PEOPLE who share a love for a countryside park want to set up a Friends Group, and are looking for volunteers.

The 144-acre Cranford Countryside Park has been without a Friends group for four years, but efforts are being made to recruit people who are interested in joining a committee that would work closely with Hillingdon Council’s Green Spaces team and lobby for improvements.

Bob Burton, of Colbrook Avenue, Hayes, has used the park for 25 years.

He was inspired to re-establish the group after doing voluntary work renovating a walled garden in the spring, as part of a special project for cancer patients.

“I have been coming here ever since I moved to Hayes. I exercise here, we took the children here when they were growing up. It’s part of my life really.

“Most of the major parks in the borough, and everywhere else for that matter, have a Friends group, and when I found out that Cranford Park didn’t, I thought it was a great opportunity being missed.”

The park, which is on the Hillingdon/Hounslow border just south of the M4, is a conservation area that is home to several historic monuments, including St Dunstan’s Church, built in the 15th century.

It formed the grounds of Cranford House before it was demolished in 1945, and legend has it that the woods are haunted by the ghost of the Grey Lady, said to be a maid at the manor.

It also has a large variety of ancient trees, plants, birds and other wildlife.

Mr Burton said that although it is well kept, it does need ‘a bit of TLC’.

“It is a huge park but it’s still not that well known, I think because it is next to two main roads, the M4 and The Parkway.

“It is one of the borough’s hidden gems, and we want to promote everything it has to offer. Everyone I have spoken to has been very positive about the idea.

“There is a great love and affection for the park, and people want to see it enhanced.”

The council and Hayes MP John McDonnell are both supportive, and now the Friends group just needs friends to get started.

? If you are interested in getting involved, email Bob on bartonwrite1@gmail.com.