Venetian Waterways - BALI National Landscape Awards 2019
Award: BALI Principal Landscape Award and BALI Special Award Best Community Involvement
Category: Regeneration Scheme - Over £500K and Best Community Involvement
The Waterways on the seafront at Great Yarmouth were designed as a tourist attraction in the 1920s using a landscape with novelty and stylistic effect, at complete odds with much of that period’s landscape design ethos of designing with the land and accentuating the natural beauty of a location. The canals and gardens were hand built and planted by over 400 unemployed men after WWI to provide work and to boost domestic tourism. The Waterways have now been restored using a Heritage Lottery Fund grant and funds from the Council. They have been re-injected with horticultural and rockery richness and retain their fun and nostalgic air. Their quirky distinctiveness and numerous and eclectic ornamental features, including an island thatched café, Venetian bridges, interlinking island rock gardens, cottage ornee style thatched shelters and expansive floral planting reflect the vibrant and extrovert nature of Great Yarmouth as a seaside resort. The Boating Lake has been structurally improved and re-lined to once again open for traditional rowing boat hire.
“Formerly a run down and neglected
area that suffered from anti-social
behaviour, the Venetian Waterways have
been rejuvenated by Blakedown Landscapes, working alongside an enlightened local
authority project officer who has used
the limited funding in the best way
possible by engaging with the community
and securing the help of some 500
community-minded volunteers.”
“The determination and enthusiasm of the
client project officer for this ambitious
scheme has resulted in a tremendous
response from volunteers within the
community. The contractor worked
closely with all concerned to ensure their
involvement was guided and valued so
that volunteers will remain a vital element
of this community project into the future.”