Deal's new community park is now taking shape after a busy two-day session of tree and shrub planting.

Volunteers of all ages grabbed spades and forks at the North Deal Playing Field, Western Road, to help the North Deal Community Partnership members.

NDCP chairman Sue Beer said: “This was an important step towards creating the community park.

“It was a chilly day but still sunny and a range of trees was planted in key places across the space.

“Hedging has been installed around the perimeter and we hope everybody will take some time out to come and see what we have done.

“If people visit now, then again in a couple of months, they will really see the difference. It’s going to look great in a month or two, when the trees have come into leaf.

“Passers-by and regular users of the space have remarked on how different it looks already.

“Several stopped to chat about the make over and discussed with partnership members the plans for a special dog walking area.

The partnership’s vice-chairman Sue Fairley, who led the working party at the planting sessions, said the next task for the NDCP would be raising funds for the separate play areas for young people and under fives.