THOSE worried about losing touch with continental culture after Brexit need look no further than Muscliff Park.

The Bournemouth park is now home to five new pétanque courts (terrains) - one of several new and ongoing projects to improve the town's green spaces.

A popular Provençal game similar to boules, pétanque involves tossing and rolling hollow steel balls onto an area of gravel, with the aim of having one's balls be the closest to a smaller wooden ball.

The scheme was funded and built by the Muscliff-Whittaker Foundation and the Plymouth Brethren Church, and supervised by the council's parks team.

At an environment and transport scrutiny panel meeting on Thursday (APR 6), members will review a report on the team's projects by Councillor Lawrence Williams, cabinet member for tourism and leisure.

In his report Cllr Williams, who leaves his cabinet post to take on the role of mayor later this month, says the council is setting up a new community interest company to run catering facilities in Queens Park and Boscombe Chine Gardens, having bought the existing cafés there.

"The parks service have now taken on the management of Queens Park Café (from BH Live) and Boscombe Gardens Clock Café and Mini Golf (from a private operator)," he said.

"Queens Park Café has been branded as Woodpecker Café, whilst Boscombe will be known as the Squirrel Café."

According to the report several projects are nearing completion including a route linking Iford Meadows and Playing Fields on the Stour Trail, and Heritage Lottery-funded improvements to Stour Valley Barn in Muscliff.

These include nest-box cams and an 'A-Z of the River Stour' interactive exhibition.

Work is due to start this month on a boardwalk under the railway bridge on the Stour Trail, and is already under way on improving the play facilities at Alum Chine with Treasure Island-themed gear.

Also, Slades Farm is due to get new changing facilities later this year.