THE Country Park Supporters (CPS) volunteer group based in Newton Farm, Belmont, were celebrating last week after receiving two awards at the Hereford City Community Group Achievement Awards evening at the Shirehall on May 13.

CPS were awarded second place and a cheque for £500 for the work they had done at Belmont Haywood Country Park. The drive to maintain the park to a high standard and the effort put in by volunteers to keep the park looking good was praised by the chairman of the judging panel, Will Lindesay from HVOSS. Five members of the group including youngest volunteer 18 year old Aimee Bridges received the prize from the Mayor of Hereford, Cllr Len Tawn.

Following this, Trevor Swindells, chairman of Hereford in Bloom, announced the HiB new initiative - Community Open Space Project and then pronounced Belmont Haywood Country Park the first winner. The prize is a tree and a plaque for the park which will delivered at a suitable planting time.

Phil Edwards, CPS chairman said, "Our perseverance in chasing funding for the equipment and somewhere for it to be stored paid off thanks to the generosity of our grant funders and local businesses. Now we can use the ride-on mower, strimmer, litter pickers and other equipment regularly to keep the park clean and tidy so that the whole of the community can enjoy this wonderful asset on the edge of the city.

Getting these awards is the icing on the cake and all our volunteers are grateful for the recognition their hard work has received."

People interested in joining the Country Park Supporters, or the urban offshoot Newton Farmers, should contact the CPS Secretary Bobbie Edwards on 01432 350688 or email bobbieann@talktalk.net