Curridge Playground

Thanks to Our Supporters!

28/10/2016

Thanks to an unexpected and generous grant from Greenham Common Trust, our online fundraising appeal has already reached its target, so this appeal is now closed. Look out for further progress at the Playground over the Autumn!

The trustees would like to acknowledge and thank the following individuals and organisations for their support, financial pledges and donations so far:

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CURRIDGE PLAYGROUND TRUSTEES UPDATE

30/8/2016

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Since the last update (May 2016), the newly levelled and grassed activity area was re-opened to the public and has been enjoyed extensively by Curridge Primary School pupils and the wider public since mid June. The trustees are now working with a contractor to establish a regular mowing and repair schedule for the grassed area, and closed the field in mid August to allow repairs in time for the new school term starting in September.

The trustees are currently negotiating with suppliers for some new seating and litterbins, the first of which should installed in September. We will be working over the autumn to create dedicated seated picnic areas in a few locations around the site and for this we would be grateful for volunteers to come and help. The trustees are also investigating additional fencing around the school access road to provide increased security for children using the playground and prevent unauthorised vehicular access onto the grassed activity area.

The trustees would like to hold an official opening ceremony for the playground in early autumn, further details of which will be communicated later.

Beyond this, the trustees are keen to hear your views as local residents as to what you would like to see in future developments at the playground. We would like to work with nature wherever possible to expand the usability of the whole playground site, but if you have any specific ideas for sustainable ways to make use of the wooded areas for the enjoyment of local individuals or groups then please get in touch.

The trustees have received a number of donations from local businesses and individuals towards the next stages of development for the playground, including £500 from Curridge Residents’ Association donated from the Grill & Chill event on 18th June.

Curridge Playground has been a beneficiary of Waitrose’s Community Matters charity collection in their Thatcham store during August.

We have also launched an online appeal with West Berkshire’s “Find Me A Grant” website, to attract Gift Aid and matched funding from Greenham Common Trust. The purpose of this particular appeal is to raise £2000 over then next 12 months, for tools to be used by the trustees and other volunteers for upkeep of the playground. To make a donation please visit our appeal at: http://www.findmeagrant.org/wberks/browse.aspx, and search for Curridge Playground Enhancement, WB11525.

The trustees would like to acknowledge and thank the following individuals and organisations for their support, financial pledges and donations so far:

Chieveley Parish Council
Councillor Hilary Cole
The family and friends of the late Mr Dermot ffrench

As the project progresses, further updates will be provided through www.curridgevillage.co.uk and www.mychieveley.co.uk .

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CURRIDGE Playground Trustees Update

5/5/2016

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Trustees Update, 5th May 2016
Since the last update from the trustees (March 2016), contractors have been hard at work on the Curridge Playground site.

Brambles around the wooded area were cut down, and will be sprayed in the next few weeks.
A number of trees were removed or pruned to open up the main activity area, along with selected trees from elsewhere around the site.
The roadside boundary hedge was cut right back and a new fence constructed alongside Curridge Road.
The activity area was cultivated and re-seeded a couple of weeks ago. After the grass is established it will be rolled and marked out as a football pitch and new goalposts erected.
In addition, a great effort by volunteers completed a new path across the wooded area parallel to the road, recycling many of the smaller tree stems that were felled as well as all of the chipped material from the soft tree foliage.
The trustees received pledges from a number of local residents and businesses, which will fund some new seating in the coming weeks, and we continue to explore further funding sources to support nature and wildlife friendly enhancements to the playground.
The remaining co-opted trustee position was recently filled with a representative from the MoD Hermitage Station.
The trustees would like to encourage all local residents to explore the improved facility. The activity area is currently fenced off until the grass is ready for use, so please keep children and animals off this area, but residents are welcomed to make use of the rest of the playground site.
As the project progresses, further updates will be provided through www.curridgevillage.co.uk and www.mychieveley.co.uk .

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Curridge Playground Trustees Update

1/3/2016

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Trustees Update, 1 March 2016

Since the last update from the trustees (November 2015), agreement was secured from Chieveley Parish Council for the allocation of a maintenance grant in the 2016‐17 budget for essential upkeep of the Playground. Hilary Cole, District Councillor for Chieveley, was also successful in securing a grant from West Berkshire District Council to further support the project and this has allowed the trustees to include further capital works in our 2016 budget.

The Trustees have now selected a contractor for the first phase of works, to include undergrowth clearance, removal or pruning of a number of trees, and erection of a new fence alongside Curridge Road. This work is expected to commence before Easter, and will result in areas of the playground being closed at certain times as well as traffic management in place on Curridge Road whilst roadside clearance is undertaken.

Once the main open space has been cleared and extended, the ground will be cultivated and re‐seeded in the spring to provide a levelled grass surface suitable for multiple activities, including a marked 5 aside football pitch complete with new goalposts.

It is hoped that the new playing surface will be ready for use by the end of June, and it will be fenced off until the grass is established. Curridge School is fully supportive of the playground development works and has agreed to use alternative outside areas for sports activities during this period.

The trustees are now exploring external funding sources to support further phases of work such as seating, nature and wildlife projects.

Local resident James Pryor was recently co‐opted as a trustee, and the trustees are looking to fill one remaining co‐opted trustee position in the near future.

The Trustees would like to thank all those who have provided their support and assistance to reach this important milestone in the regeneration of the Curridge Playground, and request residents’ patience whilst there is some local disruption during the imminent works.

As the project progresses, further updates will be provided through www.curridgevillage.co.uk and www.mychieveley.co.uk .

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Curridge Playground Trustees Update

16/11/2015

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Trustees Update, 16th November 2015

Curridge Playground was established as far back as 1954. Since its inception, the Curridge Playground charity has had a clearly defined objective, which is “in the interests of social welfare, to improve the conditions of life for the inhabitants of the area of benefit without distinction of political, religious or other opinions by the provision and maintenance of a recreation ground”.

During the last year, the Trustees of Curridge Playground have been developing a plan to bring the Playground into more regular use and, thereby, for the community to see it as somewhere for them and their families to visit and enjoy. The plan has a number of phases, the first of which is a proposed extension and enhancement of the central grassed area to encourage a wider range of the community, including children from Curridge School, to use and enjoy it for recreational purposes.

This will necessitate the removal of a number of trees and the thinning out and clearance of the wider woodland areas. Subsequent phases will aim to encourage a broader diversity of wildlife, through, for example, the installation of nesting boxes and butterfly and bee friendly planting, as well as putting in place a suitable low fence along the Playground boundary with Curridge Road for safety purposes.

The Trustees have sought professional advice and guidance from West Berkshire District Council, who have undertaken an initial review of the Playground and are providing ongoing assistance and practical help.

In order to achieve all this, a significant capital funding investment in the Playground is required and the Trustees have been pursuing options. Hilary Cole, District Councilor for Chieveley, is supporting these plans and has submitted a funding request to West Berkshire District Council. A recent request by Trustees to Chieveley Parish Council to earmark and ring-fence funds towards the capital cost of this extension and enhancement has also been approved. Separately, a grant request has been submitted to Chieveley Parish Council for ongoing maintenance support in 2016-17.

The Trustees would like to thank all those who have provided their support and assistance towards bringing the Playground into more regular use.

As the project progresses, further updates will be provided through www.curridgevillage.co.uk and www.mychieveley.co.uk .

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Curridge Playground Introduction

1/11/2015

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Registered Charity 3938009

Curridge Playground was established as far back as 1954. Later, the Curridge Playground charity was set up, the objective of which was, and remains, “in the interests of social welfare, to improve the conditions of life for the inhabitants of the area of benefit without distinction of political, religious or other opinions by the provision and maintenance of a recreation ground.”

All Curridge residents and pupils of the school are welcome to use the land for recreational purposes e.g. playing ball games (there is a football goal) and picnics.

The legal title of the piece of land between Curridge School and the road is held by Chieveley Parish Council. The responsibility for control and management of the land rests with Trustees.

Current Curridge Playground Trustees (as of November 2015):

Mr Ray ffrench - Chairman 2015-16
Mr Andy Hanrahan - Clerk
Mr Rob Crispin - Ex-Officio Trustee (Chair of Chieveley Parish Council)
Mr Chris Cholmeley
Mr James Pryor

As of November 2015, the trustees are actively seeking funding to implement the first stage of a development plan intended to broaden the usability of the playground, and provide a sustainable plan for its maintenance in the future.

A history of the Curridge Playground is available from the Curridge Residents' Association Secretary

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curridge Playground Trustees

Mr Ray ffrench
(Chairman)
Mr Andy Hanrahan
(Clerk)
Mr Rob Crispin
Mr Chris Cholmeley
Mr James Pryor
Mr Andy Murray

To contact the trustees, please click on the 'comments' link below any article to send us a message.

Curridge playground can be found off the Curridge Road on the south side of the village, adjacent to both the WI hall and the school.

Curridge Playground
Curridge Rd
Curridge
Thatcham
RG18 9DZ

Thanks to Our Supporters!

CURRIDGE PLAYGROUND TRUSTEES UPDATE

CURRIDGE Playground Trustees Update

Curridge Playground Trustees Update

Curridge Playground Trustees Update

Curridge Playground Introduction

curridge Playground Trustees

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