Health Parks project to improve residents’ wellbeing and fitness

Hailsham Town Council has become the latest local authority to set out to transform and improve its parks and open sapces, after taking part in a Health Parks project.

The Health Parks initiative looks to assess – in the form of a survey and a subsequent report – and then maximise community benefit from all parks and open spaces in terms of health and wellbeing.

The report produced as part of the initiative identified three key sites in the town – the Western Road Recreation Ground, Maurice Thornton Playing Field and Hailsham Country Park – which will now undergo improvements.

Projects include the replacement of outdoor gym equipment at the Western Road Recreation Ground (to be carried out this year); new peripheral pathways, shaded seating areas and a zip wire facility at the Maurice Thornton Play Field site – the latter having recently been completed.

Meanwhile, the creation of a fitness trail, additional seating and a picnic area is being proposed at Hailsham Country Park.

Town Clerk John Harrison said: “We agreed to participate in the Health Parks project, which is designed to maximise community benefit from green spaces in terms of health, fitness and wellbeing.”