We had some great fun events in summer 2011! The Summer
Fair was held on Sunday 10th
July 2011. A large crowd of Bollington folk
came and had a great time despite the heavy shower of rain that got
everyone running for cover!
In 2012 we planned a similar event for the Queen's
Jubilee weekend.
But the weather defeated us, and a Rock Band
event went the same
way. Torrential rain before and on both days meant that we had
to cancel all the field activities that so many were looking forward
to. But a good picnic was held in the Pavilion on Jubilee weekend
with freshly cooked burgers being prepared under the verandah!
So we are looking for better weather this year! Watch this space
for details of this year's events!
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View of the Recreation Ground with the
Pavilion near left, the cricket field in the middle and the
football field far right. The tennis courts and bowling greens
are on the far left. The children's play area is on the left
foreground with the Ranger station and car park to the right.
It is hoped that the wood to the left can be opened
up to the public providing access to the canal which crosses
the valley behind the trees.
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The Friends of Bollington Recreation Ground are an energetic group of volunteers working to help keep the ‘Rec’ as a welcoming place for the benefit and enjoyment of the local community. Working in partnership with Cheshire East Council, who are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the ‘Rec’, the Friends help with improvements to the general environment and appearance. The ‘Rec’ is used regularly for football, cricket and bowls and the recently refurbished tennis courts are very popular in fine weather.
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Flying high!
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The Friends are keen to promote the enjoyment of a range of activities
by the local community. With substantial investment from the Borough
Council the ‘Rec’ received the prestigious Green
Flag award (left) for 2008 and have retained this award for
2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012! The ‘Rec’ was also the home base for
the widely acclaimed Bollington
Festival in
May 2009 and for many years before.
The Friends usually meet in each third month
(see dates below) in the Pavilion at the ‘Rec’ to review progress
with improvements and to plan future activities. The scope of the
activities of the Friends also extends to cover the adjacent Adlington
Road play area.
Activities planned by the Friends include organising environmental
surveys of flora and fauna, providing opportunities for local Schools
to undertake nature studies and hold picnics and sports events,
explore the possibility of providing improved skate boarding facilities,
as well as helping with maintenance of wild flower areas, borders
and general tidiness of the site.
New volunteers are most welcome and should contact the Chairman of the Friends, John Kershaw, on 01625−560808 or come to one of the regular monthly meetings.
Below - John Kershaw, left, and Michael Burdekin hold up the FOBR
flag with the support of other friends!
Picture: Lee Wainwright
Friends meeting dates
Friends of the Rec meetings will take place in the Pavilion.
Next meeting: 7.30pm
on Monday 11 March 2013 Agenda
Please note that FOBR meetings are
now held quarterly, with possible additional meetings as needed during
the summer. Meetings will normally be held in February, May, August
and November each year.
Please join us at this meeting. Everyone with an interest in the
Rec. is very welcome.
Minutes of meetings during the past year
Minutes of December 3rd meeting
Minutes of 2012 AGM
Minutes of September 17th meeting
Minutes of June 18th meeting
Minutes of February 13th 2012
meeting
Chairman's inspection
Inspection report November 2011
Inspection
report June 2011
Management changes
The founding fathers of the Friends group stepped down at the 2010 Annual
General Meeting after a very successful four years at the helm. John
Kershaw (Chairman) and Michael Burdekin (Deputy Chairman & Secretary)
both stood down this year after very successfully establishing the
Friends and succeeding in winning a Green Flag for the Recreation
Ground three years in a row. Kirsten Wainwright (Treasurer) also
stood down.
In their
place Mrs Carol Barnes (Chairman), David Naylor (Secretary) and
Mrs Sue Dale (Treasurer) have stepped up to take this highly successful
project forward. John Kershaw has remained on the team as Deputy
Chairman in order to provide continuity.
In addition to the officers mentioned above the Management Committee
also includes Alderman Mrs Sylvia Roberts, Lee Wainwright
and
Helen Wall.
We wish them all great success in this so worthwhile endeavour.
Dog Awareness sessions
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The first dog awareness session with, from
left, Alderman Sylvia Roberts, Joan Bradley, Tony Forrest and
FOBR chairman John Kershaw.
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The Friends organised a number of dog awareness sessions which were held
on the Recreation Ground. The purpose was to ensure that all
dog owners who regularly walk their pets through the Recreation Ground
fully understand what is expected of them with respect to maintaining
control of their dog(s) and preventing fouling. The latter has at
times been a serious problem but in more recent times the message
is getting through that leaving fouling in the public areas is just
not acceptable, as well as being illegal.
At the first session FOBR chairman
John Kershaw together with the Macclesfield Borough Council Environmental
Enforcement Officer, Tony Forrest, and dog Psychologist and Behaviourist,
Joan Bradley, were joined by several volunteer Friends to intercept
dog walkers, give them the MBC leaflet on the subject, and ensure
that they all knew the rules.
Clubs making major use of the Recreation Ground
There are several clubs that make major use of the facilities of the Recreation Ground, some on a seasonal basis. They include ...
Bollington Cricket Club - this thriving club fields nine teams from First XI to Under 11s. The First XI play in the Cheshire County Cricket League Division 1 - the best you can get at county level.
Did you know that Bollington Recreation Ground was once the Cheshire County Cricket Ground? Amazing but true!
See the club's excellent web site
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Bollington Bowling Club -
Bollington Athletic Football Club -
Tennis Club -
Basketball -
Volunteer
Opportunities! 
