The Mayor of Test Valley, Cllr Alan Dowden, joined Friends of the Parks Knightwood on Sunday, November 20 to celebrate their 20th anniversary.
Since it was founded in 2002, the group has gone on to complete around 200 jobs including tree planting and restoration in Valley Park.
The Mayor and Mayoress visited the team and held a small toast, thanking them for all of their hard work over the past 20 years.
The Mayor also planted a tree while he was there to mark the occasion.
In the two decades, FOTP has made well over 1,000 bird, bug and bat boxes, helped at numerous pond dipping events and replaced and mended boardwalks and footpaths.
The group has also planted thousands of new trees, five community orchards and raised around £1,000 for Marie Curie through plant sales.
Mayor of Test Valley, Cllr Alan Dowden, said: “It was very special to be able to celebrate Friends of the Parks Knightwood’s 20th anniversary. For two decades the group has been doing some great work in the local area, keeping Valley Park woodlands in such good order. I congratulated them all on their hard work and all they have done for the town.
“It was also a pleasure to plant a tree to replace the many that we have sadly had to remove behind Sandringham Close due to ash dieback."
Friends of the Parks Knightwood meets every three months.
To find out more contact fotp@btinternet.com, or visit valleyparkparish.org/about/friendsoftheparks.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here