A NEW park preservation group has been set up in Headington to stop people from running over the flowers.

Friends of Headington Hill Park, a group of volunteers, will work to protect and service the park that was designed in the 1850s.

The volunteers have already issued maps to Oxford City Council parks officers to reveal where hidden bulbs are lurking.

Group founder Richard Power said: “The park is a real gem with a lot of history – it’s one of the most complete arboretums around.

“There are 800 trees and many of them are rare and great examples of good British trees.

“We are trying to protect the park from the elements and also stop people churning up the grass.”

The volunteers organised this year’s OxClean of the park and got a taste for the action.

the group has already drawn up maps of where plants will start to grow from bulbs so parks officers can avoid running them over.

Mr Power said: “We have been walking around and taking photos of them all and passing the information on to the parks guys. If it’s not clear we have put it on a map for them. It’s important they don’t run over the bulbs or we won’t get the flowers the following year.”

The group, which already has about 30 members, is due to meet officially for the first time tonight (tuesapril14). Aims and objectives as well as the election of committee members will take place at 6.30pm at Headington Hill Hall.

Mr Power said: “The focus of the meeting will be to create ideas which will help us to promote and protect the park so that as many residents of Oxford as possible can enjoy it. Our role will include preventing the park from being abused by people, by building work or by nature.

“High winds have caused severe winds and even brought down big trees in recent years – a problem likely to become worse since many of our trees are growing old.”

Since 2012, Headington Hill Park has been used for many events, including the performance of Shakespeare plays by Creation Theatre company and for wedding receptions The landscaping for the park was originally designed in the 1850s when it was owned by the Morrell family.

It was bought by Oxford City Council in 1953 and furnished with trees and ornamental shrubs and has been leased to Oxford Brookes University since 1992.

Oxford City Council’s head of Parks Ian Brooke said: “The city council welcomes the Friends of Headington Hill Park who will work with us as partners to maintain and preserve the park on behalf of the local community."

"Friends groups help us improve the appearance of parks, manage facilities and improve biodiversity."