A NEW lion’s head water feature has been installed at a park in Carlisle.
It’s thanks to the work of the Friends of Rickerby Park, a group of enthusiastic volunteers who, working with Cumberland Council, work to help maintain and care for the prominent green space.
The Friends of Rickerby Park state that it stands to raise awareness and promote Rickerby Park as a ‘quality green space in Carlisle’, and ensure it retains its prestigious Green Flag status.
They also work to ‘encourage the community to play a proactive role in the management of the park, through practical activities and events’, and to ‘represent the interests of the community in planning and implementing projects and applying for external funding to fulfil’ objectives.
A spokesperson from the Friends of Rickerby Park said the lion’s head was made of sandstone and was carved and installed by tradesmen working for Akins and Little Stonemasonry Specialists.
It now features in the Eden Bridge Gardens area, colloquially known as the Chinese Gardens.
Despite its name, there is nothing in the design that is Chinese, and those knowledgeable of the works of Thomas Mawson understand he was famed for his grand Italianate designs, which is exhibited at many stately homes including Rydal Hall.
Built by Percy Dalton, the ‘City's Engineer’, in the early 1930s from a design by Prentice Mawson, the Eden Bridge Gardens are laid out with planted borders, shrubberies and ornamental ponds, with numerous sitting places for quiet contemplation.
Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s executive member for vibrant and healthy places, said: “Growing up in Carlisle, I loved visiting the gardens and I still do.
“It’s great to be see this type of restoration work underway, it makes a big difference.
“We were delighted to support the Friends of Rickerby Park to make the improvements to the site.
“The stone has been chosen to be keeping with the original design and a local contractor helped with the installation.
“Some works are still to be completed, but the works are already looking great.”
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