Salisbury River Park Tour

The project is creating a new river park in the centre of Salisbury that includes ecological enhancements to protect the chalk stream river and the species inhabiting it, while providing improved facilities and opportunities for local residents.

Andy Wallis, Project Leader, showed us the progress to the Central Car Park, Ashley Road and Fisherton Recreation Ground sites. We learnt about the challenges faced by the project team in ensuring community engagement, and when faced with unexpected ground contamination and the severe weather over the winter, when flooding caused delays.

Particularly memorable were the alterations to the River Avon in Central Car Park, where Atlantic Salmon will now be able to complete their run upstream via a series of small rock weirs to lay their eggs at the source of the river. We also enjoyed hearing about the efforts to protect and increase the otter and water vole population of the river and were impressed by the artworks and murals created by local artists along the river and on public buildings.