Wild Fun Area

We always considered the top end of the field, with its magnificent views, would be best dedicated to a social, rather than sport area and decided to apply to Breathing Places for a grant to construct a ‘Wild Fun Area’ at the top of the site. This will consist of a meandering path from the tennis courts to the top of the field past a wild flower meadow and an area planted with native trees. The path continues through a pergola into a social area with picnic tables, barbecues, raised flower beds and sensory planting. There will also be willow hideouts and earth mounds for imaginative play. The area was designed by a villager, Jo Aldous, and in keeping with the community theme of this award, our application stated that all work, apart from the path, would be completed by villagers from Charsfield and Debach. We were lucky enough to win the grant and work is well under way with the picnic tables. Once the drainage is completed we shall be looking for lots of help from residents and their families to plant trees and assist in erecting and making up the pergola and picnic tables etc. We are hoping that children from Charsfield School will be involved in the willow weaving. We must have the Wild Fun area completed by November 2008. otherwise we will lose the grant!

 

Pathways

The Breathing Places grant only covers the path at that end of the field, so further grant applications are currently being completed to make up the £3,000 needed to link up a path from the entrance. This will be crushed asphalt, which is pram and wheelchair friendly.

 

Children’s play

Jo Wyatt is currently working flat out applying for grants for a children’s play area, which will include an aerial slide. She has already had quite a few successes but this will be a slow process as the cost of the equipment is approximately £70k.

 

5 Aside

Local resident Connell Laird has offered to help create and organise coaching for a village football team. Connell is currently preparing a questionnaire that aims to gauge the level of interest from our younger residents and to see if any adults would be willing to help supervise this type of activity. As part of the drainage project an area of the sports field will be levelled for a five aside football pitch and as soon complete we will purchase a set of posts and nets. The MUGA can of course be used and is ideally suited for 5 aside football when the field is not useable.

 

Car Park

At present the car park is on hold until we can raise the £10,000 required but the plans include re-cycling facilities and a buggy friendly path directly leading to the children’s play area.