A group hoping to ‘smash’ a Guinness World Record and bolster community spirit in Weston is calling for the support of the town.
The Friends of Grove Park is searching for new members to boost its efforts to improve the park, with plenty of exciting projects in the works.
The organisation has wasted no time in making a big impact in the park, forming less than two years ago, and it is now working in tandem with North Somerset Council to secure £4milllion in funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to make improvements in the park in addition to forging a creating link to the High Street.
Chairman Johnny Boxshall believes there is a ‘massive opportunity to make something community focussed in the centre of Weston’, and he hopes more people join the effort.
He said: “The vast majority of Central ward has no gardens, and therefore Grove Park is a connection to greenery.
“What we want to produce is something which facilitates greater use of the park, keeps the formal Victorian look but changes things dramatically enough so it encourages more people to use it.
“If we can get the lottery bid and rebuild the yard in the park and the old toilet block as a community classroom then various community organisations will be able to use them.”
The group is setting its sights on the impressive accolade of a Guinness World Record for its bug city, which is a collection of small structures including ‘hotels’ which were created to encourage nature to flourish.
Member Anne Bunn told the Mercury: “We have discovered we are large enough to qualify as the second-biggest bug city in the world, and we have now plans to revolutionise and extend it.
“We’re going for the Guinness record of the largest bug city and I don’t think it’s too far off with the way things are shaping up.”
Mr Boxshall is confident the Friends can ‘smash’ the record, and revealed the group is hoping to develop a digital nature trail using QR codes dotted around the park and the town to encourage people to explore Weston’s greenery.
He added: “We want to take the park to a new level.
“We want more people to join us and it would be great if someone came on board from a fundraising perspective.”
For more information, log on to www.facebook.com/groups/260062137780808/
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