SPECIAL amphibious excavators have moved onto the lakes and lagoons at Poole Park, as part its ongoing £2.7 million enhancement project.

Work has started in earnest on the latest stage of the National Lottery-funded initiative, with efforts underway to improve water quality and biodiversity in the lagoon and the two smaller freshwater lakes.

The contractor, Ebsford Environmental, is using the heavy equipment to dredge areas of sediment lying at the bottom of the lakes and lagoon to increase water depth.

This sediment will then be used to create new island habitats and improve existing features.

Borough of Poole (BOP) Poole Park Life Project manager Martin Whitchurch said: "It is exciting to have reached the point where contractors are on site after years of public engagement and design work.

"We have received permission from Natural England to carry out this work so that we can make significant improvements that benefit both people and wildlife.

"Lagoons are relatively rare habitat and Poole Park, as an improving habitat, is becoming increasingly important for specialist lagoon species and provides a wonderful place for the public to engage with wildlife."

Mr Whitchurch has also invited residents to meet in The Ark car park on Saturday, February 9, at 11am, for a guided walk to hear about the works in greater detail.

After the dredging, work will take place to cover the newly-formed islands, and to create a new bird screen and viewing platform close to the railway line.

The creation of experimental floating islands and landscape improvements are also being carried out.

This will all take around 15 weeks to complete, BOP officers say.

Work has also started on improvements to the bridge over the sluice channel, which links the park lagoon to Poole Harbour.

BOP environment cabinet member Cllr John Rampton said: "These improvements, together with those planned over the next few years, will help preserve and enhance this popular and historic park, making a lasting difference to park users and wildlife for many years to come.

"Hopefully this will form part of our environmental strategy for the new conurbation."