AS ONE of Oxford’s most popular playgrounds prepares to open for summer season 2012, pictures of play from a very different decade have resurfaced.

These pictures show young visitors enjoying themselves at South Oxford Adventure Playground (SOAP) in the early 1970s.

They were found by family members of the late Jeremy Brent, who started the playground more than 46 years ago.

SOAP trustee and parent Leanne Kelly said: “The photos are wonderful. They show how much this playground has been loved by generations.

“But I think a few of them are quite terrifying.

"You can’t imagine parents allowing their children to do some of those things these days.”

Last year, the playground in Whitehouse Road was boosted with £90,000 in grants to replace worn-out equipment. It now boasts brand-new wooden towers, scramble nets, a tree-top platform and a hut used by community groups.

But Ms Kelly said the constant hunt for funding continued.

She said: “Last year we practically doubled the amount of children using the playground from 880 to more than 1,500.

“But finding funding at the moment is quite desperate.

“There is just nowhere to raise money from.”

The playground shut for the winter in October and is due to reopen at the start of the Easter holidays.

The hut, finished last summer, is also proving a popular place – with a weekly youth club, Brownies and Guides all making full use of the facility.

Ms Kelly said it was hoped there would be enough money to see the playground through the summer, but it could limit what they would be able to do.

She said: “We are always thinking ‘we need this’ or ‘we need that’ so it’s just an ongoing process.

“As it stands, I think we have about a £6,000 shortfall for the period leading up to October.

“We’ll definitely be open during the summer holidays, but we don’t know how much after-school stuff we’ll be able to do.”

SOAP has been running since 1965, aiming to provide a place for children to enjoy supervised play.

There are currently about 12 paid play workers and 10 voluntary committee members.

Ms Kelly added: “The children love it, it’s nice that they can go there without their parents being around.

“Play workers are much cooler than parents, whatever age you are.”

For more information, visit soapoxford.org.uk