Broadwindsor Village Green Appeal

Aim

Transforming our village green to provide community open space, challenging and inclusive activity equipment and physical exercise for all.

Open space for us all to enjoy

We're launching a Crowdfunding campaign to transform the village green at Bernards’ Place, Broadwindsor.

The project will provide versatile open space for physical activity to improve health and well-being.

We already have £45,000 in the pot for challenging and inclusive play equipment on the upper part of the green. 

But we now need your help to complete the overall project, which includes opening up the lower part of the green for physical exercise and community events.

Who we are

The Comrades Hall Management Committee owns and is responsible for the village hall and the area around it, the village green known as Bernards' Place.

A registered charity, the hall is a hub for community events, including social and sporting activities. 

What we are doing

Bernards' Place is at the heart of Broadwindsor, a village in the far western corner of Dorset which has poor public transport links. 

The village green revamp was first mooted almost three years ago when we decided to improve the children's play equipment. But then the pandemic happened in 2020. Physical exercise and being outdoors had never been more important. The vision for Bernards' Place took on a new dimension.

A key part of the project sees the replacement and relocation of the swings to create an open and flat space at the lower end of the green and the installation of an oak-framed shelter, for use in inclement weather, at a cost of £7,000.

Keeping our community physically active

As well as being used for community events, this new space will be ideal for instructor-led exercise classes and some pieces of free-to-use outdoor gym equipment along its outer edge.

The reconfigured village green will become a more sociable place, helping to build a strong and healthy community.

Leon Lord, a Fitness and Well-being Instructor, lives in Broadwindsor and runs popular exercise classes inside the Comrades Hall.  He can see the benefits of leading open air classes on the lower part of the green.

Leon says: ‘Having a space in the village that can be used either for outdoor exercise or for peaceful meditative practice, would be a massive investment in our community. Nearby in Bridport they already hold outdoor Yoga and fitness sessions in the local park. These sessions are popular and well attended.’

Vikki Pickering, a Teaching Assistant at the local primary school, currently drives to Bridport for outdoor Yoga.

She says: 'The redesign allows for a greater age range to make better use of the space – family picnics and socialising, improved equipment for greater equality and with the added potential of ‘zoning’ for exercise like outdoor yoga, circuit training and strength-building activities. '

Team Vicar the Revd Jo Neary says: 'Bernards' Place is a wonderful resource for our village. To have a flat, accessible area for sport and games and to be active together will enhance the well-being of the whole village population.'

How our project will be United by Birmingham 2022: a lasting tribute for generations to come

The plan has been a long time in the making but, inspired by the ethos of the Commonwealth Games, we're determined to make it happen, as a fitting and lasting tribute to the memory of David Leader, who died very suddenly in March 2022.

David spearheaded so many amazing community and sporting projects locally.

Pleased help us to raise the money we need to get this project done.  Let's put Broadwindsor on the map once again.

• Broadwindsor is the place we love. Illustration by Megan Edwards.

Community spirit

Broadwindsor is well-known for its community spirit.

In 2020, Broadwindsor Cricket Club raised £35,785 through Crowdfunder to buy its ground, with 191 supporters in 27 days. And it’s not that long ago that the village, led by David, raised an amazing £34,760 through Crowdfunder, with 337 supporters in 28 days, to reopen The White Lion as a community pub.

We appreciate that money is tight and this new appeal so soon after the campaign to save The White Lion might be a tall order. 

But we’re confident that Broadwindsor will come together to honour David Leader's community legacy, for people of all ages and abilities and for generations to come.

Please help us to make this happen by supporting our Crowdfunder campaign. As a charity relying on voluntary support within our active community, we are very grateful to the generous people and local businesses who have provided this campaign with 'rewards' to encourage support from the Crowd. 

Your support - big or small - will be make a huge difference to this project. We'll have a village green that will make us all very happy for many years to come.

• Happy in Broadwindsor back in 2014 - and still an active, lively community today

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Please help us to make our project a success and give what you are able. Every contribution will be greatly appreciated. 

*A big thank you to Simon Emmerson for permission to use The Magnificent Seven (ACSS meets TDF) by Afro Celt Sound System as the soundtrack to our campaign video.

This project successfully funded on 1st November 2022