FRIENDS are following a trail to get fit thanks to an £18,000 grant to improve their park.

Visitors to the Chislehurst Recreation Ground can now exercise while they are there on pieces of equipment which are especially designed for older children.

The trail in the dog free playground area includes swinging steps, rolling logs, rickety bridges, wobbly planks, saddle nets, climbing walls, balance weavers and zig zag stilts.

It has been built after the Friends of Chislehurst Recreation Ground (FOCRG) listened to feedback from park users over the last two years about what they wanted to see in the space.

And during the consultation process 384 people responded to a questionnaire with 88 per cent saying they would enjoy using the equipment.

Also, 67 per cent of the people said they would come to the park more often if a fitness trail was installed.

FOCRG treasurer Julie Covill said: “Feedback gathered by the Friends identified a need in the Rec for more playground equipment for older children.

“It has been a pleasure working with the Friends' team and London Borough of Bromley to plan and deliver our response: The Fitness Trail Project.”

And FOCRG chairwoman Barbara Arora added: “We are absolutely thrilled to be able to provide such a useful and healthy addition to the Rec’s already improved facilities.

“Feedback tells us that the Fitness Trail will benefit a range of park users.

“This comes after many months of a rigorous application process by dedicated FOCRG committee members.”

The money for the trail came from Community Spaces, a grants programme which is managed by the Groundwork UK charity and funded through the Big Lottery Fund.