Forum Topic

warning for parents re Springfield Park

My daughter was on the swings in Springfield Park (on Horn Lane) on Sunday morning around 9am. No one else was around. A middle aged couple came into the area with no children. The woman had a head covering. The man had a net and seemed to be trying to collect berries from the trees. The woman sat herself down on the swing next to my daughter and started talking to her. My daughter took the first opportunity to jump on her bike and get away. It might be innocent (though I don't think adults without children are allowed in the play area), but it's worth being very careful. We will certainly not allow our daughter to visit the park again except in the middle of the day when there are plenty of people around

Patrick Gray ● 5890d7 Comments

How old is your daughter and what did they say to her?

Sarah Harris ● 5890d

I live opposite Springfield Park and aside from the odd over excited kid, our children haven't experienced any problems.What exactly was the cause for alarm? The fact there were adults in the play area?

Ian Mercer ● 5890d

I hate to quote the Daily Mail, but posts like this make me wonder if they sometimes have a point:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1299818/Half-men-steer-clear-children-trouble-fear-branded-paedophiles.html?ito=feeds-newsxml"We will certainly not allow our daughter to visit the park again except in the middle of the day when there are plenty of people around"How sad.

Andy Heeps ● 5890d

I hope that it was innocent. I live opposite the park and take my extremely active 1-year old to the playground almost every day. I do think it is an exceptionally friendly playground (compared with others like the one in Acton park for example) and I find I'm always chatting to people there - some with kids, some without who just like to sit on the picnic benches I think. It does pay to be vigilant, but I certainly wouldn't be put off going there.

Laura Wood ● 5890d

How dreadful.  For the poor woman who was probably only trying to be friendly while her husband picked some blackberries.  What a paranoid family.  There - just a different take on it.

Anne Brown ● 5889d

Update from my son.  They were picking crab apples.  Probably terrorists.

Anne Brown ● 5884d

...that or cidermakers! :-)

T Beme ● 5884d