A VOLUNTEER programme to teach fishing and outdoor pursuits has restarted after a six-month absence.

Dave Gibson suspended the Trent Park Outdoor Pursuits (TOPs) scheme in December last yearafter a dispute with Enfield Council officers.

However, this weekend the 46-year-old outdoor lover was joined by more than 30 people as the TOPs project was officially restarted.

He said: “It was so refreshing to hear so many parents saying how nice it was and that this is the kind of thing that should be happening in the parks.

“There are still things being worked out with the council, but I told them I'm missing half the summer and what ever has happened we can deal with it in time.”

Mr Gibson had set up TOPs on his own, voluntarily working in the park up to seven days a week without pay and lining up thousands of pounds in funding to expand the project.

The council conducted an internal investigation into the problems raised by Mr Gibson, and following a series of talks in the first half of this year, the TOPs project is back on line.

The return of TOPs was boosted by a donation of 27 pounds of bait from Oakwood Tackle, a fishing supplies store in Reservoir Road.

Mr Gibson said: “It was very generous, I was absolutely gobsmacked when I went in on Saturday morning and they said 'this is for you'.”

The TOPs project began with fishing platforms being built on the edge of the lakes in Trent Park, allowing hundreds of children through the year to try it out and enjoy the outdoors.

Mr Gibson has aspirations to further develop the activities offered in Trent Park, and to rebuild one of the lake's banks and clear out a ditch in the park using the work of volunteers.

However, he has put that on hold until getting approval from the council. In the meantime, he has turn his attention to clearing out parts of the New River Loop in Enfield Town with volunteers from Chase Farm Hospital, every Wednesday.

Councillor Chris Bond, cabinet member for environment, welcomed the return of Mr Gibson and his project, and said “Enfield Council supports this scheme and we are keen to see young people benefit from working outdoors with wildlife in our parks, interacting with their peers and learning a skill.”

He added the council is keen to work with Mr Gibson to promote TOPs to the wider Enfield community.

If you would like to get involved with Mr Gibson's work and the TOPs project, you can call him on 07504 578 617, or email dg.1@live.co.uk.