Recreation Ground

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.

Family activities	The enclosed playground area is well used by families on a daily basis, and toilet facilities are available during daylight hours. The upgrade to the Play Area was completed early 2010. Read more in Friends of Bamford Play Area Blogspot.

Forthcoming Events 2011

May 17th Marie Curie Challenge Event

May 31st             Bamford Sheepdog Trials
                                including Fell Race
                  Organised by Bamford Sheepdog Trials Assoc.

July Bamford Fell Race

Organised by Bamford Carnival Committee
July 10 to 17^th 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 had 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 and now have a fully functioning pavilion (see details below).

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.