife is not as simple as you may think.

Take Queen’s Park in Crewe as an example; Cheshire East Council (CEC) is currently investing £6.5m into restoring the park to its former glory but have also been tasked with meeting the demands of certain feathered visitors and the park’s more permanent resident: bats.

The bats, four different protected species, have made the existing bandstand area their home over the past few years and seemed contented to stay put. However, for human visitors, the old, leaky roof had become somewhat of an eyesore. A series of surveys identified when the bats would leave the site to roost elsewhere. At this point the roof was refurbished and pieces of plywood suspended from the ceiling to provide more suitable accommodation for these flying mammals.

Cheshire East Councillor Andrew Knowles, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Parks, said;

“This is proof that the numerous surveys which have been carried out to protect wildlife in the park are paying off. Improving life for birds and bats as well as ourselves is the main aim of this project. The work which has been completed has already revitalised the area. This can only continue as the project nears completion.”


Case Study, Mark Stubbs – A member of the South East Cheshire Ornithological Society, said:

“I recently decided to pay a visit to the Queen's Park in Crewe to see what birds were present. Having spent the last few years conducting bird surveys in the urban Crewe area, surprisingly I hadn't visited the park, so it was something I had to do for curiosity's sake.

“I arrived at the entrance opposite Tipkinder Park and immediately saw a Coal Tit. Next I saw a Jay, in my opinion, one of our most beautiful resident
birds. Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove (picture left), Mistle Thrush, Great Tit and Blue Tit soon followed. A Tree Creeper climbing up a tree by the play area continued a good start to the walk and as I proceeded, resident songbirds were in evidence, such as Robin, Wren and Dunnock.

“All of a sudden, the unmistakable undulating flight of a Greater Spotted Woodpecker overhead was noted before it landed in a treetop. Blackbirds and Song Thrushes, which were worming on the grassed areas, were joined by several Redwings. There have been large numbers of this Scandinavian thrush in the UK this winter, and birds are not only turning up in parks, but in gardens as well.

“At the Victoria Avenue entrance, House Sparrows were chirping on the Gatehouse buildings and in the adjacent area, Magpie, Crow, Jackdaw, feral Pigeon and Pied Wagtail were noted. Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch were soon added to the list and then I heard a Goldcrest. After a minute or so it gave itself up, flicking away in the foliage, looking for insects. It's amazing how this, our smallest British bird, survives considering we've just experienced our harshest winter in over thirty years.

“In the lake area I saw approximately 70 Mallard along with a single male
Mandarin Duck. Originally one of a breeding pair present since 2000, the male has been on his own since 2003, and resident ever since. Fifteen Canada Geese, a single feral Greylag Goose, with the farmyard type white geese, four Moorhen and a grey Heron were also seen, along with 15 Black-headed and two Common Gulls, hanging around, hoping for an easy meal when people come to feed the ducks bread.

“So, it just goes to show that you don't have to visit the countryside to experience bird life when it's on your own doorstep!”

There have been more additions to the park to ensure Queen’s Park remains a ‘des-res’ for all manner of local wildlife. These include a number of nest boxes:

10 Tit boxes – various size entrance holes, 25mm-32mm;
2 Treecreeper boxes;
2 open fronted boxes;
1 larger box – 45mm entrance hole;
1 Hawk box and;
1 large owl box;

There are plans to erect more boxes in the future, including 2 owl chimneys.

Another habitat booster that has been introduced over the last two years is the creation of small discreet log piles. Sometimes, this may just be one large log or bough, placed within a shrubbery. The decaying wood attracts fungi and insects, the latter providing a good food source for many other animals.

Plus, the more unusual....

The Mandarin Duck, referred to by Mark Stubbs is an uncommon feature around Britain’s parks, but one permanently resides in Queen’s Park and his late family members before him since 1980. Plus, a more recent welcome visitor is the Cope Shields Duck, seen numerous times over the last two weeks; it is thought to have either escaped or been set free as it is not a native of these shores.

Information concerning Queens Park can be obtained by telephoning Elaine Dodd, Queens Park Manager on 01270 537559.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Second Burma Bridge Arrives

The second Burma Bridge arrived to day just one week after the last one This time a heavier crane was need to get the bridge into place
View of the new bridge from the far side of the lake (Morton rd end) so you can see what the two bridges now look like. Notice the wall around the lake which has been completed


The crane lifting the bridge into place. next week is the big week when the long awaited Broadwalk bridge comes. As its so big this will take 3 days starting Monday when the steel support will arrive and this will have to be welded on site. Its hoped to have the bridge in by Wednesday ready for the Friends meeting which is on Wednesday at 6 o'clock at the cafe everyone is invited to attend.
There is now like 2 weeks for the contractor on site and the job will be finished its hoped the same firm will get the contract for the new cafe as they are already on site and can start straight away.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Burma Island Bridge

More pictures of yesterdays bridge which is now full installed. Above the bridge from the lake Tipkinder end

The new bridge from across the lake Morton road end taken with a Fugi S1500 12X Zoom
The bridge taken from the Gold Coarse with the island in the foreground which is being renovated you can see that its being heightened a lot to match other Islands

The Island near Tipkinder now renovated and dug over ready for the new planting any day now

Another visitor to the park the South African Shelduck seen walking about the park

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Burma Star Bridge Spectacularly Lifted into Place


The Burma Star Bridge – the second largest landmark bridge in Crewe’s Queens Park – was hoisted into place on Wednesday (March 17)
From 11am onwards, A 300 tonne crane lifted the 22.5 tonne bridge into place.
The Burma Star Bridge – named so after the Second World War Campaign in the Burma jungles – will arch over the Burma Star Island and Memorial, which is also undergoing renovation.
It’s all part of a £6.5m restoration of the park, thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund. Eventually, the 45-acre park will house five impressive bridges.
Councillor Andrew Knowles, Cabinet member with responsibility for parks, said the special occasion was close to his heart.
His uncle, James Knowles, who served as a Chindit during the Burma campaign, died in 1944 aged just 20 years-old. To this day, Andrew has kept a medal he won as a keepsake.
He added: “This will be an important part of Crewe’s history when this bridge finally settles into place.
“This incredible Victorian park is slowly being brought back to its former glory thanks to Cheshire East Council and its funding partners, as well as all the help and support from members of the public who have been extremely patient during renovations.”
The Burma Star Bridge is a tribute to the Burma Star Association who refer to themselves as the “Forgotten Regiment”.
The Burma Star Association was officially founded on the 26 February 1951, with 2000 founder members who exist to promote the comradeship experienced during the bitter fighting in the jungles of Burma, as well as help members and their families in times of ill-health and poverty.
The Association has representatives from the Royal Navy, Army Royal Air Force and Royal British Legion on the National Council.




The bridge being lifted with the steel work. Most of the work was done by 3pm but the second part of the bridge hadn't arrived at that time
What the bridge will look like when the lake is filled
Besides the bridge the new wall near Burma Island was going in around the lake

Further down the new wall by the golf coarse was cracking on as well.

More pictures soon as there is a lot happening at the moment

Thursday, March 4, 2010


Click on the picture to see it full screen

A progress report on the state of play at the park. Details have been announced of when work will be done and finished.

Work done so far is Dredging, Tree removal, Railings, Bandstand and Drain repair.

Work to be competed by June 2010 Bridges and Lake, New Play Area. Planting on the Islands

Work to be done by June 2011 Footpaths, New Depot Main Pavilion, Bowls pavilion, Lodges and Clock, Boer War Memorial, Gates and Coronation Walk

The last of the footing for the Broad walk has now been done ready for the new bridge


A lot of work has been done this week on walls around the lake above is Burma Island wall almost completed and the bank wall leading to it from Tipkinder
Work on a new section of wall near the new bridge was well underway today and the top stones on the islands were going on. Planting of the islands is expect in the next couple of weeks subject to weather