TWAPSCobham Bottom Lake Project
Autumn 2021
Preparation:
The Cobham Bottom Lake project is now underway, after a long delay due to Covid-19.
In preparation for the main works, to be undertaken by contractors Land and Water, some TWAPS members have been clearing parts of the site and draining the lake.
Dennis Hammond, Project Manager and Chairman and Gary Bushell, Head Bailiff
4th October 2021.
Desilting:
- 29/09/21 dewatering started and continued until 18/10/21.
- 11/10/21 de-silting machinery arrived.
- 12/10/21 de-silting bunds created.
- 13/10/21 de-silting starts and finishes 21/10/21.
- 22/10/21 safety orange netting and notices installed to identify exclusion area.
- 24/10/21 Bottom lake filling up.
- 26/10/21 10 am. Top and Middle lakes opened to members.
The above is a very short précis of the work carried out. There were many issues that came to light and had to be discussed before work could continue.
One thing discovered was that, under the hard clay bottom in the middle of the Pond is an estimated 5-6 feet of Thanet sand and water which was left well alone!!
Filling Up:
Spring 2022
Swim Building:
Summer 2022
Continuation of Swim Building:
Autumn 2022
Path Building:
In the following images, the Fence is by the new “bay” peg, with the land behind it up to pegs 9,10 and 11 being left as a “conservation back to nature area”.
Pathways:
All the swims have now been built and paths are now just about complete. The aquatic vegetation is about to be introduced.
Next stages:
Stock to be acquired.
Timescales as some will be dependent on weather and species availability etc.
It is envisaged that it will be ready for the 2023/2024 season.
Members will be kept informed as progress continues.
The Head Bailiff, Gary Bushell, thanks all those involved, including members of the several work parties for carrying out the work, and members of the Committee for their support.
Dennis Hammond, Project Manager and Chairman
16th October 2022
Please revisit this page from time to time for further updates.
