Watch and find out why Grangemouth’s Inchyra Park is about to really take off

For the last few years Friends of Inchyra Park and a mass of volunteers have been working hard to turn the park into something the community can be proud of and now they are also acknowledging the fact it was home to Grangemouth Airport.

Adam Gillies, a member of Friends of Inchyra, said: “We are trying to work with as many people as possible so they can take ownership of the park. We want to encourage people to use the park and we want the community to be proud of their park.

“If the community didn’t do this themselves then we would have nothing down here at the park. We are meeting with the council next month to talk about a masterplan.

“We have done a huge amount of work here over the last couple of years.”

Inchyra Park was part of Grangemouth Airport, which was used to train Spitfire pilots during World War Two, and a section of the original runway can still be seen in the park.

This historic fact has been highlighted by Friends of Inchyra Park, who have introduced heritage displays, benches and planters drawing people’s attention to the park’s past. A massive mural, depicting a Spitfire, is soon to be created by artist Donna Forrester to make the display even more eye catching.

This is only the latest initiative taking place at Inchyra Park, with every undertaking designed to encourage people to visit the improving open space and even participate in its transformation.

Last year volunteers planted a community orchard which also includes apple, pear, cherry and plum trees and it has subsequently become a kind of memorial garden to commemorate loved ones who have died.

Tying in with the historic RAF connection, a Spitfire bird feed holder paid for by the town’s La Gondola chip shop and designed and created by Grangemouth metal fabrication business Steel-n-Time, who also created the bespoke benches for the park’s RAF runway display, has been erected.

The Easter holidays are on the way and Friends of Inchyra Park has teamed up with local charity shop NU2U, which helps formerly homeless people equip their new tenancy with affordable furniture, to create a special free Easter Egg Hunt in the park from noon on Easter Sunday, April 12.

Anyone who wants to donate a chocolate egg – there are currently 300 – can head along to NU2U in La Porte Precinct to hand them in for youngsters to subsequently hunt for on the big day.

The park has even secured a bouncy castle to make the day even more fun for youngsters.

Summer should see the park looking amazing – with planters located around the pathways, wildflowers covering some 3000 square metres which will come into bloom in May and June and a circular crocus display which will hopefully resemble the red, white and blue RAF roundel.

Visit www.facebook.com and search for Friends of Inchyra Park for more.