|
AN open memo of thanks to those amongst us who can change their minds (on Cae Ddol, Ruthin).
To change our minds is one of the fairest signs of democracy.
Abandoning the idea of a fishery on the Cae Ddol Pond - a pond in the sense of the traditional ‘village pond’ rather than a lake - is probably a wise move.
Though there would have been advantages for some, including an angling club and the youngsters involved, the pond itself including the natural space around, is clearly rather small.
Conflicts, unforeseen or not, would probably have arisen.
These conflicts would, in all likelihood, have demanded changes to the pond which could have been detrimental to the eco-system and bio-diversity already existing there.
So our thanks should go to those responsible on council who were prepared to change their minds on the scheme.
With that in mind, and the request for ideas about the area, I would like to present the two following suggestions - a narrative walk and an external pavilion.
I have no deeper knowledge of maintenance and sustainable issues with regards to the lake but put forward these two ideas to help encourage community participation; for the residents who live near Cae Ddol, for Ruthin residents concerned about the loss of the paddling pool, and for the council members.
1: A Narrative Walk
At present the concrete walkway edged with a wire fence and somewhat unseemly timber posts, from where children usually reach through and feed the swans, is rather narrow.
It allows for no pram access. It has an untidy joint with the seating area near the little weir.
It is uneven throughout inhibiting the elderly.
A wider path here (2m for example), following the bend of the pond to the outlet as it does at present, would help upgrade this walk.
Along this section there could be seats placed where the path meets the sloping grass.
Also such a wider space could work well as a ‘nature narrative’ – storyboards erected at regular intervals.
These storyboards would be educational and provide information about the birds, the activity within the pond and other relevant information.
There are examples of these already in the UK.
Here in Ruthin it would help establish the educational value of the whole public space, not only the pond itself.
Such narrative markers could be integrated into an upgraded metal fencing, elegantly designed and robust without being over expensive.
The surface of this narrative walkway could be timber as in Brickfields Pond in Rhyl, with open joints to allow instant draining.
This has an intimacy that connects the edge to the water and is one which in Britain we are used to from walkways near rivers, from promenades, from boat jetties.
The upper asphalt path, where the elderly often sit, would still work well with such a lower path in view for those with prams or children. Also a new smaller sitting area could open out, again using the timber decking, where the curve reaches the outlet part of the pond.
Here is a natural area too where families and children are often seen gathering under the large, impressive trees.
It used to be the nearest point of the pond to the paddling pool and thus would be a place for picnics too facing the pond and the swans.
The ground surface of the existing widened seating area, facing the houses and the wall near the weir, would also gain by being timber and more friendly than the current broken and distressed concrete.
The extent of the narrative pathway could then begin at this ‘platform’ and end, as it does at present near the outlet, with another ‘platform’.
This would then allow the edge of the pond facing the rugby field to remain more natural.
With sustainability in mind and a delicate re-planting of marginal vegetation, this edge would retain its natural border and offer as it does today, a delightful edge to the pond.
This edge also leads to the area where there is a submerged broken concrete wall; this has become useful for the birds and again possible delicate maintenance with judicious use of marginal vegetation might sufficiently handle this edge.
The occasional floating log would be important to retain within the pond too.
The island within the pond might be cleared sensitively with bio-diversity in mind, allowing the swans and other birds, access and use.
It is suggested that all other maintenance could be kept minimal to keep the park and pond as it is, without further semi-urbanizing or manicuring away its natural feel.
2: An External Pavilion-Classroom
The removal of the paddling pool in Ruthin was a blow to many.
Whether it was done in an underhand or accidental way, matters little now.
We should try and go forward. If something is to be in its place, the sensitivity of the site is uppermost.
The paddling pool was located in a natural bowl within the landscape.
It was framed by the trees, the river behind, the path to one of the bridges and the trees where the attendant used to sit.
By using the low part of the bowl, this could offer the perfect, protected and natural site for a small open pavilion.
It could also operate as an external classroom, a destination point for classes and walks.
Constructed mainly of timber, inventive, organic but not necessarily exuberant, with open sides, this would allow for edge sitting, for activities on the platform, small performances, school activities, and other small gatherings.
It is quite possible this could be planned and even funded with some engagement with artists from the area interested in the construction of an open ‘nature’ pavilion.
There are examples of this type of construction in Britain and many in Europe within town parks.
A recent visit to Brickfields Pond in Rhyl was a revelation.
Unbeknown to many there is a little gem there, where the natural slides into the wild and the benefits for the community clear for all to see.
The narratives, the timber decking, the intimacy of the natural, the sense of the ‘wild’ are all well contained, open and accessible.
It is a credit to the authorities and individuals who manage it.
Brickfields Pond however is larger, operates fishing and offers a different scale to Cae Ddol.
Cae Ddol Park is one of the best natural and semi-natural spaces in North Wales.
Framed by the rugby field, the farming fields and the river, the views are splendid, the setting open and inviting.
It is a public space of high quality and can host any number of unusual events as it has done over the years without doing too much damage.
Doing the minimum here in a sensitive way, possibly along the lines of these suggestions, learning and using the expertise already existing in Denbighshire County Council, would be achieving a lot.
Any attempt however to use or seek a budget for bigger play and leisure facilities in such a space would, in my opinion, be detrimental to the quality, the legacy and the natural and public value of the park and pond.
Roger Connah - Ruthin .
(My thanks go to Garry Davies, Countryside Officer from Denbighshire County Council for his insights into these two sites – Brickfields Pond and Cae Ddol).
|