THE keeper of Okehampton's Simmons Park has been congratulated on his work to make the site a haven for wildflowers and wildlife.

Park keeper David Whitfield attended the council's latest parks' meeting to answer questions raised by members of the public.

He explained that areas of grass in the park — including the area on the right hand side of the entrance path below the first shelter — have been left to grow as a habitat for insects and wildflowers.

Mr Whitfield has also taken a collection of wildflower seeds from Okehampton Castle and planted them in the garden in the hope of encouraging wildflowers to grow in the park.

The effort to restore wildflowers echoes a campaign by Prince Charles to restore 107 Coronation meadows of wildflowers to the UK, with at least one meadow in each county.

Cllr Michael Ireland said: 'I congratulate the park keeper on his initiative and his great work. It is excellent that the wildlife and plants in the park are being so carefully considered.

'There is much more to maintaining Simmons Park than just cutting grass and looking after play equipment, and our keeper is showing his excellence.'