Do you have a story about your local field? Maybe you've recently saved a playing field from development, built a new pavilion or play an unusual sport on your field. The best way for individuals, groups or organisations to learn about how to create or manage a field is from those that have done it before. Your story could inspire many more.
- How did you persuade the council to let you have area of land for a play area?
- How did you raise the funds to buy a field?
- How did you stop the football pitch flooding every winter?
If you've faced some of these issue or the hundreds more attached to protecting and preserving fields, we think you've a valuable story to tell. To add your experiences to this page, please send your story along with photos to info@fieldsintrust.org.
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East Harptree Playing Field Pavilion
Situated in the Mendip Hills, south of Bristol, the village of East Harptree provides a wide range of sporting facilities for its 650 residents. At the northern end of the village the King George V Playing Field, owned by Fields in Trust, is managed by the East Harptree Playing Field Committee.
Facilities on the field which covers just under 5 acres, have been improved and added to over the years and include a tennis court, children’s play area, cricket square and football pitches. The pavilion, originally built in 1950’s and extended in the ‘70’s had limited facilities and was deteriorating rapidly. It was decided a replacement building was necessary to maintain and encourage the enthusiasm for sport within the village, plus enable the development of both girls and mini-football, in addition to improving opportunities for other users.
In October 2006 the Football Foundation, which invests money from the Premier League, The FA and Government into grass roots sports, awarded the East Harptree Playing Field Committee an award of £145,627 towards the building of the new pavilion.
A number of challenges faced the Committee which included the preparation of a suitable floor plan, the impact of surrounding trees and the movement of a major water main.
All obstacles were overcome and the old pavilion was demolished in September last year, with work now nearing completion and an official opening planned for May 2008.
Fields in Trust congratulate the East Harptree Playing Field Committee, who together with the assistance of the Somerset Football Association and the generous funding by the Football Foundation will enable future generations to enjoy this first class sporting facility.
Skipton Playing Field Safe
The proposed development of the Bold Venture Playing Field in Skipton has been withdrawn following a meeting of the Town Council. The Skipton field was sold to the Town Council in 1924 under a convenant that it ‘should be used as a playing field for all time’. A number of attempts have been made to develop the land (the latest in 2000) however they have been thwarted by the opposition of local residents and the protection of the covenant. Following the latest threat from developers, residents formed a protest group and collected names for a petition as well as taking advice from Fields in Trust.
One local resident said “We live in a built up area where our children contend with all 3 major transport hazards - the canal, the railway and a busy main road. The houses in the neighbourhood do not have gardens and the only green and safe place is Bold Venture Playing Field, which was given to them as a playing field for all time”. Thankfully the latest threat to that safe haven has now been withdrawn.
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