HOPE Nature Centre has been celebrating their 10th birthday this week and marked the occasion by unveiling their disabled-friendly play area.

The £18,000 investment into the charity, based at Southwick Country Park, is hoped to further their attraction to groups who need disabled-friendly facilities.

Since being founded by two mums who were annoyed by the lack of facilities in the area in 2006, Hope Nature Centre has gone from strength-to-strength, welcoming 700 visitors every week.

On Tuesday, around 130 attended the grand unveiling of the play area which received donations from the Boshier-Hinton Foundation, Trowbridge Area Board and Trowbridge Town Council.

Debbie Martindale from the charity said they started fundraising for the equipment last summer.

She added: “The play area is specialist for wheelchair users because sometimes they aren’t able to enjoy a lot of things so this is why everything has been designed for them to use.

“We have even installed a metal slide instead of a plastic one because people who wear cochlear implants are not allowed to go down any plastic slides because of the interference so that is why we decided to get a metal one.

“We get a lot of disabled groups here and because the play area is disabled friendly, many people don’t feel isolated because all the facilities are catered to help them get around.”

The play area also includes a trim trail which was opened by newly-elected mayor Linda Self.

Tom James, manager at Hope Nature Centre said: “A lot of people who came to the unveiling have invested in this new equipment which is very sturdy and it has been modified for us to install for people with wheelchairs or people with walking difficulties.

“In order to fund it, many people have helped us and we are so in debt to you all and I hope people understand how much joy it will bring to a number of our customers.

“I have to thank everyone for putting their hands in their pocket and trusting us to get this equipment and I have also have to thank Debbie who has put her heart into organising it.”