Southampton born wildlife expert and television personality Chris Packham opens the refurbished Woodmill play area, watched by hordes of happy children and their parents.
Pic & story: Jed Gibbs
Chris delighted the kids at the opening (Jan 23) with tales of his youth, looking for lizards and birds around Woodmill. Parents winced as he recounted his first amateur attempts at taxidermy, a pair of bullfinches he had found dead, took home and stuffed with cotton wool. He still has them in his garage...
The redevelopment of the play area came about as a result of the Friends of Riverside Park’s award of Ł49,999 from the Groundwork UK and Big Lottery Fund’s Community Spaces Programme, and an additional Ł10,000 funding from Southampton City Council.
Natural feel
The equipment in the Woodmill Play Area had been in place for many years and much of it had been removed due to old age and disrepair. The Friends of Riverside Park say the redevelopment of the area has integrated the remaining equipment into the new design wherever possible, as well as staying true to the natural feel of the area by the predominant use of wooden materials.
Also present at the opening were Councillor Carol Cunio, The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Southampton; Royston Smith, leader of the council; Phil Williams, Bitterne Park Conservative councillor and cabinet member for local services and community safety; Cllr Ivan White; John Denham, Labour MP for Southampton Itchen; and Lib Dem campaigner Robbie Robinson.
The area includes a raised discovery footpath (stepping stones/tree trunk steps etc) with willow tunnel, boardwalk and wildlife interpretation boards, wooden dinosaur sculpture, a zip wire, new swings, trampoline, boulder mounts, additional picnic tables and seating. It also offers wheelchair and pram access.