Major works transform Abbey Park lake in time for summer

A popular water feature in Abbey Park has been restored to its former glory, following a major programme of works.

Leicester City Council has transformed the park’s lake by installing a new, reliable water supply, after the system created by Victorian engineers nearly 150 years ago finally gave up the ghost.

The ingenious system transported water to the lake from the canal at Frog Island – a distance of some three miles – but years of silt build-up, tree root damage and development had taken their toll.

The failure of the system, combined with a heatwave in the summer of 2025, saw water levels in the lake fall to an all-time low, exposing the silt bed and turning the lake into a muddy swamp.

Working with specialist contractors, the council has now installed a borehole system, that draws water up from the natural water table and supplies the lake with up to 20,000 litres of water a day. The flow can be switched off when the lake is full.

The project has also created new habitats for wildlife, with silt from the lake used to turn a former overflow pond into a new bog garden. Leicester Environmental Volunteers have worked with council staff to sow wetland seeds and plant oxygenating plants, while the lake’s perimeter edges have been softened with the recycled silt to benefit wildlife.

Underwater aeration pumps have been installed in the lake to boost oxygen levels, with aquatic chalk and dye introduced to help combat algae blooms and improve water quality.

Before the lake was re-filled, trees on its central island were coppiced and the overhanging tree canopy cut back to help reduce leaf debris in the lake.

A final improvement is the installation of new interpretation boards, which give visitors an insight into the lake’s history and its flora and fauna.

Assistant city mayor Cllr Vi Dempster said: “The severe heat last summer, combined with the failure of the system that has fed the lake with water for nearly 150 years, turned the lake into a muddy swamp.

“Now, thanks to this major programme of works, I’m very pleased that one of Abbey Park’s most popular features is back to its best.

“The installation of a new borehole feed means that the lake’s water supply is now assured, while the comprehensive programme of improvements we’ve carried out will help boost the lake’s water quality, create new habitats for wildlife and enhance the wider environment.”

The lake’s refurbishment comes as Abbey Park – the city’s flagship park – celebrates retaining its Green Flag Award status for a 29^th consecutive year.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under contract from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Leicester City Council has shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed.

“As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces like Abbey Park that are safe, welcoming and maintained to a high standard.”

More information about Abbey Park is available at leicester.gov.uk/parks

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LCC News - Published on Tuesday, July 14, 2026