A group of residents who have become guardians of a Bradford park are now selling a calendar to help improve and maintain it.

Friends of Peel Park hopes to raise enough money to buy new equipment for the children's playground from sales of the calendar which contains views of the park taken by photographer Terry O'Connell.

The group was formed in 2004. It has raised funds to provide nest-boxes for the waterfowl, litter bins and notice boards at two of the park's entrances, which are used to advertise local community events as well as Friends of Peel Park activities.

Last year Peel Park, which was purchased as a public park in 1850, lost out on a green flag, the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales, by a single point.

Janet Attwood, of Ashbourne Gardens, Bolton Road, is president of the Friends of Peel Park. She said: "People take parks for granted. I have lived near the park for 16 years and walk my dog there every day and it's been a big part of my life. It is important to keep it well maintained. Everybody buys a calendar at some point and if they buy one where the money supports something local which you see every day then so much the better."

Mr O'Connell, of Harrogate Street, said: "I started out taking photographs of the park at different times of the day and wanted to capture its different moods."

Councillor Howard Middleton (Lib Dem, Bolton and Undercliffe), who has been involved with Friends of Peel Park since it started two years ago, said: "This calendar shows that things are moving forward for the park and that is down to the committee."

Calendars cost £4 and can be purchased from Bradford Council's Parks & Landscapes in Bolton Road or by e-mailing enquiries@peelpark.org or telephoning 08700 554311 e-mail: ali.davies@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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