Jubilant children swarmed through the gates of Devauden playground on Saturday, July 5, after a seven week shutdown for a stunning, £84,000 transformation.

Officially opening the newly redeveloped playpark at Hood Memorial Hall’s annual fête, Catherine Fookes MP unveiled plaques and thanked all those who made the makeover possible: the National Lottery; Devauden Hall, the charity that runs Hood Memorial Hall, and local community groups and individuals who supported the fundraising appeal.

She said: “I have always envied Devauden’s community spirit which is very special and this amazing playground gives credit to the committee of local volunteers who made it possible.”

National Lottery funding advisor Michael Dupree joined the celebrations by presenting a specimen cheque for £64,800 to Richard May, Chair of Devauden Hall, watched by Catherine Fookes, Devauden Ward County Cllr Rachel Buckler and Cllr Jim MacTaggart, Mayor of Chepstow.

The sum is made up of two National Lottery grants; a People and Places award of £55,000 which part funded the equipment costs and an Awards for All grant of £9,800 which enabled the replacement of the playground’s perimeter fencing. Devauden Hall contributed £25,000 and approximately £4,000 came from fundraising and donations from the local community.

Richard May said: “This magnificent playground is a wonderful example of what communities and volunteers can do. On behalf of Devauden Hall trustees, I should like to thank the Playground Action Group which launched an ongoing consultation with local children and their parents in September 2023. They invited them to draw up a wish list for a redeveloped playground which included equipment for smaller children and those with disabilities and sensory impairment, something that was lacking in the past.

'The group campaigned tirelessly for almost two years to turn those dreams into reality with the help of the National Lottery and others. The happy faces of children today show that they more than exceeded expectations,” he added.