Trustees/Committee Members John Soady
(Hon. Chair) Harry
Beckett (Hon. Secretary) Bill Thorp Malcolm Sowerby Jill Gascoigne Sue Beckett (Hon. Treasurer)
Denry Leighton Sally Soady Committee
Members Peter
Hearnshaw Ian
Rawson Dave Watson History and
present use of the Ground The people of Bamford and Thornhill purchased the ground from a local farmer in
1925 by public subscription for leisure use. It was established as a trust within the trusteeship of The
Bamford Institute. It was maintained so until after the Second World War. From the Trusts’
inception until the 1950s it was used by the Bamford Institute Football Team, a Bamford Cricket Team, Hathersage Hockey Club
and from the sixties more widely by the village for other events including ‘whole site’ use by Bamford Carnival.
A small play area was established with limited appliances in
the sixties and later developed. Bamford School uses a portion of ground in the summer. An area has been planted with native trees to encourage wildlife and a fenced off
area has been provided for exercising dogs. Bamford Sheep
Dog Trials, a landmark trial association in the district, has used the whole site since the 1930s for their annual event.
In the 1960s a residential caravan was provided for the use
of a warden to oversee the ground and pavilion as well as to deter growing vandalism. The warden’s post still exists today with greater responsibility as the Borough Council Dog Warden
for the ground. The scope of use for the ground has been
widened to include use by organisations outside the Village and even further afield largely to develop financial stability.
In the 1980s the Bamford Village Institute surrendered the Ground
to the Charity Commission and set up a management trusteeship as a separate charity and this is the legal status today.
Whilst guidance and support have been sought from Local Authority,
the Ground remains a charity in local trusteeship and not part of any Authority ownership or funding arrangements. Meetings
The Trustees meet in the Bamford Village Institute at 8.00 pm every 3rd Monday
of the month. New members are always welcome. Bookings
Bookings for the sports pitches, the pavilion or whole site bookings should be made
through the Secretary and a charge will normally be levied.
Outdoor activities in the Recreation Ground | School sports | Used as playing fields by Bamford
Primary School, and the unimproved meadow provides opportunities for wildlife & ecology learning activities. | | Football | Bamford
has 2 football clubs fielding 2 senior teams and 5 junior teams. Only Bakewell and Bamford in the Derwent Valley Leagues have
3 pitches, making it ideal for tournaments. | | Canoeing | We have now established access for canoeing on the adjacent River Derwent, which is the
only access to moving water in the Peak Park. | | Orienteering | The ground
provides a safe environment for young children, where they can be both supervised and given the freedom to explore. We have
an orienteering map, and a series of exercises for use by teachers and scout / guide groups are being developed. |
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| | Family activities | The enclosed
playground area is well used by families on a daily basis, but currently without any accessible toilet facilities. We are planning to
upgade the Play Area. Read more in Friends of Bamford Play Area Blogspot. | Forthcoming Events 2010
Jan 23rd Come
and help us tidy up the Recreation Grounds.
We aim to start around 6pm everyone welcome. May 31st Bamford Sheepdog Trials
including Fell Race
Organised by Bamford Sheepdog Trials Assoc. July Bamford Fell Race Organised
by Bamford Carnival Committee July 11 to 17th Bamford Carnival Organised
by Bamford Carnival Committee
2009 Project As
we were unable to obtain lottery funding for a rebuild of the pavillion the Trustees have upgraded it into a modern,
warm and inviting Sports Pavilion with the help of local support.
Why? Bamford has the largest sports ground in the Hope Valley area, but it has the most
primitive pavilion. It was built in 1930; it is very small; constructed from wood; it is in poor repair, rotting; and
upgrading now our only option. The size and position of the Ground make it ideally placed to support the development of sports
and other outdoor activities for the local community, and the Trustees have ambitious plans to expand on the range of activities
that take place here, with a particular focus on local children and young people. Pivotal to our plans is the pavilion. So
we have upgraded it. Although the original date for completion was end of September
2009, due to various factors the pavilion is not yet fully complete.
What is in the upgraded pavilion? Two sets of changing rooms, showers
and toilets - Kitchen and small meeting / teaching room - Wheelchair accessible & disabled toilet - A secure storage area.
What’s
in the Recreation Ground? The
Ground is about 11 acres; it has three sports pitches and it serves as the sports ground for Bamford Primary School. Uniquely,
it contains a significant area of ‘neutral unimproved grassland’, comprising several acres. This sustains a unique
source of bio-diversity typical of traditional hay meadows.
Recreation Ground Environmental Policy 2010
Recreation Ground Vulnerable Persons Policy 2010
Recreation Ground Equal Opportunities Policy 2010
Download Booking Form (PDF)
AGM Report
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