Lancaster City Council invited children from five local primary schools to celebrate the official opening of a new recreation area in Ryelands Park, a project backed by regional funding.
Located near the children’s play area behind Ryelands House, the 34 trees planted in March and provision of eight new benches has helped to transform the area into a quiet place where people can sit and contemplate.
Before the official launch, representatives from St. Luke’s, Ryelands and St. Joseph’s primary schools, Skerton Community High School, Our Lady’s Catholic College and a Gypsy, Roma, Traveller youth group met at the Sure Start building to share ideas on how more improvements could be made in the area.
Ideas ranged from butterflies and chickens, sunny days and friendly people to safe places to hang out with friends, wildlife gardens and splash parks to name but a few.
Council play rangers were on hand to round off the day with outdoor fun and games before joining ward councillors and teachers on a tour of the new recreation area which it is hoped will also be used by local schools as an outdoor classroom.
Funding for the tree planting and benches was granted by ‘North West Together We Can’ as part of the Connecting Communities project.