CHILDREN in a Forest parish are celebrating the opening of a new play area following a £50k project to replace equipment that was deemed unsafe.

A new play area next to the village shop in Brockweir and Hewelsfield is now open, with the loss of the previous one in 2020 having been felt “keenly” by the community during the pandemic.

The project has been funded by a £50,000 grant from national waste company Enovert, which operates landfill sites across the UK.

The company, which has a waste transfer station in Lydney, awarded the grant to the parish play area committee - which is part of the Brockweir Community Interest Company (CIC) - through the Landfill Communities Fund, which provides funding to community projects.

The play equipment has been made from “fully sustainable” materials at the request of the committee, while the surrounding land has been planted with wildflowers to benefit wildlife.

Chair of the committee Ellie Van Der Heijden said: “This loss of the old play area was keenly felt during the pandemic, when outside play was one of very few activities permitted to children, at a time when maintaining physical and mental health was incredibly important.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support Enovert Community Trust has shown the local community for this project so far.

“We have been planning this project for a year and a half and are so pleased to see it finally come to fruition.

“The play area has already made such a difference to the children of Brockweir and Hewelsfield, opening just in time for the summer holiday break.” 

Angela Haymonds, Trust Manager of Enovert Community Trust, said: “The Trustees are delighted to have supported this important community project.

“The new play area will provide social and health benefits for the many families in the community that will use them for years to come.”

Brockweir CIC was formed in 2016 by the parish community.