Download the Management Plan - Carlisle City Council

Willow Hide
This was commissioned by the former East Cumbria Countryside Project in 2000 and created by
Steve Fuller a local willow weaver. It is a natural growing bird viewing area. It is maintained
annually and a popular feature around the Tarn. It contains a small log seat, & 2 log stools.
Action
Maintain annually by cutting and re-weaving
Replace log seats as required
Paths
The main Tarn path is approx 1.3miles long and follows a loop of the Tarn itself. This was
always a worn path but was improved with surfacing in approx 1999. It was then resurfaced as
part of a funded project in early 2007. This path is very heavily used and needs to be maintained
in good condition (while in keeping with the country park) and suitable for access for wheelchair
users. The hard surfaced area should be a minimum of 1.4m wide. An additional strip of grass on
either side of the path is kept mown as additional walking width. Drainage has been installed in
many places to guide water from the path. Clearing of drains is an on-going process.
Other paths around the Tarn tend to be desire lines created by walkers over the years. These are
not surfaced and can become muddy and slippery at times and often contain protruding roots.
There is no plan to surface these paths as they are mainly within the woodland areas and thus
would not be appropriate or in keeping. However some areas of high wear need diverting at
times and woodchip is used on occasions in particularly wet and high wear areas. There is some
old sleeper boardwalk in one woodland section that needs to be removed or improved.
Action
Maintain Tarn loop path to standard as described above by on-going maintenance and full
resurfacing as necessary. (approx every 8 years).
Clean and install drains as necessary.
Investigate removal/improvement of boardwalk
Monitor path condition – ongoing.
Buildings
These were constructed or refurbished in 2006. Council buildings are maintained by Carlisle
City Councils buildings section who organise any maintenance or repairs. Site staff have daytime
and out of hours emergency contact numbers. Cleaning of these buildings is undertaken by
Carlisle City Council who employs a cleaner (2 hours /day mon- fri and mobile cleaner at
weekends) Folders containing information (plans, fittings spec, instructions, suppliers) on new
buildings are contained in site office and by CCC buildings section.
The site buildings are as follows;
Tearoom (upstairs) made up of 2 rooms for seating and kitchen, dish wash area, store cupboard
and 2 toilets. Some refurbishment work was carried out in 2006 upstairs.
Gift Shop and Takeaway (downstairs) containing serving area, kitchen, gift shop area and 2
store rooms. Downstairs gift shop and takeaway refurbished in November 2009.
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