Hilly Fields playground opening weekend

The new Hilly Fields playground began its opening weekend with a full house with hundreds of kids trying out the new star attractions including a spinning wheel, a sprawling sand and water pit and a wicked little slide.

It was fitting that the playground opening coincided with FA Cup Final day, since the predictions that the new turf would struggle were proved accurate - in many places the cracks were already beginning to show.

However, that aside, the park is a great success. The landscaping and planting has softened the park's exposed setting and turned it from a playground in to an adventure playground that's as much of an improvement for the accompanying parents as it is for the kids.