Hi everyone,

I’d like to expand on Sheila’s idea of a Children’s Playground in Buckland. A dedicated play space would bring so many benefits to our community:

1. Encourage Outdoor Play: A local play area would give children a safe and stimulating environment to explore, helping them stay active, develop gross motor skills, and connect with nature.

2. Build Community Bonds: A play area would serve as a gathering point for families, helping parents, grandparents, and carers meet and support each other, which strengthens our village’s sense of community.

3. Convenience for Families: Many parents currently travel to other villages for play areas, so having one locally would be a real benefit for time, cost, and ease of access.

4. Support Child Development: Play is essential for children’s physical, social, and emotional development. A play area would provide opportunities for kids to make friends, learn teamwork, and develop independence.

Let’s invest in something that will benefit not only the children of today but future generations too. I’d love to hear your views or suggestions on how we could bring this idea to life.

Could the ex swimming pool be converted into a facility for young people?

I support Shiela and Jade's comments above. It would be wonderful to have a suitably sited and conveniently accessed community 'playing field' or 'village green' which could be used by all members of the community - children, teenagers, families - for a range of appropriate uses, events and activities.  It could link to the idea for a community orchard and there could also be facilities like an outdoor 'trim-trail', nature area, community garden.

Hi all,

It's unsurprising, as a parent with 2 young children, that my family would LOVE to have a play area in the village. However, if done tastefully and with consideration, it would an area of the village that would no doubt be enjoyed by all. Enjoyed by all, for generations to come. To have a communal focal point to walk to, to sit, to enjoy, would be a community asset that really celebrates the integration of ages. There is good reason that the iconic 'Village Green' is such a staple of British villages.

Buckland is beautifully situated and it's isolation is an appeal, but the only option for any sort of enjoyable communal area for families is a car journey away. Especially in the winter months when footpath to Littleworth (the nearest walkable set of swings) are impassable. 

The school (understandably) have their own insurance policies to comply with, so for anyone not aware, access to any play equipment within the school grounds is prohibited outside of school time. The only other destination or resource for children in the village is the library phone box or the pub. 

On a personal note, (as a parent) I cannot express the sheer joy I have when I take my children to any sort of play park. Even if it's a just set of swings and a bench.  It was only recently on a very cold, wet winters weekend, that the simple suggestion of a visit to the Clanfield Playpark filled my 2 girls such excitement and it's only a shame that the excitement was bookended by the misery of a 20 minute car journey.....

I really hope this idea gets traction and am happy to help in anyway I can.

Thanks everyone.

@samstrange @f-bartholomew @HelenWilliams @JadeGilbert @sheila-giles @susan-ronald @jamesChrystie @MannieBarber

Having grown up in the village & now having a young child of my own, I agree the village is lacking a play area.

Speaking on behalf of “The Estate” we would love for the pool area to be used for a community enterprise.

There seemed to be a lot of interest in the pool building becoming a village shop & café during covid.

I think that it would make a lovely location for a café & maybe a pop up shop / a few shelves supplying the essentials. With a children’s play area in the garden (climbing frame, slide, swings etc as it is unfortunately not big enough for a football pitch).

I think it’s important to provide something that appeals to as many people as possible, & hopefully a café could provide a place for people who work from home to have a change of scene, a space for interaction for those who are retired or live alone & of course an area for kids to play & the parents to fuel up on coffee.

I also think that it is important not to tread on the toes of the Lamb Tavern, or the Village Hall (e.g. maybe the café is closed when the village hall has it’s coffee mornings).

Hopefully we can find a team of people to lead this project, & hopefully this is something that the CLP wishes to take forwards.

Love this idea @zanna! It includes something for everyone. 👍

This feels very exciting that there's a possible solution for the children's play areas. I would be very keen to support.

Equally, having somewhere to work from during the day such as a cafe, as well as a place to meet others would be a huge asset, but I agree it is important to do it in a way that doesn't interfere with the Lamb. 

Hi all, 

We would absolutely support a play area for little ones and an area for teenagers so something for everyone, and a place to sit for the adults (not necessarily a cafe for us as wouldn’t want to conflict with the Lamb or the village hall events). Great ideas all. 

Kate & James 

Hi All?

I agree with all the comments above - with 2 small children, I’d love to have a local playground to use as I always have to drive elsewhere which seems a shame. It would be fantastic to have a shop/ cafe as a place to support local produce and work from if possible. I have always felt like Buckland could benefit from a Childrey stores type of space. The playground would be a fantastic way to meet other local parents in the village. 

Thanks,

Holly 

Hi All,

I absolutely would relish the opportunity to have somewhere for my children to play and a community place to meet up.

The number of families in the village now mean there are a lot of children currently  and a lack of space for them to meet. They’re connections to each other are so important, they’re the future of Buckland!

100% support this.

Kind regards

Hayley Chrystie

I feel strongly that there should be a place for young children to play, and feel that the green space at the back of the hall could easily accommodate some tastefully designed play equipment, and act as an area for children and parents to meet and enjoy outdoor time. This could be accessed without the need to open the main hall. If neighbouring residents were not happy with the prospect of the sound of children playing, then perhaps a compromise could be met with the play area being open at certain times.

Likewise there is nothing in the village for older children or teenagers which is a really big shame (where can they go?!), and I feel the pool area could be developed into a games room and social space that could be used both by that age group, but also adults, with a pool table, table football, dart board, board games, etc. and perhaps could be operated on a calendar, so that a couple of nights a week it is a 'youth club' etc. Perhaps a rota could be operated by parents with interested kids, so that there is an adult on hand to supervise those evenings for a couple of hours. Not wishing to take away business from the Lamb, perhaps there is some scope for the Lamb to provide refreshments by way of an honesty 'counter', coffee machine, etc. and this room could be available for use in conjunction with the outside play area so that parents can come in and get self-serve refreshments. 

Although I love the idea of the shop and cafe the logistics of operating this are very time demanding and complex. Some kind of honesty, or low effort help yourself system could be an easier alternative.

The games room could be operated by a code key entry, and a cheap CCTV system could be installed if there was a concern over things going awry.