Work starts on new park to encourage conversations

Residents have buddied up with the council to develop the new "friendship park"

Work has started on a new Leicestershire park being created to encourage people to talk about their mental wellbeing.

The “friendship park” is being built on a site off Northampton Road in Market Harborough.

Owners Harborough District Council said the site was overgrown, frequently full of litter and a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

New walkways, railings, benches, fruit trees, sculptures and wildflower planting will be installed.

Renamed as Northampton Road Friendship Park, the council hopes it will encourage people to engage in conversation.

The community space will be "designed for people to gather safely, surrounded by nature, and aim to foster connections between those who use them", said the authority.

The patch had become a magnet for littering and antisocial behaviour

Volunteers from the community will be helping council workers to bring the project to life and with ongoing maintenance at the site.

Council chairman Peter Elliott said: “I am pleased work has started on this park which will revive the space and be something special.

"We hope this previously neglected site will now be well-used.”