The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge Needs more Nomination from the West of England Area
The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge is an exciting programme which marks Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee led by its Patron The Duke of Cambridge. It is a landmark project to create a permanent, tangible and relevant legacy from the two major events scheduled to occur in the UK in 2012; Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympics.
The Challenge will permanently protect a network of 2012 outdoor recreational spaces in communities across the UK by way of ‘Deeds of Dedication’ between the landowners and The National Playing Fields Association (operating as Fields in Trust).
All QEII Fields - whether sports pitches, children’s play areas, woodlands, cycle trails, ornamental gardens or country parks - will be marked with a plaque provided by Fields in Trust. Additional benefits to town and parish councils and other landowners of taking part in the Challenge include:
- Access to improvement grants (SITA Trust’s £1 million QEII Fields Fund and Sport England’s £10 million Protecting Playing Fields Fund are open to applications now. A new Fields in Trust Legacy Fund will also be launched later this year)
- Access to a resource pack to support local ‘Have a Field Day’ community events on outdoor recreation sites right across the UK to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Fields in Trust are working hard to engage Local Authorities and Town and Parish Councils across the country towards the target of 2,102 QEII Fields by the end of 2012. Since Prince William launched the Challenge last year, hundreds of nominations have been made for all kinds of outdoor spaces to be protected as Queen Elizabeth II Fields. The range of sites is brilliantly diverse – a coastal path in Kent, a nature reserve in central London and, here in The West of England, a community sports ground in Southmead,, The Jubilee Centre and Outdoor Sports at Bradley Stoke, and several village recreation grounds to name but a few! To find out if your area is participating visit our website www.qe2fields.com and enter your postcode to see the local sites that will be protected.
Fields in Trust are confident in attracting further nominations for outdoor recreation sites across the West of England with the support of Sport England SW, GreenSpace SW, Wesport, and the County Playing Fields Association network.
If you discover your Local Authority is not participating then download our Call to Action form from the website (www.qe2fields.com) to encourage them to get involved.
Fields in Trust has been incredibly privileged to be supported in the Challenge by HRH The Duke of Cambridge over the past year. In April, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Witton Country Park in Blackburn on their last official engagement before their wedding. It was a fantastic event – despite the rain! – with thousands of people gathering to wish them well and watch the host of activities arranged on the playing field. The Duke of Cambridge then signed the Deed of Dedication for Witton Park which now has pride of place at Blackburn with Darwen Council. Outdoor spaces really do form the green hearts of our communities and this was a great opportunity to shine the spotlight on how important they are.
Other key supporters of the Challenge include Fields in Trust’s principal partner, ASDA and, in England and Wales, the law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer who provide pro bono support with the legal deeds. The Football Association, The Rugby Football Union, Rugby Football League, England & Wales Cricket Board and The Lawn Tennis Association are also actively backing the Challenge.
For further information and a site Nomination Form please contact John Chapman, South West Regional Manager of the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge on 01308 420600 john.chapman@fieldsintrust.orgor visit www.qe2fields.com
Photograph: © Michael Woof Photography.
