THE FOREST recreation ground recently received £5.1 million from Nottingham City Council and the National Lottery for redevelopment, including renovating the Central Pavilion and Forest Lodge.

This money will also be put towards improving the changing rooms, but extra funds will be needed from private organisations and community groups to develop the "sports zone."

Residents, groups and individuals have been asked to help put forward ideas about how they would like to see the ground developed and Djanogly City Academy, Notts County Cricket Club and New College Nottingham have shown enthusiasm for the new project.

This week we interviewed a number of students who attend Djanogly and asked them what they would like to see at The Forest recreation ground.

Shamiza Mazhar, 14, of New Basford said: "They should make a big maze with a tower in the middle, like a labyrinth. It would be fun for kids and for most age groups. Then there would be something to do for everyone."

Shauna Vinch, 15, of Basford added: "I would like to see better toilets, they're disgusting at the moment."

Several of the people we spoke to said the toilets needed to be staffed because currently they are not, and are easily vandalised.

This could be a great opportunity for locals to be able to apply for jobs and residents could participate in voluntary work helping to improve the community.

Out of the ten students we interviewed, three lived in Forest Fields. They said a skate park would be a good idea, and others said it would be nice to see more flower beds and a bigger focus on the environment at the ground.

However, there was also some controversy about whether the park should be changed at all.

14-year-old Jason Burgess from Bulwell said: "I like the park as it is." Out of the ten people we interviewed, two other people said they would like to see the park stay as it is.