Friends of the Bollington Recreation Ground (FoBR)

Community in partnership


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Other pages in this set: Home | Green Flag award | History of the Rec | Volunteers

Meetings | Clubs | New! Volunteer Opportunities! | RSPB Bird Watch | Management changes

Summer 2013 Events!

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!

2010 June Fair!


Adlington Road playground improvements!

The first stage of the Adlington Road playground improvement scheme is now complete and three new pieces of play equipment are available for the younger children. These include a rope climbing net, a swinging ring with net centre, and climbing cubes for aspiring mountaineers!

The Skat Board park is also complete and proving to be very popular indeed with dozens of users every day rain or shine!


Recreation Ground awarded Green Flag for 2012! Fifth year running!

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.

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.

Green Flag award

Flying high!

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!

Friends flag
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

Dog awareness session

The first dog awareness session with, from left, Alderman Sylvia Roberts, Joan Bradley, Tony Forrest and FOBR chairman John Kershaw.

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 siteExternal link.

Bollington Bowling Club -

Bollington Athletic Football Club -

Tennis Club -

Basketball -