IT’S one of Huddersfield’s best loved public spaces.

And thankfully Beaumont Park has a group of volunteers dedicated to preserving, promoting and improving it.

Friends of Beaumont Park was set up almost 14 years ago when the Victorian park was in a sorry state.

The demolition of the park’s pavilion by Kirklees Council, in 1998, was the last straw and the group was formed by local residents.

The group, which now has 371 members aged 20 to over 80, does much more than maintain the park.

The Friends became a charity in 2009 and rebuilt the park’s bandstand, restored its lower gates and opened a visitors’ centre.

The group has landscaped areas of the park and cut back foliage to open beautiful views of Holme Valley.

It organises popular events including annual gala days and heritage days as well as concerts, picnics, social history and photography meetings and groups for parents and children.

And the group plans to extend its work into woodland below the park and also build a community building.

The Friends of Beaumont Park (FOBP) have applied to the Examiner Wish 2012 fund for money to build a veranda, improve the kitchen and extend the building’s opening hours.

Work on the community building, which should be completed by spring, is expected to start next month.

FOBP chairman Peter Turner said: “Beaumont Park was the first public park in Huddersfield. It has a unique location with fantastic views of Holme Valley.

“It’s a neighbourhood park and it’s different to a lot of other parks because it has a lot of woodland.

“The money will make a big difference to the people using the park. They will be able to go out in the sunshine and enjoy the views.”

The 29-acre park was created by Lord Henry Beaumont in 1883.

The park, which borders Lockwood and Netherton, originally featured caverns, waterfalls and hillside paths.

FOBP holds its annual heritage weekend on Sunday (1.30-4.30pm).

The event includes a fun fair with donkeys, a brass band and a Punch and Judy show.