The new look Byron Rec Park re-opened on Saturday 12th December and the South Ward Neighbourhood Management Team held an event that celebrated the poetic heritage of the park and invited local residents to write poetry for a competition, Anne Painter won the adult prize and Lauren Hartles the children’s.
Download 'Angel Boy' (pdf, 9Kb) poem by Anne Painter
Download 'The Park' (pdf, 63Kb) poem by Lauren Hartle
Peter Cann performed poems from his Rhyming Down the Rhynes DVD with residents who had taken part in the original recording. There was a boule competition, and local resident Jim Bartlett showed children and adults how to play this game that originated in France. Jim hopes in the coming year to have many boule tournaments and events and to invite the local schools to come and learn more about the French culture and language whilst playing this great game in the area created for it.
Father Christmas came along too with two of his elves, and gave out candy canes, and listened to the children’s last minute requests. The play rangers came and helped children to get playing on the new equipment and in the natural play area that encourages creative play.
Sara Brown the Neighbourhood Manager said “It was a great event and I was thrilled that so many local residents came along on a cold Saturday in December to support an event in their local park”
South Ward Neighbourhood Management Partnership refurbished the park as part of improvements to parks and open spaces in the South Ward area funded through this regeneration programme. Local residents were involved in the consultation and saw their ideas made into an ideal new park area. Playbuilder money was secured to supplement the new equipment and the natural play schemes. The project was delivered by AFAN Landscapes and was designed by Alex Fraser of Afla, who project managed the work with the Neighbourhood Management team and the park will now be maintained by North Somerset Council.