WHEN a band of parents launched a bid to build a play area in the village of Stone, they hoped beyond hope to raise £15,000. Just nine months later the committee had netted a staggering £28,000. Gazette feature writer Kirsty Ramsden met two of the committee members to find out about this amazing achievement.

DESPITE having dozens of children in the village, Stone was sadly bereft of play facilities.

Indeed the main play facility was a triangle of grass and a tree.

In 2002, after a long campaign, a piece of land was secured for a play facility and two sets of swings installed with the intention of more equipment to follow.

Ham and Stone parish councillor Gareth Langdon then became aware little more was happening at the play area.

"I have an eight-year-old and was aware that she was going to miss out on the play area," he said.

He began some minor fund-raising but felt the scheme needed others to become involved.

Last March a committee was launched under the umbrella of the parish council to take on the project.

"The parish council had done all the work to then and felt it important that people from the village started to get involved more," explained Cllr Langdon.

Ham and Stone Play Area Committee was launched under the chairmanship of village mum Victoria Burt with the remit to raise funds to put equipment on the play area.

The committee wanted to raise £15,000 but in just nine months netted £28,000.

Mrs Burt revealed the bulk of the £28,000 was raised through grants which involved a great deal of letter-writing and research.

Through research, the committee narrowed down the number of grant-giving bodies to apply to and sent out six letters - they were refused by just one.

Grants included £10,000 from Government grant scheme Living Spaces, which provides funds and support to help people make the most of open spaces in their neighbourhood.

The committee also received funding from the Local Network Fund for Children and Young People, Gloucestershire Environmental Trust with landfill tax contributions donated by Cory Environmental and Stroud District Council.

Mrs Burt said the committee researched the subject of accessibility to ensure the play area had equipment for children with special needs and mainstream youngsters.

"We wanted inclusive play so children with special needs could play with mainstream children," she explained.

Businesses in the surrounding area made donations and the committee raised £725 through village activities such as a fun day with football tournament and a toy stall.

Mrs Burt said: "We've had amazing support from the village."

She added a village appraisal had revealed the desire for play facilities within Stone.

Indeed, the village had more than 80 children under 14, she explained.

Cllr Langdon added: "The village has slowly started to die. We used to have a post office, two shops and a pub. There is absolutely nothing here."

Mrs Burt added parents had to transport their youngsters by car out of the village to facilities.

"This play area will provide a community meeting place," she said.

She imagines the village playgroup and school also using the facility.

The committee has spent the full £28,000 on the play area.

Mrs Burt revealed she had envisaged the play area been installed in phases, with the first phase costing £15,000, however the staggering amount raised has enabled the first three phases to be completed.

The committee has bought wooden equipment to fit into the rural setting of the play area.

The equipment, which is due to be installed within the next few weeks, will include two pieces of climbing equipment, a ground level piece of equipment, a wooden train, two "springies" and a space net.

The final phase of the play area scheme is to provide a garden seating area for adults in the village.

However the work, skills and plants for this will be provided by Stone's keen gardeners.

Cllr Langdon, who is also a member of the play area committee, said the parish council wanted the play area to become self-funding therefore activities such as the fun day are set to become annual events to fund future maintenance.

The parish council has secured Stroud District Council funding to place seating and a picnic bench at the play area.

Mrs Burt said: "This committee has fostered community spirit and started new village traditions."

The play area will give a venue when villagers can meet and chat, she explained.

Cllr Langdon added: "In the 1970s community spirit was very strong in the village.

"But community spirit began to die as people moved away and the car become king.

"We have tried to foster some community spirit back into the village through this."