Part of Wensum Park in Norwich closed for woodland project

Woodland in Wensum Park, off Drayton Road in NR3, is set to benefit from the cash injection to boost biodiversity and increase accessibility.

The initial work by Norwich City Council and Norwich Fringe Project started on Monday and is expected to take a month to complete, during which the wooded area will be closed to the public.

The work is expected to take a month to complete (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)

This will include digging out the heavily silted pond and ditch systems, installing an additional bridge and selectively thinning the woodland.

The park is known for celebrating carnival-like gatherings but also has drug-related issues regularly occurring in the area.

Wensum Park play area has also had a revamp and will open soon (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)

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Sean Taylor, 57, visits the park with his three grandchildren and praised the work, saying: "This is a well-populated area so it's a great investment of time and money.

"I've got great memories of walking from Hellesdon here with my mum back in the 70s and we'd swim in the river.

Sean Taylor, 57, with his three grandchildren vising Wensum Park (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)

"It was one of the best parks to come to back in the day and these additions will be great for the community."

The funding comes from the Department for Levelling Up and Housing and Communities' Levelling Up Parks fund, following a successful bid in 2022.

City councillor Adam Giles, cabinet member for community and wellbeing, said: "I'm delighted for the local community that we're carrying out these works to improve Wensum Park.

The section of Wensum Park woodland which is being improved with the funding (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)

"In addition to the new equipment being installed in the playpark, these changes to the woodland area will help make it a safer, more accessible, place for everyone to enjoy. 

"Boosting biodiversity is key and that's why it's so important that our plans focus on how we can provide the best possible habitats, ensuring the park benefits residents and wildlife alike."

Diggers could be seen doing work to trim the woodland in Wensum Park (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)