A village has celebrated the culmination of a 20-month project which led to the opening of a new children’s play area.
Carolyn Cripps, the chair of Threlkeld Parish Council, officially opened the new facility – which has been named The Platinum Jubilee Play Area – on May 19.
Children then ran through a tape towards the play area where they enjoyed the new equipment in glorious weather. They also had great fun on a bouncy castle and inflatable slide and obstacle course brought in for the day.
This successful project started in 2022 when Alison Crozier, of Threlkeld Toddlers, inspired by a small cash surplus after the platinum jubilee celebrations in the village, initiated a project to replace the ageing and dilapidated children’s play area on Victoria Jubilee Croft on Blease Road.
Alison was not short of ambition about what she wanted – more exciting play equipment, less grass and proper safety surfacing.
It turned out that was going to take serious money and she roped in Neil Beresford and Barbara Lowesmith, as treasurer and secretary, plus Dave Allaker representing the parish council, who are the trustees of the Victoria Jubilee Croft.
With the support of the council they set about raising the £100,000 needed by applying for grants, requesting donations and organising fundraising events. They were amazingly successful and by the end of 2023 had the funds needed to create a new modern play area.
In an opening speech Barbara Lowesmith, of Threlkeld Toddlers, talked about how the field called Victoria Jubilee Croft was donated by a local landowner in 1897 and put in trust as a play area for local children.
This act of generosity was to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria. Moving forward 125 years to 2022, another royal jubilee – the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II – was the inspiration for the construction of the new play area. So, two royal jubilees have benefited the children of Threlkeld, culminating in this lovely new play area.
She then went on to thank the major grant givers and all the donors and in particular Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust (CWMET), who provided nearly half the funds needed. Without this contribution it would probably have taken another year of fundraising to secure all the cash needed.
She also thanked Matty Buck, of Eden District Council (now Westmorland and Furness), for his support and advice at an early stage and the grant they provided. Threlkeld Parish Council, which is now the owner of the new play equipment, also donated a significant sum, as did Threlkeld Events.
Other grant givers were The Frieda Scott Trust, The Hadfield Trust, Keswick Lions Club, Cumbria Community Foundation, Skipton Building Society, Lakes and Dales Co-operative Society, Cumberland Building Society and The Towngate Trust.
Many personal donations were also received including from Tom, Shirley and Nyal Barnes and Tom Sayer in memory of his wife. Many others contributed anonymously, or through the Just Giving page, or by joining in fund raising events organised by Alison Crozier and the village school children took part in a sponsored walk.
The new equipment includes swings (normal, baby and a nest swing), springers, a roundabout and a large climbing tower/slide assembly suitable for a wide age range all located on an area of all-weather safety surfacing.
In addition, a small unit suitable for babies and toddlers is located at one end close to a grassed area that will include two picnic benches.
