SIX-year-old Daisy Towells will tomorrow (Saturday) officially open the new Mary Fewings Play Park, in Holcombe Rogus.

Daisy is the great-granddaughter of the late Mary Fewings, who lived and farmed in Holcombe Rogus and for many years leased one of her fields for use by local children. When Mary died in 2020 she bequeathed the field in perpetuity to the village as a children’s play park.

Parish councillors and residents decided in her memory to upgrade the old and decaying play equipment and a fund-raising committee was formed and held a series of coffee mornings, craft fairs, guitar sales, nearly-new sales, and draws.

The parish council sourced local grants and funds from the Elmgrant Trust and the Community Lottery. With donations also from the Church of All Saints parochial church council and local benefactors, and savings made by the parish council, a total of £72,000 was raised.

The play park now boasts two sets of swings, one with a basket in which to curl up, a rotator, a zone for toddlers with a slide, and a zone for older children with a climbing frame and slide, a spinning dish, and a football pitch with goals.

Fund-raising committee chairman Bridge Phillips said: “It makes me so proud to be part of the community that came together to fund-raise the money needed to get this park.

“My own children and many others have had so much enjoyment in the new park already.

“It is a real asset to our village and will continue to be for many years to come.”

The official opening will take place at 3pm and local residents are being invited to take along their own picnics to enjoy after the opening.