Pen Ponds Overspill, Richmond Park
Client: The Royal Parks
Value: £78,000
Project Manager: Vinci Facilities
Design: Peter Brett Associates
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Richmond Park in south west London is one of the ancient Royal Parks and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve.
Pen Ponds are in the centre of the park and are two ponds formed by the damming of a small stream in 1746.
The concern was that in periods of extremely heavy rainfall the water volume might be greater than the outlet pipes could handle resulting in a ‘topping’ of the dams and the possibility of a dam breach.
The problem was addressed by the Peter Brett team and involved the creation of a spillway on each dam. The spillways are formed from cellular blocks topped with self setting gravel to match the existing tracks throughout the park.
After competitive tender Birch Brothers were awarded the contract by Vinci Facilities who are responsible for construction management in the Royal Parks.
The contract was valued at £78,000 and completed in September and October 2011, Richmond Park was a pleasure to work in with deer strolling by, parakeets in the trees above and many types of duck and geese on the lakes alongside. The fencing in the photographs is to keep the deer off the acid grassland and will remain until the grassland has regenerated.
