VOLUNTEERS in Whittlesford turned out in force to help lay new bark chips for the village playground. It has taken two years of fundraising by Whittlesford Parish Council to refurbish and put in new play area equipment and tidy up the play area. The proje

VOLUNTEERS in Whittlesford turned out in force to help lay new bark chips for the village playground.

It has taken two years of fundraising by Whittlesford Parish Council to refurbish and put in new play area equipment and tidy up the play area. The project has come in at just under �8000.

The money has been raised locally through a Safari supper, as well as rants from WREN, South Cambridgeshire District Council, the parish council, the Cambridge water board and The Lawn Trust.

At the weekend, the final stage of the project was completed when180 bark chips were delivered by a local farmer before the willing volunteers - children and parents alike - had fun laying the new safety surface.

Whittlesford parish council chairman, Paul Eccleston, said the event had a "good turnout".

He added: "The local children have been involved in the project for two years, weeding it and repairing it.

"The aim is to give them a sense of ownership of their own play area, by getting them to select the equipment they want, establish the 'rules' and help look after it.