Barriers, Bollards and Boots

Sophie Nash is Project Officer for the Westonbirt Project. She organises the logistics of the project, working with architects and project managers for various elements to deliver the works.

With work on the new car park about to begin at the arboretum, I thought I should explain what I have been up to for the last few months leading up to this exciting moment!

Although car parks perhaps aren’t most people’s idea of an interesting conversation topic, I’ve found an appreciation for a well designed attractive car park!

Ensuring our new car park looks lovely and works well will ensure all visitors have a better arrival and welcome which matches our ‘National’ status.

Along with searching for bright yellow women’s hi-vis jacket and breaking in my new steel toe cap welly boots, I’ve been searching the internet for the finishing details for the car park.

Searching for an attractive FSC approved timber, energy efficient lighting bollard was surprisingly difficult.

After many hours of internet trawling and discussions about light fitting ratings, I finally found a reasonably priced one made from Oak with an LED light fitting.

It’s a small but important detail and, knowing that we'd need more than 100 of them to be installed in the new car park and around other parts of the site, we wanted to make sure we selected an attractive but ‘Westonbirt’ suitable light.

Along with the new lighting bollards I’ve also been researching car park barriers. We will be installing two new barriers, one much closer to the A433 junction and one past the new car park by the plant centre. Both will be installed in late spring.

I will be updating the blog during the next 18 months, keeping you all up-to-date with what’s happening here and providing some behind the scenes updates.

For more details about the Westonbirt Project