THE Friends of Lochore Meadows Country Park is a recently established voluntary community organisation who are aiming to put people and communities at the heart of the development process within the park.

The group is made up of representatives from across the Cowdenbeath area, but aims to engage and consult with the wider communities of Fife and beyond.

The group are concerned with the provision of recreational facilities, safeguarding and improving the environment, educational activities within the park, along with the advancement of heritage and culture.

Lochore Meadows is now one of the busiest parks in Fife and there is scope to further provide opportunities for all sections of the community.

Although the group has recently been formed, members are moving quickly forward with a range of projects including the formulisation of a community consultation which will ask individuals, families and communities what they enjoy taking part in within the park and what improvements they would like to see.

This consultation will be widely distributed and will include a Roadshow which will travel throughout the Cowdenbeath Area Communities providing information about the group, what it aims to achieve and how people can be involved.

The group hope to gather views from a wide range of ages, and from individuals from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances.

On behalf of FOLM, David McKay said: "We want people from our local communities as well as park visitors from further afield to take part in the consultation, the results of which will form an Action Plan of priorities that the group can take forward which will benefit all users of Lochore Meadows Country Park.

"The Friends of Lochore Meadows have also undertaken a visioning session which will form part of an updated action plan going forward into the future.

"Following on from the recent Drive Deck Project, a small sub group of the Friends of Lochore Meadows have begun conversations with Fife Council, NHS, Play as One Scotland, park users and other partners around the extension of the project.

"It is anticipated that developments can lead into better overall play facilities for ‘all-inclusive play’ within the park. This is an exciting possibility for park users, the local and wider community and can transform the current play facility which is looking aged and tired.

"The Friends of Lochore Meadows Country Park are looking forward to building relationships with local communities and partner agencies and would encourage everyone to contribute to the forthcoming consultation process".