The opening of final stage of FoKGVPF (Friends of King George the fifth Playing Fields) Keep Fit Path was carried out by The Worshipful the Civic Mayor and Mayoress of Tameside, Councillor Joe Kitchen and Shirley Kitchen, last Sunday in King George's park in Ashton by cutting the red ribbon across the path. The original path started over 20 years ago by Ground Work, was never finished and was over grown, when the FoKGVPF group started in 2010. The FoKGVPF group decided to repair the old path and finish it.

After completing the old path and installing some outdoor gym equipment along the path, which is free to use, it was found that many people used the path, so the group decided to extend the Keep Fit Path all the way around the park.

This second phase of the path was started early in 2013 by FoKGVPF, Prince's Trust Hyde Fire Brigade Team 5 and Community Payback volunteers and is now completed the total path is over 1km about half a mile. It is a great way to keep fit by walking or jogging along the path in a nice clean environment of King Georges, and you can stop halfway around the park for a drink at Georgie Porgie's cafe.

The Civic Mayor Joe Kitchen said, I enjoyed the walk on the new path and ago on the outdoor gym walker, he went on to thank all the volunteers that had made the path and the Friends group for all their work in the park with the trees, flowers, bees and Georgie Porgie's cafe. The £6552 project was spearheaded by FoKGVPF with funding from Tameside and the Veolia Environment Trust who awarded a grant of £5000 through the Landfill Communities Fund. Alan Fish chair of FoKGVPF, says, We are delighted that the Keep Fit Path was opened by the Mayor on Sunday, the path will provide a pleasant and practical environment for people to stay healthy even older people as they will be able to stroll or run around the park. The Executive Director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, Paul Taylor, adds, This is a great project that will significantly benefit the community of Ashton and surrounding areas enabling all to enjoy the park while tackling a range of health issues. It is fantastic to hear that the work is complete and I hope the path  is used and enjoyed for many years to come.

If you would like to be involved with FoKGVPF or Georgie Porgie's volunteers then come to have a look at the work that is carried out by the FoKGVPF volunteers in the park, or contact Alan Fish 07931765120 alan.fish.161te@gmail.com or go to www.fokgvpf.co.uk. For information about the Veolia Trust funding which has been supporting community and environmental projects over 16 years since it was established in 1997, Veolia Environmental Services (UK) plc has contributed over £55 million to 1698 projects, contact Rebecca Jacob 01902 794978 rebbecca.jacob@veolia or go to www.veoliatrust.org.