A BOWLING club is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a bid to become more inclusive for the whole community.

South Park Bowling Club is working on a number of projects to make it easier for different groups to get involved, including getting ramps to make the green more accessible for wheelchair users.

It had planned a large scale celebration this month to mark the significant anniversary but is instead having an “inclusion in bowls month”.

Scott Morland, who is leading the efforts, is also trying to get more children at the club, and has organised a series of training sessions for members, including Dementia Friends awareness, training on LGBT+ awareness, engaging wheelchair participants and sporting inclusion.

He said: “Bowls is a very backwards sport and we’re trying to hopefully start something. If we can get a few things going maybe other clubs can as well.

“We have quite a good following across the country and we are really trying to change the image of things.

“There’s still a lot to do in terms of change.”

The club has already had success in growing its female membership, and has gone from having just a handful of women and no teams to having almost 50, and three teams.

It is hoping two activity days this month – one of which is due to take place at the South Park Bowls Green on Sunday, May 30 – aimed at children will boost interest.

Mr Morland added: “Hopefully we can get a couple of after school things going. Our future aim is to try to get it around other clubs and get a children’s league. That’s something that doesn’t really exist at the moment. I don’t know if there’s one anywhere in the country.”

Mr Morland, 41, has been involved in the sport for 30 years and has played at county level.

He added: “There tends to be a lot of older people playing but it’s a young person’s sport. When young people play, they love it.

“You can change the game to anything you want which is the beauty. But some people in the sport are obsessed with the same format that has been played since the 1800s. They don’t want to change it but we do.”

The event on May 30 starts at 10am. Children can turn up on the day and are asked to wear flat shoes. For further information call Dave Scott on 07906071481, Sue Waller on 07985182466 or Scott Morland on 07984-603455.