Repowering Victorian cascades in Battersea Park

We recently launched the first phase in an exciting new project with Enable Parks and Wandsworth Council to repower Battersea Park's Victorian waterfalls, known as the Cascades, with clean energy

The Cascades is an artificial rockwork creation designed and constructed in 1865-1866 as a focal attraction for the Boating Lake in Battersea Park. Over time, the water feature deteriorated, and some misguided restoration efforts meant it has been out of action since 2004.

We're working as part of a group of organisations to not only restore the feature to make it more fitting of its Grade II* Registered Park and Garden status, but also to factor in the need for a more sustainable power source.

For this initial phase of the project, we are conducting a feasibility study, aiming to understand the lake's current power system and how much solar energy we could potentially install in the park to power the cascades. We are also exploring charging points for EV, bikes and scooters and battery storage for events.

Once the project is complete, Enable and the Council hope it will become a source of research and best practice for other Pulham restorations, will build skills and training among restorers, and be loved by visitors.

Last week, we headed out on the park buggy to explore and get started. We'll keep you posted on our findings!