Local charity help install wheelchair accessible playpark in Banchory

A new wheelchair accessible playpark has been unveiled in Banchory after a local charity raised over £44,000.

Bellfied Park is now equipped with all-inclusive swings and a roundabout after a local woman, Louise Strachan, set up the charity Play For All just over a year ago.

Since then, they have hosted a number of fundraisers and received donations from several organisations - including Cash For Kids who contributed £6,000 towards the project.

It all started when Louise was caring for a young boy who uses a wheelchair but when taking him to the park with his siblings, he wasn't able join in.

She said: "He just had to sit at the side - didn't get to join in. There was nothing for him to do at any of the parks in Banchory and I just thought that's not fair.

"Just because he's in a wheelchair doesn't mean he cant have fun or has to sit and watch his friends or brothers and sisters have fun while he just sits at the side."

Blown away by community support

Louise rallied up a group and formed the charity with the mission of installing the all-inclusive wheelchair accessible playpark in the town.

Since then, she said they have been blown away by the support of the community pulling together to make it happen.

An official opening ceremony was held on Tuesday to unveil the new facility.

Louise said the ribbon cutting ceremony was surreal: "With the crowd that we had behind us, that's when it actually clicked.

"Yeah we've done it - it's actually there. Starting the charity a year and a half ago to cutting the ribbon now, it was just tremendous."

The charity are planning a phase two, with hopes of installing more equipment and working alongside Aberdeenshire Council to refurbish the existing equipment within the park.