Protecting the fen carr at Hardwick Park

If you’ve visited Hardwick Park recently, you may be aware that access to the boardwalk in the fen carr area of the park is currently closed due to its poor condition.

We now have an opportunity to apply for funding to replace the boardwalk either fully, or in part, and help to improve the biodiversity in this special part of the park.

The fen carr

20% of Hardwick Park is designated a Local Wildlife Site due to the presence of fen carr, a nationally rare and vulnerable habitat that supports birds, plants, invertebrates, and mammals. Willow and birch carr are currently providing an established and valuable area of wet woodland. However, the whole area has started to dry over the last 15 years, and some open water habitat has already been lost. This is affecting the biodiversity of the area.

Funding bid

We are preparing a funding application to improve the fen carr habitat. This will involve the removal of invasive species, raising water levels, creating ponds and opening watercourses to control water flow and quality. As part of this work, we are proposing to replace the existing boardwalk through the fen carr as it has come to the end of its life and is no longer safe to use.

As part of the funding application process, we need to show that the park's community supports all elements of the project, so we’re asking for your views on biodiversity improvements and the boardwalk replacement.

Boardwalk replacement

There are three options for the boardwalk replacement.

Option 1

Remove the existing boardwalk fully, build a new board walk through the area, with a slightly modified route (see map below).

Key points are:

• Access is retained all the way through the fen carr.
• Improved site lines across the habitat towards the main lake.
• The redirection of the walkway will help some of the wet woodland to regenerate for the benefit of biodiversity.
• New interpretation panels will help learning about habitats and wildlife.
• This option requires the most funding  to deliver.

Option 2

Remove the existing boardwalk fully to allow a large area of the wet woodland habitat of the local wildlife site to regenerate for the benefit of biodiversity. Provide new community access to the fen carr with a viewing platform at the top of the carr (see map below).

Key points are:

• Access is still present by a short boardwalk and viewing platform, but you will no longer be able to walk all the way through the fen carr.
• Improved site lines across the habitat towards the main lake.
• A greatly reduced boardwalk will help significantly more of the wet woodland to regenerate for the benefit of biodiversity.
• New interpretation panels will help learning about habitats and wildlife. 
• Less funding is required to deliver this option. 

Option 3

Undertake wetland improvement works and remove the existing boardwalk fully. This would allow the full area of habitat to regenerate for the benefit of biodiversity but visitor access through the fen carr would be lost. 

Key points are:

• Views of the fen carr are still present from the park’s main footpaths, but you will no longer be able to walk into the fen carr.
• The whole habitat area will be improved and then left undisturbed for the benefit of biodiversity.
• Interpretation will remain at the site, next to the lake but no new interpretation will be added.
• The lowest amount of external funding is required to deliver this option. 

Boardwalk/viewing platform construction

The proposed new boardwalk, or viewing platform will be constructed using 100% recycled plastic. It will be a minimum of 1.8 metres wide, to allow access for those with a range of mobility aids (inc. wheelchair users, pushchairs, mobility scooters).  

The structures will need to provide long lasting performance, be low maintenance, and slip resistant. Sustainability is vital, alongside limited ground disturbance. The boardwalk/platform will both feature handrails, kickboards and ramped access where needed to ensure accessibility and inclusivity for Hardwick’s visitors.  

The design of the structures will also aim to include integrated viewing platforms, seating and interpretation to enhance visitor learning and experience, while also ensuring the area continues to have a strong community focus and can be used by local interest groups, and school children effectively.  

Next steps

We’ll use your responses to help us prepare a funding bid in Spring 2026.

To keep up to date with the project and the outcome of any funding bid, follow this web page and/or follow us at facebook.com/HardwickParkDurham.

If you need the information and survey in a different format, including paper, please email letstalkcountydurham@durham.gov.uk.

The survey closes on Monday 16 March.