Update re Mallards Way, Mote Park and Whatman Park

Following on from the information email below, we now have some dates for the works at each site to start. The dates are weather permitting, as heavy rain and higher water levels could delay works, but at the moment the forecast is looking dry.

• 9^th - 20^th September - Whatman Park
• 23^rd – 4^th September - Mote Park
• 7^th October – 22^nd November - Mallards Way

Maidstone Borough Council’s Parks and Open Spaces Team will be delivering a project in the Autumn to remove silt from three sites in Maidstone. MBC has provided the following information to briefly inform those in the vicinity of the sites about the works that will be taking place.

In February 2022, the Policy and Resources Committee approved funding for wetland restoration at a number of sites, which included desilting ponds to original depths with the silt utilised to create/restore islands for wildlife and breeding birds.

A contractor, AGA Group, has now been appointed to undertake the project to remove silt from ponds at Mallards Way, Mote Park and Whatman Park this autumn. If you would like any other information about a particular site, please send an email to: parksandopenspaces@maidstone.gov.uk

The ponds are suffering from various aspects of deterioration and the project aims to improve the areas to reduce flooding & erosion, boost wildlife and enhance biodiversity. The benefits of the proposed improvements align with MBC Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategies.

Low impact machinery will to be used to minimise ground damage and disturbance to current habitats and wildlife. Works will be within current ecological guidelines in line with the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.

Below is a brief description of the works.

Mallards Way

A depth of approximately 400mm of silt will be removed from the pond bed and retained on site, either incorporating it behind silt retaining fences around the edge of the pond and islands, or by spreading on the adjacent banks. All the silt will be retained on site and seeded with grass and wildflower mixes to support and encourage both existing and new habitats.

The silt retaining fences will be constructed from a semi porous ‘Nicospan’ membrane held in place with timber stakes.

Two areas of eroded bank on the eastern side of the pond will be repaired and landscaped to give access to the water’s edge for park visitors.

Specification – site work:

• install a Nicospan membrane fence around the islands approximately two meters out from the eroded bank edges.
• install a Nicospan membrane fence along the northern and south-western bank margins approximately two meters out from the eroded bank edges.
• backfill the fence lines with silt from the pond.
• install gabion baskets and oak revetments at two locations along the eastern bank to provide access to the water’s edge.

The contractor will be monitoring the health of the fish throughout the contract and will manage them during the works.

Mote Park

The small pond at Mote Park that leads into the main lake, has been acting as a silt trap to catch silt before it enters the lake, the pond is now full and needs the silt levels lowered to reduce silt flowing through into the main lake. Lowering the level will allow the incoming silt to settle in the catchment pond instead of going into the lake where it will be harder and more costly to remove in the future.

Specification – site work:

• remove up to 1m of silt from the pond and transfer it to an area adjacent to the pond – this will allow invertebrates to return to the pond whilst the silt drains and settles, allowing existing flora to flourish.

Whatman Park

The pond is immediately adjacent to the River Medway with an inlet and outlet leading directly onto the main river. We will be removing silt from the inlet to increase water flow and remove silt across the rest of the pond to improve the water habitat and restore the islands. Trees will be removed, or crown lifted on the banks to increase light into the pond area. The enhanced water flow will support existing and new habitats.

All silt will be retained and deposited on site.

Specification – site work:

• remove or crown lift trees around the edge of the pond, retain logs on site.
• remove up to 1m of silt from the inlet and transfer it to a designated area adjacent to the pond.

Works are due to start in September and, weather permitting, should be completed by the end of November. The outline programme is to start at Whatman Park, then move to Mote Park and finish at Mallards Way. The public will be redirected around work areas and signage will be on display advising what works are being completed at each site. It will be muddy in these areas for a while, but the contractor will keep footpaths and roads clean and by next Spring, areas of the dredged silt should start to revegetate.