The new-look £400,000 improvements to Frank Banfield Park received a very warm welcome at an unveiling party for friends and neighbours.
The Hammersmith park’s makeover was made possible with help from local green fingered volunteers – who planted more than 200 shrubs and helped built a habitat wall.
The new changes have also seen the planting of a Tiny Forest and a wildflower meadow, as well as the construction of weatherproof spaces and an accessible toilet.
“Frank Banfield Park’s new garden is fantastic,” said Cllr Daryl Brown, Deputy Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham, who cut the garden’s leafy vine ‘ribbon’ with the help of young visitors.
“The pond is already home to dragonflies and there’s vegetables and herbs growing too,” she added. “It’s amazing to see and I’d definitely recommend popping by to see what a change the improvements have made to the park.”
The party finished with a bat walk at dusk, featuring the chance to see common and soprano pipistrelles bats feeding in the garden.
The park will be looked after for the next two years by local charity Hammersmith Community Garden Association (HCGA), with support from the dedicated Friends of Frank Banfield Park. Find pictures of the garden's opening party here.
If you’d like to help out in the park, HCGA is running volunteering sessions every Thursday morning 9am-noon and family volunteering mornings every first Saturday of the month, 9am-1pm.
Or if you just fancy a spooky treat, join the Halloween themed crafts and play session for children on Thursday 31 October.
For more details, email volunteering@hcga.org.uk to get involved.
