This month (October 2025) saw a new addition at the popular Rowland Road Play Patch: a ‘Little Book Stop’, a free mini library, for locals to pick up and swap books.
The mini library is one of 90 installed across the country, as part of a project by publishing giant Penguin Books to mark their 90th anniversary. The scheme saw thousands of applicants, but Rowland Road was one of the lucky winners.
Community volunteer Omar Mushtaq, who arranged it locally, said:
“Rowland Road Play Patch is such a brilliant project, bringing people together for play, adventure, creativity, food, events and more. This Little Book Stop will hopefully enhance the project: an opportunity for people to share stories, discover something new, and connect with others. Do come down, and get onboard.”
The volunteer-led Play Patch is open, at the back of Rowland Road Club in Beeston Hill (LS11 6ED), every Saturday between 11am-2pm – and also available to schools and kids and youth groups. The space is open to all, for free. New volunteers always welcome. For further info, find them on Facebook or Instagram, or drop into the club.
This post was written by Cllr Ed Carlisle (Green, Hunslet & Riverside)
Photo: Omar Mushtaq (left) and Cllr Ed Carlisle with the new Little Book Stop
We encourage anyone living or working in South Leeds to use this website to tell their news. You can either use the Create an article for South Leeds Life page, or email us at: info@southleedslife.com
While you’re here, can we ask a favour?
South Leeds Life is published by a not-for-profit social enterprise. We keep our costs as low as possible but we’ve been hit by increases in the print costs for our monthly newspaper which have doubled in the last two years.
Could you help support local community news by making a one off donation, or even better taking out a supporters subscription?
Donate here, or sign up for a subscription at bit.ly/SLLsubscribe
