The first Woodroad Park Fun Day was held on a small scale in 2023. To keep the momentum going, and show that the park was for all, a bigger and better Fun Day took place in 2024 with funds from Parks4Life. For the first time, it included tempting trails - in the days leading up to the Fun Day and following the event.

Cumnock Action Plan 

The priorities of local people gathered for the Cumnock Action Plan 2016-2021 included upgrades and path improvements in Cumnock's Woodroad Park in East Ayrshire. Thanks to the efforts of members of the community group Cumnock Action Plan these improvements took place and now Woodroad Park rejuvenation is focussed on fun family activities. Getting more folk using and enjoying their local park. This also results in less anti social behaviour and fewer future repairs.

Faerie and Scary Trails

A free, open to the public 24/7 Faerie Trail was set up along the woodland walk in the park for two weeks as a build up to the Fun Day. Working with a partner group, Sticky Fingers who run a daily summer camp for primary age children in the area, Cumnock Action Plan provided faerie doors and toadstools for decorating which were then placed along the Faerie Trail. This activity was also extended to the neighbouring community of Muirkirk. Over 300 faerie doors and 200 toadstools were decorated by the kids, varnished and positioned.

A quiz was created around the Trail which was distributed to the community and all local groups contributing to the Fun Day via social media and WhatsApp. The Faerie Trail formed the two-week build up to the Fun Day, with quiz prizes handed out at the Fun Day itself. Building on the success of the Faerie Trail, a Scary Hallowe’enTrail took place in the autumn along the road into the park.

Fun Day fundraising success

The free Fun Day consisted of activities and stalls brought in by the organisers as well as stalls manned by local groups. The selling of wrist bands to children at £2 each for unlimited access to rented activities was the income stream that was tried out for the first time. It was a big success, over 1,000 people attended, and 450 wrist bands were sold.  

Local businesses that helped with set up were generous in their charges and donations of services. The event and build up cost Cumnock Action Group around £2,000. Income from sale of stalls, wristbands, donations and the grant provided a small surplus which will go toward plans for other free activities and the build up to Fun Day 2025.

Parks4Life Community Funding

Having the £1000 Parks4Life Community Fund grant (launched by greenspace scotland in June 2024 to support communities to improve and bring life to their local parks and greenspaces) gave the group a big confidence boost to plan a more ambitious event, fund their Faerie and Scary Trails as well as pilot a new income stream to put towards future activities.

Lessons learnt, challenges and dreams

The main lesson the group would share is to get applications for licences and permissions to into the Council early. The ‘challenge’ they had was unique - finding they didn’t have the correct generator connector to blow up the inflatables. The lesson universal - always ask lots of questions when hiring equipment, double check and check again!

Cumnock Action Plan are already planning for the Fun Day and Trails to get even bigger and better in 2025. They hope to try an evening of open air cinema, and dream of organising a community parade through the town that ends in Woodroad Park.

Watch this greenspace!

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To find out more, Helen Ng the Treasurer of Cumnock Action Plan is happy to be emailed. She would also love to hear what other groups are doing (that doesn’t cost too much or need too many volunteers) to get their local community using their local park.

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Visit Parks4Life Funded Projects to see the other projects from across Scotland that received funding. The fund will open again in early summer 2025. Find out more here