Community play park created at Polbathic pub

Supported by a £3,000 grant from the Pub is the Hub’s Community Service Fund, Halfway House landlords Russ Matterson and Jessica Stanton have been able to create the Polbathic Community Play Park in partnership with St German’s Primary School, St German’s Youth Group, parents and local volunteers.

Jessica Stanton said: “Putting Polbathic’s long list of attributes to one side, there is one glaring hole – there are no facilities here for children and families. Pub is The Hub have already been incredibly supportive to us in helping us to install a micro library at the pub in 2015 so when we went back to them this year to talk about the play area, they were just as helpful.

“We hope this will inspire and build confidence in the children that have been involved to see their designs come to life and create a fun and imaginative space to play.”

Local children who stand to benefit from the pub’s new play area were involved in the design of the park – putting the finishing touches by adding their handprints to a new sign. Alongside park features including a Crow’s Nest, a pirate hideout created using three donated boats, and areas to encourage wildlife, they’ll have the chance to manage their own Mud Pub and Kitchen.

Reg Clarke, the advisor for Pub is The Hub in the south-west added: “Jessica and Russ never stand still – they are always thinking what they can do next with their community-based business and this play park is one of the best I have seen. It has been a wonderful collaborative project and I know that local children and families will really feel the benefit.”