Fairies sprinkle some magic for visitors to a historic city park

An historic city park has been sprinkled with magic, thanks to a new Fairy Trail.

Much work has been done lately to enhance Backhouse Park in Ashbrooke with litter picks, planting and improved signage.

Now,visitorsyoungandold are being enchanted by a Fairy Trail.

The trail starts near the Ryhope Road entrance to the park and people can follow the clues to find fairy homes hanging from trees, as well as tiny doors tucked into spaces at ground level.

There’s even some ecofriendlyglitteronthepathways to help you find the fairies.

Daniel Krzyszczak, one of theEastRangerswhohelplook after the park, said: “Last year I visited Loch Lomond in Scotland and they had a Fairy Trail.

"It was much bigger and must have taken a long time, but it really inspired me and I thoughtitwouldbeagreatidea for Backhouse Park.

"So I approached the council and everyone else I could to make it happen.”

The tiny homes, doorways and signs were made by The BoxCNCWoodworkingaswell as volunteers from East Rangers Kasia Cieslak, Agnieszka Cielecka and Marius Sinkunas, who are also part of ICOS (InternationalCommunityOrganisation

of Sunderland).

Just a few days after the trail was installed, it’s already capturing people’s imaginations.

Daniel added: “The feedback has been amazing and everyone is really enjoying it.

I was there with a Scout group onSaturdayandtheyreallyenjoyed finding all the doors.

"I just really hope it stays and that people will look after it.”

The rangers are also working closely with the new owners

of Ashburne House which, after being used for education since the 1930s, is a private residence once more after being bought as a family home by city property developer Henry Kirtley who is sympathetically restoring the building while

honouring its history.

An historically-significant building in the city, the housewasbuiltfortheremarkableBackhousefamily,whobetween them were prominent bankers, industrialists, Quakers, scientists, artists – and

founders of the Sunderland Echo.

The almost century-old park is named after the family who gifted the land, once the gardens to their home, to the Corporation of Sunderland in 1922.

The trail has sprinkled some magic on some forgotten corners of Backhouse Park.

There’s even a Loch Ness monster to spot. Picture: Neville Ramsay

The trail aims to improve the visitor experience at the park.

The trail starts near the Ryhope Road entrance to the park.

Doorways to fairy homes are tucked in the trees.

A Bees House forms part of the trail.