A NEW fundraising page has been launched to help with the ongoing restoration of Douglas Park.

The voluntary effort has captured the imagination of the local community and has developed into a full time project with exciting plans for the future.

Largs ladies Caroline Le Good Morgan and Wendy Low Thomson told the News how they decided they had had enough of just saying how sad the local park was looking and decided to pick up a 'hoe and go' as something to do during lockdown.

Their effort has snowballed and now local people are turning up with donations and rolling up their sleeves to pitch in with the hard graft.

The volunteers are also now sporting new polo shirts as they go about their work, thanks to a generous donation from a local business.

Caroline said: "We would like to say a huge thanks to Threads in Dalry. They heard about what we are doing and donated these beautiful t-shirts, designed and embroidered for us."

Treasurer Anita Kelly said the team want to eventually take complete ownership of the beauty spot from the council.

She said: "We hope to make Douglas Park a vibrant and useful space for locals and visitors.

"However we have so much to do. We plan to take it on and this means we will be responsible for its maintenance.

"This is a big undertaking but we believe with help from the local community and our fabulous volunteers. I think that we can make is as beautiful as it was in its glory days. We want people to donate what they can to help us achieve our goal."

Caroline added: "Contrary to a recent article about Kelburn wind farm grants, the Douglas Park Project has not been granted £5,000 for their community work in the park.

"We are still relying on donations currently and are awaiting funding from other sources. We will be applying to the wind farm at the next available opportunity .

"We are a constituted group with a committee and as such welcome all suggestions of funding ideas as well as local support - we cannot do this work without readers help .

"Our project extends beyond flowerbeds to paths, walls and building repairs. There are materials needed to carry out these repairs and expense involved with some machine hire where needed.

"We are always on the lookout for more volunteers, particularly for digging and shifting soil."

To pledge, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-douglas-park-project

A new donation box has also been installed within the Douglas Park grounds to allow the public to drop off cash.