Woodland walk proposals

Proposal to extend the Woodland Walk

The Queen’s Park Residents Association (QPARA) have drafted a proposal to extend the Woodland Walk which is located at the northern end of Queen’s Park. The aim is to create more habitat for wildlife and to improve biodiversity as well as providing extra woodland space for visitors to enjoy. 

History

Since 1887 the Park has had a relatively narrow area of woodland along its’ northern edge. The original figure of eight hard pathway around the whole Park skirted this woodland. In the 1960s the pitch and putt course was created and effectively cut off the northern section of the circular pathway around the Park without providing an alternative. In 2000 the woodland area was opened up as a Woodland Walk, but with a soft pathway, and with various nature conservation features and signs. Footfall grew with joggers and walkers going further and further off the path. The result was the creation of large areas of compacted soil with no vegetation and mainly brambles and nettles elsewhere. Disturbance also reduced the variety of wildlife to be observed. At one stage the path became so muddy that it had to be closed

Proposed extension

In 2020 the Corporation published a detailed description of the Walk and its vegetation. QPARA then set up a Woodland Walk Working Group of 15 members which met intensively between January and April 2021 and came up with a concept for roughly doubling the size of the Woodland Walk area and for giving priority to quiet enjoyment and nature conservation within it.

The proposal is to separate the Woodland Walk physically from the circular pathway around the Park, but with its’ own internal path designed in such a way as to discourage users from going off it except in a special children’s section. The consequence would mean that the original figure of eight 1887 path would be restored and the two pitch and putt holes affected would be re-instated elsewhere or the pitch and putt would move from nine hole to seven hole. The plan below shows the proposed extension area.