32. Panshanger Park
Themes: Water Quality, Habitats and Wildlife; People
Objectives:
- That whatever the flow level, the river and its associated habitats, including banks and floodplains, are managed to support chalk stream species
- To increase the attractiveness, visibility and public access, to enable people to appreciate the river (commensurate with managing and protecting sensitive habitats and species)
Project description
The restoration of the 1000 acre historic Panshanger Park which includes ancient woodland, veteran trees, flower-rich and wet grasslands, fen and marsh, lakes and the River Mimram. The Park will be accessible to the public for nature watching and informal recreation.
Following sand and gravel extraction, Lafarge Aggregates is restoring the 1000 acre historic park to provide a biodiverse landscape which will be publicly accessible. The Park contains a rich variety of wildlife habitats including ancient woodland, veteran trees, flower-rich and wet grasslands, fen and marsh, lakes and one of the best stretches of the River Mimram. Wildlife includes water voles, otters, many types of birds and bats. Restoration is being co-ordinated through an advisory management committee which includes Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, Herts County Council and the Environment Agency.
The eastern end of the Park was opened to the public in Spring 2014.