VIDEO: Restored Hotham Park set to open its gates

The time is fast approaching when the former Rainbow's End site within Hotham Park is to be open to the public.

The newly-created grassland area, which has replaced the former theme park, is the centrepiece of the 2.2m-plus restoration of the park. The contractors are on course to finish most of the work in the middle of next month.

It is hoped by Arun District Council that the Rainbow's End area will soon be open for people to walk along the paths.

The grassed areas will be fenced off for a while after that to allow them to settle in without being disturbed by hordes of feet.

But it will be the first time since soon after the park's opening in May, 1947, that residents have been able to walk around the two-hectare plot.

It was quickly fenced off to become a zoo and ended as Rainbow's End until its closure in 1997 left the hoarding up around a decaying area. Its transformation is being completed with a nature conservation area and pond and an events space.

However, there is much more to the park project backed by 1.7m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and overseen by Arun District Council.

One of the first signs of change will be the re-opening of the boating pond. Sealed and painted, it is set to welcome its first sailors any day now.

Rachel Alderson, the council's Hotham Park project manager, said: "It's very exciting seeing the reaction of the public. They have been watching the pond being sealed and painted and are all looking forward to it being opened."

Further work has seen the new Mediterranean and Winter Gardens in the park become well-established. Turf being laid on adjacent areas will enhance them further.

The area surrounding Hotham Park House and cafe has been reinstated to a narrow driveway with grass and shrub areas either side.

Further work to restore the entrances is on its way along with new gates incorporating children's artwork at the London Road entrance.

Phillipa Dart, Arun's head of parks and greenspace, said: "I am extremely excited that the work in the park is nearing completion.

"It is a fantastic project and the park is beginning to look absolutely lovely. It is going to be a wonderful park for everybody in the district."

But it will take a while for the work on the park to be finally finished.

Mrs Alderson added: "Even once the project's completion has been reached, there will still be some areas of the park requiring further work later this year and in the next few years."

It will take another four years before the park's restoration is fully complete.

Further thinning of the trees and shrubs is to be carried out in keeping with the agreed programme.

More planting around the conservation pond and other areas of the park will take place this autumn. Signs and interpretation boards have yet to go in.

The restoration work began last September. Main contractor UPM Tillhill has had up to 30 workers a day on site since then carrying out the various tasks.

Their arrival signalled the end of a long fight to gain lottery cash for the work. The award of the money in March, 2005 ended nine years of trying.

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