TEENAGERS taking part in the National Citizen Service scheme have given the Croxton Park and Trail a major makeover in an attempt to provide a picnic area for Middlewich residents.


A group of teens aged 16 and 17 from around Cheshire are taking part in the National Citizen Service, which takes place all across the country and sees groups come together to spend time away from home and create a project which helps a local community.


The NCS group held various events to raise money before setting out on their project to convert the Croxton Trail land into a family friendly picnic area with a children’s treasure hunt style adventure trail.


The group had only 30 hours to complete the renovation, starting on Monday, August 4, and completing it ready for a celebratory barbeque on Friday, August, 8.


Michael Sheridan, 16, a former pupil of Middlewich High School, is one of the youngsters taking part in the scheme and has been chosen to lead the project.


Michael said: “We had a few ideas but we decided to renovate the picnic area in Middlewich because we’ve all benefited from renovations and we wanted to give something back that is useful for the public.


“We wanted to make it so it is a fun place for all the family to go and it could even bring tourism to the town as people can see it going past on the canal.”


The new picnic area has been given new benches and tables, levelled ground, improved accessibility and trimmed hedges so people in the picnic area can see the canal, as well as the children’s adventure trail.


Michael added: “It is definitely family friendly with the children’s adventure trail but hopefully teenagers will want to use it as well.


“We’re not saying it’s just for families, it is for the whole community and it is open to everyone.”

 
As well as raising some of the cost themselves through events such as coffee mornings, the NCS group has received donations to go towards the renovation from O2 and Middlewich Town Council.


Jonathan Williams, Middlewich Town Council Clerk, said: “Myself and Beverley Cope from Middlewich Vision have been amazed by the professionalism of these young people.


“They have all been courteous, polite and enthusiastic and it’s really good to see people coming together and working together to help out in the community.”


A number of local businesses also got behind the project including Jewsons, Morrisons and the ‘All in One Garden Centre’ Knutsford, who provided tools, food, beverages and plants.