Excitement as Mawgan play area unveiled (From This is The West Country)

Excitement as Mawgan play area unveiled

2:00pm Saturday 20th October 2012 in Cornwall

It was the day to play last Friday when equipment was finally unveiled to Mawgan’s excited children.

The project has been three years in the making, with fundraising and planning taking place in earnest for the last two. The village’s recreation ground now boasts a zip wire, agility trails, swings and a slide amongst its attractions, thanks to the efforts of Mawgan Recreation Hall Committee.

The colourful play equipment was decked in brightly coloured bunting for its official opening, at which Michael Davidson, a governor of nearby Garras Primary school and a retired Mawgan parish councillor, began proceedings with a welcome to invited guests, parents, children and friends.

The sponsors of the play equipment were also thanked: SITA Cornwall Trust, Cory Environmental Trust, Goonhilly Green Power, Cornwall Council, Mawgan Parish Council and the residents of Mawgan. Garras School children waited patiently to say their thanks with a specially written song for the occasion, which they performed with great enthusiasm.

Emily Bedford then presented a bouquet on behalf of the schoolchildren to the project’s organiser Dorothy Spragg, which signalled the time for the cutting of the red ribbon. The 50 or so children present ran to be first on their chosen play equipment, closely followed by hopeful adults waiting especially for a turn on the zip wire.

Two of the funding organisation managers were able to attend, along with the chairman of Mawgan Parish Council Kevin Roberts and the parish’s Cornwall Councillor Walter Sanger.

The total cost of the project was just under £52,000, of which more than £5,000 was raised through local fundraising through donations, fundraising events and a collection tin placed on Mawgan Stores counter that the hall committee said made a “staggering” contribution to the project’s finances. After rain stopped play at the opening the recreation hall became a focus for tea and cup cakes provided by local mums.

Gas filled balloons added to the excitement in the hall at the end of an enjoyable afternoon. Dorothy Spragg, chairman of Mawgan Recreation Hall, said: “Many people have contributed in all sorts of ways to the happy conclusion of this much needed play area for Mawgan, and the Recreation Hall Committee wish to thank you all.”