Pink bench could be the start of a beautiful friendship

A park bench that left passers-by tickled pink after a surprise makeover is now a place where friendships can begin.

The bench on Ashfield Estate made the headlines after it was painted pink overnight not long after it was installed.

This inspired Ashfield District Council to give it a proper lick of paint after reading the positive responses to its new look. It has now been painted bright print and transformed into a friendship bench overlooking the pond.

It is a place where residents who are feeling lonely and wanting someone to talk to can use it to strike up a conversation.

Cllr Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council, said:

“It can be hard to form friendships as we get older so this bench is the perfect spot to start a conversation.

“The bench itself is a talking point and is definitely eye catching. This is another example of how we are listening to our residents. We were told how painting the bench pink had brought a smile to so many faces and we wanted to make it a permanent feature.

“While we do not condone going round painting Council property, on this occasion it has inspired us to create something special for the people of Ashfield. Mental health is a top priority for the Council and this is one of the ways we are supporting that.

“We hope this is the start of some beautiful friendships.”