Key steps closer to reviving a long-lost feature at Fairhaven Lake

A long-lost feature of one of Fylde's favourite attractions is taking a major step towards its revival.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Sep 2021, 12:30 GMT
Updated 17th Sep 2021, 16:38 GMT
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The Japanese Gardens, one of the original features of Fairhaven Lake, were covered over several decades ago but their restoration is a key component of the current major upgrade going on at the popular venue between Lytham and St Annes.

Following the award of £1.5m National Lottery Heritage funding in December 2018, the restoration project aims to conserve and restore Fairhaven’s heritage buildings and landscape.

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As well as the completion of the circular pathway around the Lake, the landscape aspect of the package involves restoration of the Japanese Gardens, which have now been excavated and are to be planted in the coming months.

Water levels at the Lake have been lowered to allow the steps leading to the Japanese Gardens area to be raised as part of the restoration projectWater levels at the Lake have been lowered to allow the steps leading to the Japanese Gardens area to be raised as part of the restoration project
Water levels at the Lake have been lowered to allow the steps leading to the Japanese Gardens area to be raised as part of the restoration project
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Exciting future ahead for Fairhaven Lake

The water level in that section of the Lake has been lowered to allow the stepping stones which allow access to the Gardens to be raised and consequently boat hire at the venue is not available this weekend.

Charlie Richards, senior project manager at Fylde Council said: "We have excavated the original Japanese Gardens which were covered over sometime in the 1980’s.

"All the original stonework was in tact and in the same place that it was originally before being buried.

The access to Japanese Gardens are with a view across the rest of Fairhaven LakeThe access to Japanese Gardens are with a view across the rest of Fairhaven Lake
The access to Japanese Gardens are with a view across the rest of Fairhaven Lake
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"We have built a viewing platform on the west side of the gardens which is adjacent to the old Second World War battle stations and have created accessible pathways circling the gardens so that everybody can enjoy them.

"The works undertaken this week have been to raise the stepping stones so that they correspond with the optimum lake level as this is where the lagoon is fed from.

"The Japanese Gardens will be planted by the new gardening team at Fairhaven over the next few months.

"The water level is lowered at the moment in order for the contractors to raise the stepping stones. It will remained lowered this weekend as the tides aren’t sufficient to top the lake up however we have sufficient tides next week. My estimate is that the lake should be at its ‘normal’ level by Tuesday (September 21)."

The Japanese Gardens area as it used to look before the feature was lost several decades agoThe Japanese Gardens area as it used to look before the feature was lost several decades ago
The Japanese Gardens area as it used to look before the feature was lost several decades ago
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Meanwhile, the cafe at the Lake will be the last of the three heritage buildings at the Lake to be reopened, following the restoration of the boathouse and RSPB information centre, and a date for that is expected to be announced shortly.

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Related topics:FyldeGardensSt AnnesLytham

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