BOTANIST Dr David Bellamy visited South Park in Darlington almost 40 years to the day since he first stopped off there en route to his then new job at Durham University.

He was invited to cast an eye over a new park ranger service that will encourage greater use of the town’s open spaces.

Dr Bellamy recalled his childhood in London when he played in a local park after school and in the holidays.

“We tend to forget how important our parks are,” he said. “Darlington was a rich town and had the first trains, and so they built these fantastic parks.

“It is extremely pleasing to see the investment here.”

Darlington Borough Council spent £3m refurbishing the Victorian South Park and £1m on the new West Park.

The rangers will speak to visitors and groups and report on comments, suggestions and complaints ass part of a process of improving public parks and nature reserves.

The service, similar to the Street Scene team, arose in part from the award of beacon status to the council for its work in managing parks, and from Darlington Partnership’s Perfectly Placed document, which aims to encouraging people to use parks and nature reserves.

Rob George, of the council’s countryside team, said: “We have the formal stuff at South Park with the traditional layout.We also have West Park, where it is fun and exciting.”

The council has also won £45,200 of Heritage Lottery funding towards a £878,500 plan for the Denes, covering new entrances, bridge repairs, improved lighting and signs, seating, fences and improvements to horticulture.

Andy Neasham, head park ranger and former Street Scene worker, said: “We are linking in with all the Friends’ groups, all the parks and all the green spaces.We want to pull them all together.”