Around 130 cubic metres of silt is out and the lake is 0.6 metres deeper, after £50,000 from the borough council and £5,000 from the Friends group.
The lake at Hatherley Park will be left to refill naturally over the autumn and winter after contractors finished dredging around 130 cubic metres of silt from it, making it roughly 0.6 metres deeper. Cheltenham Borough Council, which announced the completion of the desilting phase on 4 August, funded the work with £50,000 from its capital funds alongside a £5,000 contribution from the Friends of Hatherley Park. (Cheltenham Borough Council, 4 August 2026)
The council says the work was carried out under the guidance of an independent ecologist, with measures to protect wildlife in place throughout. Years of accumulated silt make a lake shallower and starve it of oxygen, so removing it is the groundwork for better water quality and richer habitat.
Why the water will stay low for a while
The lake is not connected to a watercourse, so it relies on rainfall and groundwater to refill. That means levels will recover gradually rather than overnight: the council expects the lake to recover naturally over the autumn and winter months as water levels stabilise, habitats continue to develop and wildlife gradually returns. Edge planting will carry on over the coming seasons, building up cover for birds, amphibians and insects, and the corner of the park used to store the dredged silt will be restored to grassland from late summer into the autumn.
Councillor Steve Harvey, the council’s cabinet member for waste, recycling and green open spaces, said: “Hatherley Park lake is a popular feature of the park and an important habitat for local wildlife. These improvements will help the lake thrive for years to come, supporting biodiversity while ensuring it remains an attractive place for residents and visitors to enjoy.”
Richard de Carteret, chair of the Friends of Hatherley Park, said: “We’re delighted to support this project and to see these improvements completed. The lake plays an important role in supporting wildlife and is a focal point of Hatherley Park.”
What it means for you
Visiting this summer: the park stays open as normal, but expect the lake lower than usual for some months, and the silt storage area to look bare until it is regrassed. Neither is a problem to report; both are part of the plan.
For wildlife watchers: the payoff comes as the new edge planting establishes. The council’s stated aim is more habitat for birds, amphibians and insects around a deeper, better oxygenated lake, so the changes should become more visible through next year.
For the Friends group: the £5,000 contribution came from the Friends of Hatherley Park, and its chair says the group looks forward to seeing the habitat develop. Community groups like these are the usual route if you want a say in how your local park is run.
Hatherley Park is free to visit; more ideas for days out across the town are in our guide to things to do in Cheltenham.
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