Last updated: October 2021
Larkhill Gardens Lake improvement is a collaborative project between the City Council, the Environment Agency and the local community. It is part of the long-term project, Liverpool Park Lakes Project, whose aim is to tackle many problems faced by shallow park lakes. Larkhill Gardens Lake (4936m2) a circular shaped, steep, vertical hard-banked lake, situated in a small estates garden in the city. Like many lakes, Larkhill Gardens Lake experienced problems linked to structural decline, lack of water, poor water quality, poor habitat quality, loss of management of the user and lack of proactive management by the City Council. The improvement of the lake included changing its structure to create a deep-water fishing area, shallow water area and wetland. The project was funded by a partnership between Liverpool City Council and the Environment Agency (Reference 1).
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
Key challenges
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Improvements to water quality
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable consumption
- Sustainable production
Focus
Improved governance of green or blue areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Project objectives
The project was designed to reverse the decline of one of the few remaining environmental attractions in a densely populated urban area. It was to address the problems associated with:
1. structural decline: 2. lack of water; 3. poor water quality; 4. poor habitat quality; 5. loss of management of the user, 6. lack of proactive management (ref 4)
Implementation activities
The lake’s structure was changed to create a deep-water fishing area, shallow water area and wetland. Water supply was addressed through the installation of a borehole; an outflow was fitted with a topwater level and a summer water level within the wetland, a previously adjacent area of land prone to flooding. The bank profiles were reduced and marginal planting undertaken by the use of locally sourced native species. Access and reduction of user conflict was facilitated by the incorporation of a boardwalk and fishing platform (Reference 1)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Means for conservation governance
- Manage biological resources for conservation and sustainable use
- Public engagement
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
- Capacity building
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
- Local government/municipality
- Citizens or community group
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
A collaborative project between the City Council, the Environment Agency and the local community. approved by the Park Lakes Advisory Forum (P.L.A.F.) - The City Council formed a Park Lakes Advisory Forum (P.L.A.F.) to co-ordinate public, private and community involvement. P.L.A.F. approved the lake refurbishment project at Larkhill Gardens. They are encouraging community ownership of the project. (Ref 1)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Increased protection against flooding
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Society for Ecological restoration Liverpool 2000. (2012). Reflections on the past directions for the future. Accessed at Source link.
2. Environment Agency. (2001). LOWER MERSEY LEAP ANNUAL REVIEW. [ONLINE] Available at: Source link.
3. Aquatic commons. 1998. Annual Summary of fisheries in the north west incorporating the fishery statistics. [ONLINE] Available at: Source link.
4. Environmental Agency. (2000). North West Fisheries Annual Report 2000. Available at: Source link
2. Environment Agency. (2001). LOWER MERSEY LEAP ANNUAL REVIEW. [ONLINE] Available at: Source link.
3. Aquatic commons. 1998. Annual Summary of fisheries in the north west incorporating the fishery statistics. [ONLINE] Available at: Source link.
4. Environmental Agency. (2000). North West Fisheries Annual Report 2000. Available at: Source link