Welcome to our site, which provides details about the ambitious plan to re-develop the once derelict sports field on Granborough Road between North Marston and Granborough. Our plan is to create top class facilities for cricket, football, fitness/trim trail and a nature trail together with changing and hospitality facilities.

Not a lot of people know this

North Marston Parish Council (NMPC) bought the field back in 1936 to provide its residents with a place for recreational use. The field fell into disrepair about fifteen years ago and has been used primarily to graze sheep together with the odd village event such as the Summer Ball, until the re-development project began fund raising in earnest last year.

Our project is very ambitious and requires funding of around £180,000. The Working Party has been busy since Summer 2007 applying for grants and organising local fundraisers. We’ve enjoyed great success so far with confirmation of a grant of £7,260 from AVDC, confirmation of a grant from WREN of £66,000 and confirmation of a grant from the AVDC & VAHT Community Chest Fund for £15,654. In partnership with the adult cricket club we were also successful in receiving a grant from Awards for All of £10,000. Including local fund raising activities we have raised in excess of £120,000 so far, which is a fantastic achievement so THANK YOU to all who have supported our efforts.

And the field is now back into regular use CLICK HERE primarily for cricket practice (used regularly by the local adult team and by juniors for training).

Early Summer 2008 saw Agripower start the major earth works prior to the creation of the cricket and football pitches. The field is now level and the topsoil has been returned and the cricket wicket has now been installed. However, due to wet conditions underneath the surface, in the clay, they have been unable to lay the drainage pipes, which are critical if the field is to drain properly. So they will return in the Spring of 2009 to finish the job. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the terrible wet weather of this year isn’t repeated. Our funder for the works, WREN, has been very helpful regarding this delay so we thank them for that.

The planning application for the new clubhouse building has been completed and submitted; the plans were on show at the November Open Meeting. If you want any more information about the plans please contact anyone on the team or Click here.

Anyone wishing to volunteer to help or make a donation should contact anyone on the project team. If anyone, from Granborough in particular, would like to join the Working Party team please see the Terms of Reference and contact Karen Parks, Chair on 670417.

Buckingham and Winslow Advertiser

Our local newspaper has given us some decent coverage including:-
www.buckinghamtoday.co.uk

Bucks TV

At our January 2008 volunteer working day the team was visited and interviewed by Richard Carr from Bucks TV. To see the interview online go to http://www.buckstv.co.uk/nm&gsportsfieldproject.html

Site Plan (courtesy of Agripower)