Visitors from the Dutch Government were at the St Ives estate near Harden as part of a whistle-stop tour of Bradford to see how successful working partnerships can be between the local council and community groups.

The delegates want to take ideas back to Holland on how such partnerships can set up schemes to get more people out of urban areas and into the countryside.

Pam Laking, from the Friends of St Ives conservation group said the estate was the perfect example.

"We were thrilled to show the delegates what we have achieved. It's great to think we might be the inspiration behind a similar park being developed in Holland," she said.

And she hopes the Friends will be able to twin with similar schemes over there if they get off the ground.

Mrs Laking said: "One of the great things about this visit is that we have made new links and we might be able to organise exchange visits so we can keep inspiring similar ideas in Holland and maybe get some ideas from them too."

The Friends, who won a £25,000 Lottery grant to carry out archaeological surveys of the estate and more recently a £5,000 Greenspace award to throw a summer party to get more park users out and about, have been involved in managing the site with its owners Bradford Council since 2003.

Mrs Laking said the good working relationship had helped the park thrive, attracting thousands of visitors a year.

New features include an aerial slide in its children's park, a new car park funded by the Council and the Countryside Agency, bicycle lock-ups, a bus drop-off point, parking for four horse boxes and an equestrian holding area.

The Council has also helped the Friends plant a new wood with trees bought by people as a way of remembering or thanking someone special in their lives or to mark an important occasion.

The delegates went round the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), the St Ives young disabled unit, and the remains of what could be an English Civil War encampment and signs of a medieval settlement.

Elderman Jelmer Van Der Zee from Enschede in the Netherlands said: "We've seen lots that we like at St Ives and are very impressed with how harmonious the Council and the Friends are working together."

To find out more about St Ives, log on to www.friendsofstives.org.uk or call the Friends on 07958 780391.

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