RESIDENTS gathered with pitchforks and rakes not to chase the mayor out of town but tidy up their award-winning park.

The Llanferres Playing Field & Recreation Association, which volunteers to manage Llanferres Park at a cost of £2,000 a year, staged the clean-up at the multi-functional green space which includes a children’s play area and family utility and wildlife areas.

Association members and families brought their own tools on Saturday, September 14 to carry out a variety of landscape tasks and repairs, including hedge trimming and clearing moss and grass from footpath edges. They also pulled up weeds and raked wood-chip surfaces in the playground area.

This year the park won its 15th successive Green Flag Community Award, administered by Green Flag Wales, run in conjunction with the Welsh Government with the aim to celebrate parks that are well-managed by communities.

Sean Thomas, chairman of the Llanferres Playing Field & Recreation Association, said the park is well-used by residents from Llanferres, Ruthin and Mold.

“The Green Flag Community Award is a reflection of the significant efforts of the local community and provides the evidence to support application for grants to keep the park and especially the playground safe,” Mr Thomas said.

“A sunny morning helped generate a superb community spirit. All the trimmings were taken to the top of the relaxation area for composting.

“The Tidy Up event was further evidence to instil the trust and confidence in grant awarding bodies as well as supporting the fund raising needed to cover the £2,000 per annum running costs.”

Hannah Blythin, Welsh Government minister for the environment, said following the Green Flag awards last year that “parks and green spaces are a haven for wildlife and are vital to our own health and wellbeing”.

A Bank Holiday family BBQ event was held at Llanferres Park in August, which was attended by 100 people and raised more than £1,000 for the association.