Willoughby on the Wolds
COMMUNITY PARK. Many villagers, and outside visitors, continue to use Willoughby on the Wolds Community Park for a variety of purposes making it a popular village venue, reported joint chairman David Bradshaw and Jeremy Rochfort in their annual report.
The two officers reported that the park is a very popular village venue used for active play or exercise, dog walking or simply sitting and enjoying the countryside.
After 10 years of regular use, this year some significant, essential refurbishment of the play equipment has been carried out by Proludic, and generously paid for by Willoughby Parish Council.
Likewise, persistent footfall had seriously flattened the wood chippings to a hard, compact surface. A warm, dry day on March 30, saw a large team of villagers, aged from 18 months to 80 years, distribute a huge mountain of chippings from the car park to the play areas.
Using a variety of implements: wheelbarrows, wheelie bins, toy dumper trucks and simply spades and muscle, the work was completed in an afternoon. This welcome response to a request for volunteer help was a testament to the value of the park in the village.
For some years the need for a shelter has been discussed whether a roof to protect from rain showers,or offer shade from strong sun or simply some covered seating from which to watch the children play.
In May, thanks to J.Carr’s successful acquisition of funding from Awards For All, J.Hadley of Wonderful Woods, constructed a beautiful rustic shelter, complete with chestnut benching engraved with reflective phrasing.
The May meeting inaugurated this space on a warm summer’s evening and confirmed the delightful purpose of this new addition to the park.
Very recent news of another successful funding bid, this time due to C .Malik’s efforts, will bring finance from the Co-op Local Causes project, allowing the park association to develop a zip-wire installation, and some wooden sculptures next year.
The committee continues to support other village ventures and will run a prize draw at this year’s Christmas Fair, as well as repeating previous support to open gardens by running the village hall refreshment service in June 2020.
Without regular support from committee members: checking for safety, clearing litter and raking chippings, and also Mike Jones for his persistent replacement of disintegrating retaining sleepers, the park would not maintain its attraction for the children and adults of Willoughby.
The joint chairman thank all those people who have given so much time again this year to continue the high standard of care of the park.