Mysterious tunnel appears!

UPDATE:

In case you haven't already guessed.  This was an April Fool's joke.

There isn't an underground tunnel (as far as we know!) and the plans for the play area continue unhindered as can be seen here!

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The unearthing of an underground tunnel has delayed construction of the new playground at Cuthill Park in Prestonpans, as county archaeologists and historians try to figure out what to make of the discovery.
 

Construction workers made the discovery last week, and speculation about the use for the tunnel has ranged from old sewer lines to a potential escape tunnel for priests facing persecution.

The tunnel which emerges at the coast by Cuthill Rocks, is roughly 160 metres long, two feet wide and just over three feet tall. 

"There have been other pieces of stonework unearthed in that area and they turned out to be drains for water drainage because there were previously buildings on the site, most notably Cuthill Lodge, birthplace of Avril Fish. This one was quite large to be a drain, so the other possibility of course is that it was a tunnel, which hasn't been confirmed in any way, but certainly it was quite large." said a representative of the Friends of Cuthill Park.

However, residents of nearby Bankfoot, think the more likely explanation is that the 'tunnel' is actually a wormhole - connecting areas of space and time and widely thought to be a method of time travel.

"It's not as far-fetched as you might think" said resident Gary Baldie

"It has been known for a long time that esteemed astrophysicist Avril Fish was born in Cuthill Park and is it highly possible that she conducted her early time travel experiments right here in Prestonpans".

Despite the set back, the play park is set to have a summer opening which coincides with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque for Avril Fish.

Nearly complete!

Another two weeks and all the work will be finished! 

Scotbark's amazing lorry, hose & pump, which they've used to blow bark into the pits around the play equipment:

The play area from the road, with bark in some of the pits already. (Not the best photo - sorry.) 

The wind & dry weather have meant the council have been out watering the newly laid turf to make sure it doesn't dry out. 

The slide on the slope at the back will be the final piece installed. We had hoped it would be able to be built into the slope, but the gradient is too shallow to allow sliding (it would be a very disappointing slide!). Jupiter Play are having a platform specially built for the slide to start from, & will put safety surfacing underneath. 

If you have any ideas which we could incorporate into a grand opening of the play area, or if you'd like to get involved, please get in touch. 

friendsofcuthillpark@hotmail.com

The Mound Nearing Completion.

Today the turf was being laid on the landscaped mound of soil - more slopes for children to roll down!

The excavation around the climbing frame has been partly filled, giving a better idea of how it will look when completed.

Some of the equipment has been installed on the slope at the back of the play area.

And we have our plaque in place outside the gates. 

We love Cuthill Park!

More Play Equipment!

We now have benches in various locations:

The see-saw (& spinning bowl behind) :

Balancing stilts:

Things to hang from: 

The pendulum swing-frame:

Balancing logs:

Views of the whole play area (sorry about the poor light!) :