RESIDENTS on a Connah's Quay street are taking action to improve the environment on their doorstep.

The residents of Primrose Street are teaming up to work together to make a real difference in their community by making improvements to a dejected playground and the surrounding areas.

Earlier this summer, the residents approached the Our Back Yard team, to highlight a neglected playground tucked away in an alleyway between the houses and which has been a problem area for a number of years, with fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour.

They were desperate to improve the area and make it a safe place for children to play and for families to enjoy time together. With the support of the Our Back Yard team their dreams are finally being realised.

Earlier in August, the local residents attended a community gathering and barbecue to share their aspirations for the area and decide what to call the playground. They decided to name it 'Di’s Secret Park', in memory of late local resident Di Kaley, who in her time was a very strong advocate for the community.

During the following weeks, her husband, friends and other residents teamed up, donned their gloves and made a start. They painted the play equipment and cleared litter and debris. With the support of the Our Back Yard team, the community is working together to fundraise to make the park a better place with more facilities, particularly for children with disabilities and a safer place for the community to come a enjoy time together.

Sallyanne Hall, community engagement officer from Our Back Yard, said: ''It has been great to get the local community working together to make a difference, especially seeing new friendships developing as people with a positive attitude and a will to improve the environment on their doorstep for the benefit of everyone, get hands on and stuck in.''

Our Back Yard is facilitated by Groundwork North Wales working in partnership with Flintshire Council and Connah’s Quay Town Council and is funded by the Big Lottery Create Your Space fund.

Through this project across Connah’s Quay members of the community are taking small steps and collectively the vision for the Our Back Yard Project that local green spaces will be enhanced, become nurtured and cared for, with local people from all walks of life learning new practical environmental skills, gaining a sense of belonging, improved communal confidence and individual wellbeing is becoming a reality.

Billy Kaley said: ''The park itself belongs to the council, but the pathway outside of the park doesn't and has been left to grow and gather all sorts of rubbish.

''It's important that as local residents we maintain the areas we live in and take pride in doing so.''

There are regular Wednesday volunteering sessions to improve the green spaces around the town for people and wildlife and help improve health and wellbeing for people by socialising outside and learning new skills. There are also many outdoor activities planned for everyone during school holidays and on some weekends and evenings around Connah’s Quay. Activities this summer have included bike rides, a photo marathon competition, wildlife and nature discovery events and guided walks.

To find out more about any of the events organised by the project you can join the Facebook group Our Back Yard Connah’s Quay, look at the events section of the website www.groundworknorthwales.org.uk or contact one of the team on 01978 757524.

The team will be there on Tuesday from 4-6pm and everyone is welcome to lend a helping hand.