27 communities across the country started 2012 with a strong salute to the sporting and royal events of the year to come: their local parks and playing fields were one of the lucky sites to receive a slice of over £55,000. Awarded as grants to Queen Elizabeth II Fields, the funding has facilitated local communities to improve their local parks, from installing new play equipment and improving playing field drainage to planting wildflower meadows.
Prees Cricket and Recreation Club in Shropshire are one of the delighted recipients: “We’re extremely grateful for the generous grant of £2,500 towards the renewal of our all weather cricket pitch. Our old pitch was in such a dangerous condition that we were at risk of having to cancel our cricket but with this help we can now renew the pitch. This not only means we can continue to play with our existing teams but are hoping to start another under 13 side this year,” commented Brian Hughes Secretary, Prees Cricket and Recreation Club
The recipients of this round of county funding were spread across Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Cornwall, Derbyshire, Hertfordshire, Lancashire, Leicestershire and Shropshire. “We are delighted and very grateful for the grant. The Parish Council wanted to commemorate Her Majesty's Jubilee and the Fields in Trust scheme gave us that opportunity”, added Alan Whittaker, Clerk to Heskin Parish Council.
Families enjoying Town Lane Field, Heskin.
The sites were eligible for this funding as their owners nominated each one for the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge. Becoming part of the Challenge means they will be preserved for future generations to use and enjoy forever. The funding was made available with the support of the Lord-Lieutenant and generous donors in the counties.
With the Duke of Cambridge’s patronage, and the support of principal partner Asda, the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge is a living legacy programme to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It aims to protect 2,012 open play spaces across the UK, giving local communities the chance to engage with these two historic events. Landowners across the country are encouraged to play their part in preserving outdoor space by Fields in Trust.
“Saving outdoor space is crucial for the health and enjoyment of communities everywhere and I am delighted that these councils and landowners are embracing the opportunity presented by the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge to protect, and improve their sites. By safeguarding these areas, the owners have, by celebrating The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in this wonderful way, shown how much they value the quality of life of everyone in their community both now and in the future. I encourage other councils to watch for further rounds of Fields in Trust County Funding in 2012 to help make their Queen Elizabeth II Field the best they can be,”
Alison Moore-Gwyn, Chief Executive of Fields in Trust, said.
Find out if there is funding available in your county for your Queen Elizabeth II Field.
The full list of sites and grants awarded is:
Cotton End Village Hall Playing Field Eastcotts Parish Council Bedfordshire £2,500
The Elms Park Bracknell Town Council Berkshire £2,000
Jock's Lane Recreation Ground Bracknell Town Council Berks £2,000
Calfridus Way Recreation Ground Bracknell Town Council Berks £2,000
Meadow Park, Earley Earley Town Council Berks £3,000
Speen Recreation Ground Speen Parish Council Berks £2,000
Stockcross Recreation Ground Speen Parish Council Berks £4,000
Streatly Meadows Heart of Streatley Charitable Trust Berks £3,000
St Cleer Parish Sports Field St Cleer Parish Council Cornwall £2,000
Thanckes Park Friends of Thanckes Park Cornwall £1,000
Broomhills Playing Field Repton Parish Council Derbyshire £2,500
De Havilland Grange Hatfield Town Council Herts £550
Woolmer Green Village Hall Field Woolmer Green Parish Council Herts £2,500
Moatfield Recreaqtion Ground Hertsmere Borough Council Herts £3,000
Amberswood Common Wigan Council £2,000
Slyne with Hest Recreation Ground Slyne with Hest Parish Council Lancashire £2,000
Town Lane Field Heskin Parish Council Lancashire £1,000
ASDA Sports Site Thurmaston Parish Council Leicestershire £500
Melton Country Park Melton Borough Council Leicestershire £1,000
The Queen Elizabeth II Field, Desford Sport in Desford Leicestershire £1,000
Lodge Road Recreation Ground Fleckney Parish Council Leicestershire £300
Dovecote Playing Field Barwell Parish Council Leicestershire £3,500
Prees Cricket & Recreation Club Ground Prees Cricket & Recreation Club Shropshire £2,500
Baschurch Playground Baschurch Playground Trust Shropshire £2,500
Telford Town Park Arena Telford and Wrekin Council Shropshire £2,500
Gadebridge Park Dacorum Borough Council Herts £2,500
Bovingdon Green Dacorum Borough Council Herts £2,500
