Ready to plant: (Back) Garry Poulson, Brian Burton, Peter Greenhalgh, Keith Lock, Mavis Greenhalgh, David Rendel.

(Front) Isabelle Dixon, Charlie Gosling, Maggie Philbin, Abigail Dixon.

Maggie Philbin, the Mayor and Mayoress of Newbury, Cllrs Peter and Mavis Greenhalgh, the MP David Rendel and the Chairman of West Berkshire Council, Cllr Keith Lock, joined around 50 residents on Saturday in the City playground for Newbury's participation in National Make A Difference Day.

Organisers Newbury Volunteer Bureau and the Newbury In Bloom Action Group were delighted with the turnout.

Garry Poulson of Newbury Volunteer Bureau said: "Local volunteers will have certainly made a difference to their own park and this coming spring around 3,000 daffodils will appear in the eastern corner of the park for everyone to enjoy."

Brian Burton of the Newbury In Bloom Action Group was impressed by the number of people who came to help. He said: "We know the regional In Bloom judges will be impressed by this community effort when they judge the town next year and the children who participated will have a sense of ownership of them."

The organisers acknowledged the support of B&Q in Newbury for donating tools and bulb fibre, Grovelands Garden Centre in Spencers Wood for bulbs, Cornish King Growers and Newbury Town Council.

Chronicle, Thursday October 30, 2003