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Abstract
This paper analyses the restoration of an urbanized section of the River Skerne where it flows through a suburb of Darlington, England; a project which was one of the first comprehensive urban river restorations undertaken in the UK. It is shown how aesthetic values were central to the identification of the River Skerne as a site for restoration, the production of restoration objectives, and a design vision of urban river renewal via restoration. Secondly, the means by which these aesthetic values were realized through the design and implementation of restoration techniques and management operations are described. Finally, it is demonstrated how the resulting aesthetic qualities and overall landscape character were intended to accomplish a set of interrelated policy goals.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank all staff at the River Restoration Centre who worked on the River Skerne project for allowing him to interview them, for taking time out to give him a guided tour of the restoration works, and for providing access to all relevant policy documents.
Notes
1. For the sake of consistency, the group is referred to as the RRP throughout the remainder of the paper.
2. These include the National Rivers Authority (later part of the Environment Agency), English Nature, and the Countryside Commission (both later part of Natural England).
3. SGS are an international ‘inspection, verification, testing and certification company’; landscape assessments are one of a range of services offered (see http://www.sgs.com/en/Our-Company/About-SGS/SGS-in-Brief.aspx).
4. Where ‘enhancement’ means activities such as improving access, and ‘conservation’ means the preservation of existing landscape elements (SGS Environment Citation1994, 15–16).
5. ‘Local residents’ are defined as those households living within 400 metres of the 2 km stretch of the river that is to be restored (see RRP Citation1995a, 3).
6. During the restoration works the community liaison officer spent some of their working time on site to address any comments or concerns from residents.
7. During site visits in 2009 and 2010, the management practices detailed here were still being implemented.
8. See also Coeterier (Citation1996, 37–38) on public perceptions of different levels of landscape care and maintenance.
9. During discussions it was highlighted that only one local resident voiced outright opposition to the restoration project.