There have been some welcome improvements in the Western Play Park, between Burton Close and Heathcliff Avenue, this month. Some of the neighbours, led by Carole Venables, noticed that the area was looking a little bare and unloved, with no trees or bushes. They also noticed that other areas of Fairfield had been enhanced with new trees and wondered why they couldn’t have some too. They approached Nick Reynolds, the chair of the Fairfield Park Residents’ Association (FPRA), who in turn approached Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) – and he was successful in obtaining £2,758 from the CBC tree-planting grant.

Part of this money was used for 21 metres of hedging around the area, which was planted by Hislops, and then a group of hardy families came out on a beautiful Saturday to dig eleven huge holes for the trees. It was hard work – the soil around here is building waste-rich clay! – but satisfying, and those involved now feel they ‘own’ the trees and they will continue to care for them as they grow.