Protecting Hotham Park from weeds

Cutting back the bamboo and carex, a type of grass, in Hotham Park was the first task of the volunteers in its new Green Gym. The aggressive plants would muscle out other species and swamp the rest of the park if they were left to spread unchecked.

However, the efforts of the nine initial helpers have put them firmly back in their place.

One of the Green Gym members, Aldwick resident Pat Jones (58), said: "I like gardening. I thought it would be nice to get a bit of exercise, get outside with like-minded people and do something for the community. It's very satisfying to look at the park and see what we have done."

The Green Gym is being run by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers through Arun District Council's parks and greenspaces department. The three-hour sessions to help people get fit and healthy while they improve the park will run for 18 weeks from last Wednesdaymorning.

Kim Williams, the BTCV's project leader for Green Gyms, said: "It's really good to get people connecting with their local environment and to get them outside, especially at this time of year when it can get so depressing. Going outside to do some exercise is a good way of keeping your spirits up."

The sessions are complementing the beauty of the newly-restored Hotham Park. Cllr Paul Wotherspoon, Arun's senior member for the environment, said: "This is a great opportunity for people of all ages to come together to do something for themselves and local community."

The sessions are being funded by 8,000 from the local strategic partnership of councils and community groups.

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP