A £1.4 million programme of landscape restoration as part of the Kearsney Parks Project gets underway in March.

Main parts of the works are on landscaping in Russell Gardens, building a bridge in Kearsney Abbey and new pathways, a natural wood play area and café terracing.

The restoration is of the work of Edwardian landscape architect Thomas Mawson and Russell Gardens is a rare example of it in the South East.

A key feature of Mawson’s design is a series of formal terraces framing Kearsney Court, once the home of Edward Barlow, the Wiggins Teape paper mill owner.

He had commissioned Mawson to do the work around 1900.

The terracing leads down to the croquet lawns, a lily pond, and a 170m long canal pond with a boathouse and two bridges.

A summer house will also provide new toilets in Russell Gardens.

Landscape works in neighbouring Kearsney Abbey will see the re-creation of an eye-catching bridge across the ornamental lake.

Meanwhile, restoration of the Grade II listed former billiards room, the only part of the original mansion house still standing, is already underway.

This is along with construction of a 180 square metre new café extension by Coombs (Canterbury) Ltd.

Cllr Trevor Bartlett, Dover District Council cabinet member for corporate property, said: “We’re excited to be starting work on restoring the fabulous landscape in Russell Gardens. Once complete, we expect it to become a major tourist attraction, offering free public access to one of the finest examples of the iconic work of Thomas Mawson.

“We’re also investing to improve the visitor experience across the parks, including an enlarged café, more parking, improved pathways, signage and interpretation, and new education programmes to support outdoor learning."

This is a Heritage Lottery-funded project and the contract was awarded to Idverde UK Ltd.

It's earlier restoration projects have included Wrest Park in Bedfordshire owned by English Heritage.

The company is now working with the charity Family Action on a garden for this year’s Chelsea Flower Show.

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