Bulbs were planted and bagfuls of rubbish were collected as the community pulled together to spruce up a popular park.

More than 75 people turned out to regenerate Fen Park as the first community event of the year organised by the Fen Park Friends was hailed a success.

And with a 'great turnout' combining to bring a splash of colour to the park in Southwell Road, Kirkley, on Saturday, January 20, organisers praised the 'amazing' response.

With 1,000 February gold daffodil bulbs donated to the Fen Park Friends group by Waveney Norse, more than 50 members of the Latter Day Saints helping hands group from the church in Lowestoft joined in to plant the daffodil bulbs.

With a mix of ages involved in the community event, Bishop Ian Felton of the Latter Day Saints helping hands group said: 'We have over 50 helpers here helping the community to grow. Our goal this year is to help out in the community and as they gave us four hours to plant the bulbs, we did it in less than two - which shows the effort put in.'

Clare Strachan, of the Fen Park Friends, said: 'It's amazing so many people have given up their own time to help the community. I simply could not have done this without Matthew at Kirkley People's Forum, as they provided all the refreshments and the fantastic turnout from the Latter Day Saints.

'The Fen Park Friends are really proud today as this event has worked so well.'

Lewis Hurren, 14, youth chairman of Fen Park Friends, added: 'Thank you to everyone for coming, and particularly the younger people who were here.'

Representatives from the Kirkley People's Forum were also involved as they joined in with the planting and litter pick on the park, while also talking to residents about their work. The charity supplied various refreshments on the day, and Matthew Grafton, Kirkley People's Forum community development worker, said: 'It's great to see the community pull together and it is so nice to see the park so full.'

A Lowestoft town councillor, who attended the event, added: 'The town council wants to work very closely with the long-standing Fen Park Friends group and there are plenty of ideas to help this valuable local asset.'

Kirkley People's Forum

With the strapline of 'making Kirkley an even better place to live' the Kirkley People's Forum was represented at the community event.

Made up of resident volunteers, the forum is focussed on developing aspirations, priorities and projects for and on behalf of Kirkley and all residents from the area can join.

For the past three years, the Kirkley's People's Forum has been leading the local conversation in Kirkley as they work to address three priorities that residents said were most important to them. These are the physical environment, life-skills and wellbeing and community engagement.

The Kirkley Residents' Community Fund provides opportunities for projects focussed on community benefit to be started, developed and delivered in order to improve the wellbeing of local people. With funding of up to £500 available to projects in Kirkley, email matthew.grafton@communit

yactionsuffolk.org.uk for an application form and further details.