A KENDAL park is receiving a once-in-a-generation uplift thanks to the efforts of volunteers supported by the town and district councils.

Friends of Fletcher Park (FOFP) was formed around five years ago in response to the natural degradation of the park to restore the space to its former glory.

The third planned round of tree planting has now taken place as five family groups armed with spades, shovels and sledgehammers descended on the park.

One of these groups were led FOFP Secretary Kelly Anderson.

"Many of the trees, having been planted around 140 years ago, are nearing the end of their natural life," she said.

"The park is a square and lined with trees on the outside – the council have been taking them down progressively and it’s not a very big park.

"There’s nothing that certain people like more than planting something that they know that their grandchildren will grow up to see in their grandeur.

The Westmorland Gazette: WORK: One of the volunteer parties planting a treeWORK: One of the volunteer parties planting a tree

"We’ve also been forming a small orchard at the back on the slop leading up to the castle.

"We’ve done some bluebell planting and more primroses coming in the spring."

Kelly said part of the reason for regenerating the park was to improve its biodiversity, which continues to be a major focus for members of Kendal Town Council in areas throughout the town.

"The biodiversity project doesn’t just make the park look nice - more wildlife helps to maintain the park in ways that we can’t," she said.

"For example, we’ve been trying to sort better drainage but it’s a very complex issue – improving the worm population is the best way to do that, as they’re nature’s engineers – they dig the holes that naturally help with drainage, like natural percolation."

Chair of KTC Environment and Highways Committee, Councillor Eamonn Hennessy formed a work party himself to help with the Fletcher Park tree planting and is involved with numerous similar projects throughout the town.

He said that Fletcher Park has been granted £2,000 for the improvements, and that "Kendal Town Council supports numerous biodiversity projects including a £1,000 contribution to Nobles Rest which contributed towards 70 new trees, snowdrops and bluebell bulbs, three flowering cherry trees and bog plants will be planted this autumn.  

"£1,500 will create a new Wildflower meadow at Somervell Gardens and £1,000 will support a new Biodiversity Garden on Belmont in Fellside."