Mums aim to build £1.5m playground

Sherryanne Thomson, one of the fundraisers, says they want to give youngsters a place where ‘children can just be children’, like she had growing up in Portsmouth.

The 42-year-old, of Hursley Road, along with eight other mums from the area, want to build an adventure playground and clubhouse where children from across Leigh Park can hang out.

Although there are lots of playgrounds in Leigh Park Sherryanne would like an adventure playground where there is something for all ages – from a zip wire for older children to a sandpit for toddlers.

She said: ‘I grew up in Buckland and used to spend evenings and holidays at the adventure playgrounds.

‘We’d go inside the clubhouse and do pottery or cooking with the play workers.

‘If was raining we’d have movie days and we’d all sit around in big groups watching it. The children don’t have anything like that over here.

‘We’d like somewhere where children can go and just be children.

‘Where they can meet other young people from across the estate and make new friends.

‘Somewhere they can play pool or the little ones can play in the sandpit. I have four young children but there is nowhere where I can take them where they can all have something to play with.

‘The parks are either for very young children or older children.’

Councillor Faith Ponsonby, who represents Leigh Park, said: ‘They have my full support. An adventure playground is just what the young people need. It’s a great idea.’

The challenge now is to raise the money – which will pay to lease the land and build the play equipment.

Already supporters have donated £1,000 but Sherryanne, who has six children, needs £5,000 to achieve charitable status.

That will allow her to apply for grants from organisation like the National Lottery.

Havant Borough and Portsmouth City councils have offered help and advice but cannot afford to contribute.

To make a donation go to bit.ly/1KHksA9.