How Can Local Authorities Get Involved?
Please nominate outdoor recreational spaces in your area that you would like to see protected as a Queen Elizabeth II Field (or as a Queen Elizabeth Field in Scotland). There's a whole range of spaces that are eligible, from children’s play areas to woodlands, bicycle trails to playing fields. If you're not sure, get in touch!
Local Authorities can select one or more that they would like to designate as a Queen Elizabeth II Field.
What Are the Benefits?
- Fantastic opportunity to be part of a high profile national campaign
- Method of demonstrating commitment to outdoor recreational space both now and in the future
- Excellent and cost effective way to mark the Diamond Jubilee and London 2012 Olympics
- Platform to help achieve key targets around increasing physical activity and promoting the sustainability agenda
- Access to improvement funds restricted to Queen Elizabeth II Fields
"I’ve always thought of this initiative as an opportunity in a lifetime – considering the last time was 1936. I’m amazed that more Councils have not recognised this and being a parks manager, I am pleased that with the support of local Councillors and the community, I have been able to play a part in protecting Eastbourne’s valuable parks, gardens and recreation grounds for future generations." - Gareth Williams, Parks and Gardens Manager, Eastbourne Borough Council
What Flexibility is Built Into Protection?
Fields in Trust has developed a range of options for long-term protection. Flexibility allows for measures to be put in place which are:
- Charitable or non-charitable
- In the case of freehold land, protection in perpetuity
- In the case of leasehold land, protection will of necessity be time limited to the length of the lease preferably not less than 99 years
- Specific to safeguarding the actual or foreseeable type of sport, play or recreational or usage involved including indoor facilities where appropriate
What is the Minimum Criteria for Queen Elizabeth II Fields?
The main criteria for inclusion in the Challenge are listed below but there is often room for negotiation so if you have a site that doesn’t fit the criteria do please let us know!
- The site must be owned by the organisation putting the field forward to become a Queen Elizabeth II Field.
- Evidence of title permitting site use for outdoor, sport, play and/or recreation must be produced.
- sites may be provided with facilities and equipment or used as general open space, and established for that purpose by way of planning requirements.
- Each site’s principal use should be outdoor sport, play or recreation. We aim to be flexible and therefore dedications including village halls and indoor leisure, heritage, cultural facilities that promote community recreation will be considered.
- Satisfactory evidence that the use or proposed use is a lawful use in planning terms.
- Generally the minimum size is 0.2 hectare (0.5 acre).
- Sites need to be accessible in terms of location.
- Sites need to be affordable for the local community.
- Sites should all be open to the public and either established charitably, held by a sports club under the CASC regime or held as Public Open Space.
- All sites will need local managers, who will be responsible for the quality of the facilities, their maintenance and development, improving participation and use and financial and operational sustainability.
- Sites must be compliant with existing legislation relating to sport, play or open space.
