Construction Diary
May 10 2005

Work will shortly recommence to complete the Heart of Reeds project, in preparation for a public launch on the 25th June.

Throughout the winter, monitoring has taken place of the water levels, and reeds have been carefully planted at the base of the banks, throughout the design area. Several volunteer groups helped install over 1200 young reed plants in early April, including the Railway Land Meadow Minders and the Sussex Downs Conservation Board's Volunteer Rangers. Reeds that were already present on the site before the construction began, have been carefully moved in clumps by their rhizomes, and are now sprouting new growth from their new positions, along the water line across the Heart of Reeds.

The final construction phase will take place in late May and early June, which will see the installation of a specially designed bridge across the concrete spillway near to the Winterbourne stream. This will be fabricated off site, in several sections, and then assembled on site.

The footpaths will be surfaced and edged, so as to provide a surface suitable for users of wheelchairs.

A short length of boardwalk will also be installed towards the centre of the design, which will be constructed from recycled plastics, which give a durable and aesthetically pleasing finish, whilst being produced from sustainable materials.

A pond dipping platform, and length of footpath will be installed into the pond that lies to the south of the reedbed. This will also be accessible to wheelchairs.

Final earth works will involve distributing the topsoil that is currently piled to the south of the design area, and will be spread onto the viewing mound and one or two other areas. Some of the ditches will also have some minor re-profiling where some slippage has occurred throughout the winter.

When all the work is complete, the fencing will be removed, and the site will be opened to the public on the 25th June. More information about the opening celebrations will be posted on the website nearer the time.

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