Welcome Area improvements coming soon

Visitors may have noticed that contractor cabins have been installed this week on an area of the main Ferry Meadows car park, ready for our Welcome Aarea improvement work to start. 

Over the next few months, we will start work to improve the visitor arrival experience into the Park. This main arrival area at Ferry Meadows is a visitor’s first impression of the Park and where people gather for activities, events, to use facilities and to plan their next steps into the Park.  

Our plans involve re-landscaping this area and introducing a new canopy area which will gather together the car park payment machines, information displays and creating a focal point connecting through to the toilets. The landscaping in the area will be further improved ensuring a clear arrival point for visitors with a realigned footpath, taking visitors from the welcome area more directly to the Visitor Centre. A new central feature tree and increased seating both in the centre and around the edge of the area will create a greater sense of place.  The new landscaping will include increased biodiversity rich planting and sculptural features such as seating, habitat features and an arch covered walkway.  

The toilets will also be improved and upgraded and we are introducing a new extension to include a Changing Places facility. This is a larger accessible changing and toilet facility including a hoist, height adjustable changing bench as well as space for carers. This will be a vital facility for many disabled people, enabling them and their families to enjoy the Park.  

Although initial work will be starting soon, this will not affect visitors’ access to the Park for the time being. We will communicate any updates to visitor access as work continues so keep an eye on our website and social media.