Brooklands Park

Client: Adur and Worthing Council

Landscape Architect: Turkington Martin

Cost: £3m

Duration: 18 months

Location: Worthing

Located in the heart of Worthing, the much-loved Brooklands Park has undergone a £3 million regeneration which has revitalised and improved this community asset, making it a vibrant and attractive place for both residents and visitors alike. 

The comprehensive landscape masterplan was developed by Turkington Martin Landscape Architects together with Adur and Worthing Council, local stakeholders and community groups and builds upon three key principles – learning, inclusivity and wellbeing.  In short, the park will serve as an outdoor classroom and science learning resource, offer improved access and facilities for people of all abilities, and promote physical activity and community engagement.

The Brooklands Park Team, comprising Adur and Worthing Council, Turkington Martin and Blakedown Landscapes, as specialist landscape contractors, has worked collaboratively to ensure the success of this project.  Value engineering from the original design, specifically around the soft landscaping, adventure play area and play equipment has ensured that the value of the scheme has been maximised. 

Working in a ‘live environment’ the phased works commenced in January 2022 with the installation of a network of linked pathways site-wide to provide easy access for visitors of all abilities.

WORKS

Works included:

  • Adventure Playground

    • Enhancement of the existing play area

    • Installation of new play equipment which ranged from traditional play such as swings, slides and climbing ropes through to percussion play and landscape structures.

    • Installation of safety surfacing and sand

    • Installation of a living willow tunnel and sensory pathway 

  • Installation of a 2.5km fitness trail with direction markings and fitness equipment

  • Installation of a visitor hub and covered stand which includes a cafe and public facilities. The café boasts a green roof and has been built using sustainably sourced materials

  • Creation of a series of glades, on the site of the former golf course, each with its own unique character and purpose, and connected by a sinuous path system that stretches throughout the park. The intention is to create outdoor 'rooms' that offer a variety of experiences and include a Play and Build Glade that showcases the uses of trees and plants in construction; the Nature Glade which promotes biodiversity and features bug hotels and bird boxes and the Winter Glade highlighting the value of evergreens in winter.

  • Community Garden:

    • Installation of raised planters for food growing.  As part of a social value exercise, Blakedown donated the materials and assisted the Friends of Brooklands Park in constructing the planters and securing the compound.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

An objective was to increase the park’s biodiversity by creating a variety of habitats to support a wide range of wildlife species, as well as contributing to the nature conservation value of the area.  Predominantly native species have been selected and across the park more than 120 trees and thousands of shrubs, perennials, grasses, hedging plants and bulbs have been planted, Additionally, a selection of sensory plants have been utilised and planted to create a sensory ribbon that extends throughout the park and boundary planting of native hedges and trees, suitable for the maritime climate, employed to screen views of passing vehicles, reduce pollution, give a greater sense of enclosure and reinforce the green environment.

Overall, the Brooklands Park Landscape Masterplan has enhanced the natural beauty and recreational value of the park creating a more vibrant and ecologically sustainable green space for residents and visitors and for future generations.