Organisers and volunteers have planted the last of 250 hedge plants at a Kendal park.

Fletcher Park, which sits in view of Kendal Castle, had been losing many of its older trees in the past few years and becoming waterlogged in the process.

South Lakeland District Council said in 2018 that it had had to remove many of the older trees due to age and disease.

But the Friends of Fletcher Park, a group set up after the trees came down, said it has now planted blackthorn, hawthorn, common dogwood, goat willow and dog rose species to bring the park back to life.

Dick Forsyth, chairman of the group, said it regularly gives some of its time to ensuring the park is a pretty place to visit.

He said: “We have planted wildflowers and regularly carry out maintenance and clearing of leaves from the surrounding paths.

“The blackthorn, hawthorn, common dogwood, goat willow and dog rose that are around the perimeter of the park will ultimately provide habitat, encourage wildlife and of course promote biodiversity.

“There was concern in 2018 that the trees might not be replaced and that in general perhaps the area was a little unloved.

“Some funding was provided from Kendal Town Council and from our group's own fundraising which allowed us to purchase and plant about a dozen trees.

“Since then, the group has carried out various pieces of maintenance work to tidy up the park and keep it safe.”

“In 2019 we also planted about 1,500 bluebell bulbs and wildflowers.”

Three local SLDC ward councillors have shown their support for the park improvements.

Councillors Eamonn Hennessey and Rachel Hogg both pledged £250 from their individual locality budgets and Councillor Helen Ladhams took part in the tidy-up event.

Kendal Town Council donated £300 towards the cost of the new trees.

Kelly Anderson, secretary of the group, added: “A recent public consultation has shown that people really want to keep the tranquility and beauty but improve the appearance of the park.

“Tree planting will re-establish the edges of the park and create an area of biodiversity with fruiting trees and an informal orchard.

"SLDC helped to select the trees and will maintain them."