Latest News

Latest update on plans for a solar farm on our doorstep


Plans to build a solar farm on our doorstep are still active with many details to be supplied and questions to be answered by Harmony Energy.
The Parish Council has responded, saying that they cannot make final comments until a number of details have been finalised. These include concerns on Flooding, impact on the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Reserve, the Security Fencing, Maintenance Plans and the Mains Lane Bridleway.  Further details via the click link below.
The NYC Local Lead Flood Authority (LLFA) has also requested a wide range of extra details and figures relating to drainage from the site (within the catchment area of the Beck). These include Runoff, Peak Flow and Volume Control, Design for Exceedance and Climate Change plus plans during Construction and ongoing Maintenance.
Outline calculations, relating to the gravel to be used for the proposed channels for catchment of drip/runoff from the angled panel units, indicate that perhaps 5,000 tons would be required!

 click here for further details and the outcome of a meeting with them during February.

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The chips are down, the potato competition begins…!
(Late entries still welcome)


Queuing up yesterday to register their entry.

Over 75 people have signed up to the first ever Great Bishop Monkton Potato Challenge – in fact, so many have joined in that more seed potatoes had to be ordered! Participants arrived at the Vicarage on Sunday afternoon to collect their potato and bucket, ready to start growing the biggest crop they can.

(Don’t worry if you wanted to join but lost track of time – it happens to us all! – you can still sign up, just check out the details at the bottom of this article.)

On Saturday, August 31, at The Grand Weigh In, everyone will bring back their buckets to have their harvest weighed and prizes will be given out to the winners. There are some wonderful prizes generously donated by brilliant sponsors, including:

·       £50 voucher for The Masons Arms and a bottle of wine
·       A children's gardening hamper, from Harrogate Garden Centre
·       £20 book voucher for The Little Ripon Bookshop
·       A bouquet of flowers from Bud Floral Designs in Ripon


 We'd also like to thank Tim Abel for donating the seed potatoes!

Sophie, one of the organisers of the event, said ‘we’re delighted with the response to the competition! We’ve got a great mix of adults and children, regular gardeners and first-time growers – it’s been particularly lovely to hear people saying that growing their own veg is something they’ve always wanted to do but never tried, and that this has given them the perfect opportunity.’ The funds raised from the challenge are in aid of St John the Baptist Parish Church and Bishop Monkton Methodist Church.

Missed the deadline? Upset you are missing out on all this potato-based excitement? Lying awake at night
wondering what might have happened if you’d joined the challenge? Don’t worry – the competition is accepting late entries until Sunday, March 24. To join, email gbmpotatochallenge@gmail.com or call 01765 676243.

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Lovely grub lunch raises £370 for Jennyruth Workshops


Lovely grub!  Enjoying the spud and pud lunch.


The lady helpers enjoying a well deserved cuppa.

Potatoes were front and centre of Village life again yesterday when a Spud and Pud lunch raised £370 for Jennyruth Workshops .A big thank you to everyone who attended and to the people who helped on the day or brought along delicious fillings and puds! Joining us were Jamie and Johnathan who tucked into their spuds and puds. There is still time to grow your own potatoes for the Village Churches potato challenge. To register email gbmpotatochallenge@gmail.com. This will be a fun thing for people of all age groups do!

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Hundreds of tractors pass through village


The annual Knaresborough Farmers' Tractor Run passed through Bishop Monkton on Sunday. This spectacular procession was a fundraiser for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

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Looking for how we should mark the D-Day 80th anniversary

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Allied tanks advancing during D-Day.

On June 6th 2024 Britain will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of D-Day. 

This was an important date. The allied forces attacked the Nazi forces on the beaches of occupied France, and this was a turning point in the outcome of the war. This meant the defeat of the Nazis and victory for the allies including Britain. Our life could be very different today if the result had been different.

We are hoping someone or some group in Bishop Monkton will have ideas for how the village should  mark this important anniversary and would like to hear of any ideas they may have. The Ladies Group, for example,  will be putting up British flags in the village centre .

If you would like to learn more about D-Day, Wikipedia has extensive details. Of course there are also a number of films about it and the Daily Mail on line has some incredible pictures. 

Looking forward to your comments.

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Last week for sign ups for the Great Potato Challenge

Just a reminder that the final day for entering the potato-based event of the year is Sunday,
March 17! For those who haven’t heard of it before (where have you been?!), the Great Bishop Monkton Potato Challenge is a potato growing competition open to anyone and everyone – adults, children, serious gardeners and people who don’t know their swedes from their turnips.

On March 17 competitors will receive a seed potato and a bucket to grow it in, as well as rules/instructions. Take good care of your potatoes to try and get the biggest crop you can. On the day of The Grand Weigh In, buckets are returned, the potatoes are weighed and prizes given out to the winners! 

We hope to include other fun activities on the day to make it a great day out for all. Entry is £10 per bucket with funds raised going to St John the Baptist Church and Bishop Monkton Methodist Chapel. We’ve got some wonderful prizes lined up, so don’t miss out!

Date update: To give everyone the best chance of a big crop of home-grown spuds, we’re moving the date of The Grand Weigh In from early July to the end of August. Details will be confirmed at a later date. The potato collection date will remain Sunday,  March17. 

Join now by emailing gbmpotatochallenge@gmail.com or calling 01765 676243. For more details click here

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Changes to village bus services

Following a review of services North Yorkshire Council has awarded the York-Ripon-Knaresborough (22/23) village bus service to East Yorkshire Bus Company.
The service will start on Monday,  April 8 and run a Monday to Saturday timetable similar to the current service. The York-Ripon service will be 82/83 and the Ripon-Knaresborough service 182.
Timetable from the East Yorkshire Bus Company website:
https://www.eastyorkshirebuses.co.uk/services/EY/182
There is an app available for ticket purchase, timetables, tracking, etc.

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Local History Group discovers Bishop Monkton hidden gems


Local History Group members who visited the County Record Office.

A school report from 1848, a register of land ownership in the village from the eighteenth century as well as maps going back almost 200 years were among Bishop Monkton items shown to members of the Local History Group during a fascinating tour round the North Yorkshire County Record Office in Northallerton this week.

Ten members of the Group were given a tour round the office, which holds millions of documents and photographs about the history of the County. Archivist Daniel Sudron led the tour explaining the range of different records held there including council records, church records, local newspapers, parish registers and much else besides. He also outlined how anyone can organise to visit the Archive to research the history of North Yorkshire or their own family history.

The Local History Group is currently working with the County Record Office to enable Bishop Monkton’s village websites to be archived at the Office and therefore become a permanent record of village life for generations to come.

To read more click here

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Call to repair damaged footpath


The footpath after recent heavy rain.

At it last meeting Bishop Monkton Parish Council discussed the damaged footpath crossing Potters egg farm and decided to report the damage to the NYC Footpaths Officer and write again to the landowner and ask to have the damaged repaired.

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Council wishes to Improve its communications

At the recent monthly PC Meeting it was felt that they needed to communicate more clearly with villagers.  Some of the subjects discussed included replacement of the playground equipment at the sports field (to cover a wider range of ages), their response to the Harmony Energy application for a Solar Farm together with ongoing discussions with NYCC Highways. Click here for details

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History Group looking for new project Ideas

Bishop Monkton’s Local History Group (BMLHG) is looking for ideas for its next project. It’s asking people in the village what aspects of Bishop Monkton’s history the Group should be researching. In the past few years, the Group has investigated the history of the village pubs, the stories of royal and other celebrations here as well as gathering a record of how the Covid pandemic affected the village. These projects have resulted in material being made available online as well as films, exhibitions and events aimed at sharing the newly discovered history.

Colin Philpott from BMLHG said:- “We’d love to get people’s ideas on what we should be researching so that everyone living here can have a better understanding and appreciation of our village’s history. 

For further details, possible suggestions and contacts please click here.

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Ripon Surgeries to merge

Announced this week - the 3 Surgeries in Ripon (North House, Spa and Park Street) are to merge on 1st July.  All have issued a statement, click here for an example, outlining why and how (and asking for comments).  It appears they plan to continue operating out of the same sites and initially, at least with the same staffing.  It would appear that most of the overall benefits, to all parties, would be for the new setup to be all on one new site - but apparently, that is not on the horizon.  North House held an open house session on Saturday 10-11.30 which was pretty chaotic! 

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Village Hall Bookings Secretary

You will know that Lesley Shervington, after 12 years handling the bookings of the village hall and in a very capable way, is standing down and we are looking for a successor.  The online system at present uses Google calendar, familiarisation and training will be provided on all parts of the procedures, together with a laptop computer.  There is emergency cover already familiar with the system.  This is a vital role and we hope somebody will come forward, so enabling the village hall to continue in its successful way.  Lesley can be contacted on 01765 677482 or lesley.shervington@sky.com.

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Upbeat report on village activities

Gerald Shervington in his Chairman's report at the Village Hall AGM presented a pretty upbeat picture of the activities and the state of the Village Hall.  

Most of the sections were very active, particularly Bowls where several trophies had been won and prestigious appointments made. Croquet too while Tennis had successfully expanded to include Pickleball and Table Tennis numbers had recovered to the 90's but are searching for younger players as many are in their mid 70's and above. Good news also that a Junior Table Tennis section had started and that the WI had increased in membership and activities.  However, there were some downside with Cricket losing several players, dropping a team and having to default on a few matches.  Also the Entertainments Group (BMEG) folded as there were no longer people willing to run it.  Their considerable financial and other assets have been transferred to the Village Hall for safekeeping.

 

Financially the Hall is in a healthy position (click here for the accounts), to some extent a result of Covid with a number of potential projects/ enhancements delayed.  Of immediate concern, for example, is the playing field triple mower which, even second hand, is likely to cost £15,000.  External bookings have now recovered to pre Covid levels. Gerald expressed thanks to many, detailed in his full report (click here), as well as a resume on how much the Hall owed to Mervyn Beecroft, as without his vision and drive it's unlikely we'd be in the position we are now.

Gerald, as Chairman and Lesley as Secretary and Booking Secretary, have been in place for 12 years now and in that time the Hall has continued to expand in its use, range of activities, financial stability and its overall contribution to village life.  However, they now feel the time is right to hand over the reigns to somebody new, though they both are willing to stay on into the year until replacements are found.  The meeting, of about 20, then expressed their very considerable thanks to what they both have done over these years, with so much enthusiasm, professionalism and warmth.  They will be hard to replace.

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Mains Lane Solar Farm

165 Acres - Harmony Energy Application

Harmony submitted documents late Nov / early Dec but little was known about it by villagers and even after Christmas when repeatedly searching on the HBC Planning site, no information could be found (as we had been supplied with the incorrect application reference number).  The PC had liaised with Harmony during late December, so were aware that a planning application had now been made, though its wording was based around Wormald Green rather than, as before, Burton Leonard and Bishop Monkton, with virtually all of the site being in our Parish.

Eventually when viewed, from a top level aspect, the application is much as displayed in late September in the Village Hall.  So it's huge - 165 acres, which is equivalent to over 15 times the area of the village hall and playing fields.  The perimeter is about 2½ miles, the solar panel tops are 10ft, there is 7ft fencing around it, 10ft high CCTV around and inside and is on good farmland.  It starts about 800 yards up Mains Lane and is to the north and south and for a distance, surrounds this bridleway. Harmony appear to have introduced an accessible corridor towards the Railway Cutting Nature Reserve.  However, the intimated ditch, to reduce surface water flow, has been replaced by permeable surfaces of some form (it's in the centre of the catchment area for the Beck).  Development of the site, taking probably several years, will be accessed mainly using a new track from the A61.

The green site notices were, apparently, posted on 12th Jan and responses are due by 2nd Feb or 11th Feb or even 17th Jan(!), depending on where you look within the HBC systems.  However, it appears that Harmony are to give a presentation at the next PC meeting (20th Feb) so what that does to the consulting period then who knows!

More details will gradually be added - please click here

This click here link takes you to the HBC Planning Website, then key in the Application Reference: ZC23/04361/EIAMAJ.  There are 50+ documents, some running to 70 pages!

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Junior Table Tennis takes off


A new venture providing table tennis for juniors is flourishing. It started in the village (on a Thursday early evening) and his has proved so popular that another early evening session has been established each Sunday.  Click here for details and more pictures.

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Help us plan The Coronation Walk

The route of the proposed walk.

At last year's Annual Village Meeting villager John Smith suggested that the Parish  Council should examine the idea of creating a Coronation Walk round the village harnessing existing footpaths. The Council responded enthusiastically and has now set up a working party to take the proposal  forward. More volunteers are being sought to join a Project team.

The aim is to create something that will benefit the village of Bishop Monkton and attract visitors to our beautiful village for years to come. Commemoration of the coronation of King Charles III is the perfect trigger to launch such a project.

It is proposed to create a circular walk using existing public rights of way which will start and finish in the village. The route will be well signed with “Coronation Circular Walk” and a small crown as an emblem. The total distance is 3.5 miles and will take approximately 1½ hours to walk.

The Parish Council has set up a working group to investigate how to accomplish this and this group is looking for more enthusiastic members to join them. Current members are John Smith, Tony Garnett and Dean Culshaw.  More members are sought. Those with relevant knowledge of this sort of project would be particularly welcomed as well as others with an enthusiasm for the idea, or just a love of the countryside and walking! Anyone interested in helping should contact Dean Culshaw at deanculshaw@hotmail.com or on 07483235393.

For more details of what is being planned click here

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The last word

'Private Eye' wades into our sewage woes

 

Bishop Monkton has made it into the pages of the satirical magazine, Private Eye.   An article, under the headline  ‘S… Happens’, reports the revelation at the recent Council planning meeting that Yorkshire Water hadn’t objected to a planned housing developments in the village (Kebbell Church Farm) despite knowing that the sewerage infrastructure here was already inadequate. 

The article also mentions that YW’s records show that last year Bishop Monkton sewage works made 338 hours of ‘discharges prior to processing’ in Bishop Monkton resulting in sewage being tipped untreated into the River Ure.  The inadequacies of the sewerage system also led to discharges on the streets.

A decision on the planning application by Kebbell Homes for new homes at Church Farm is currently on hold until Yorkshire Water provide North Yorkshire Council with more information on planned upgrades to drainage
systems. Avant Homes’ plan for 88 houses near the crossroads on Knaresborough Road has been withdrawn.

To read full Private Eye article click here

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Breaking new reports about Bishop Monkton added most mornings. Log on each day to keep up with the latest village news.

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NEWS CATCH UP
  • Parish Meeting

    At a well attended Annual Parish Meeting on Tuesday, May 30 Chairman Gerald Shervington reported on the successes and challenges of various village organisations. 


  • Build setbacks

    Building development plans for the two sites in Bishop Monkton have hit snags. The Avant Plan to build 88 houses on sites BM2 and 4 has been withdrawn and the Kebbell Church Farm plan (BM3) has been referred back to the developers for as re-think. Both changes are as a result of a concerted campaign staged by the BM Action Group.


  • Hottest day

    Tuesday, 19 July 2022 was the hottest day ever in England with a reading of 40.3C, and it wasn't far behind that in Bishop Monkton! A shade reading taken by Roger Parrish in his garden at 12.45pm was 38.6C,only a fraction below the 38.7C, the then hottest level ever recorded in the UK. 


  • On the farm

    We talk to Stephen Simpson about how things are changing on the village's only surviving working farm, and efforts he is making to contribute towards the British farming industry's aim to reach zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.


  • VE Day album

    David and Rory Richold in Forties gear were among lots of villagers who dressed the part to mark VE Day celebrations on May 8. You can almost hear them singing 'Maybe it's because I'm a Bishop Monktoner ...'


  • A millions hits

    This website reached the magic landmark milestone of 1,000,000 hits on Wednesday, February 1.  This figure was reached after more than 18 years of continuous daily publication, the site having been launched on 28 January 2005 on the same day that our new Village Hall was opened. The site is updated EVERY DAY at 8am.


  • Hog Roast 2023

    Our annual Hog Roast day on May 29 was a whopping success all round. Lots of happy people relaxed in the sunshine enjoying picnics beside the beck and a non stop programme of events involving ducks and piggies while they gobbled delicious Hog Roast sandwiches. A near record crowd attended confirmed by the fact that 350 people bought tickets for one of the duck races and the same number of Hog Roast sandwiches were sold!


NEWS ROUNDUP

But don't forget your wellies


Staveley Nature Reserve is always worth a visit and just now  the mud isn't too bad (wellies/boots can cope).  The cowslips are showing in the wildflower meadow and barn owls were seen quartering the reserve. Photo: Cheryl Salmon.
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Village highlights revisited


January 2024 when 65 villagers were taught how to save a life

A fully updated reminder in pictures of some of the past highlights showing what a wonderfully active and caring village we live in.
To view all pictures click here
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Don't miss the train talk!

Anyone who is fascinated by trains and particularly about the train lines in this part of Yorkshire will be interested in coming along to the Local History Group's next talk  ‘The History and Development of the Leeds to Ripon Railway’ given by  rail enthusiast Terry Williams from Harrogate Civic Society, on Wednesday, April 17. The talk starts at 7pm.
For more details and how to book a place click here
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Yes, it's a female chaffinch


Cheryl Salmon asked us yesterday if someone could identift this bird. She thought it was a female chaffinch.  Martin Minett writes  to say ''Yes, pretty sure it's a female chaffinch, much less colourful than the male''.
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An important date for your diary


Date now confirmed

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Writer's Block
Another poem by Charlotte Bigg.
To read click here

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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Ladies Group had a fascinating talk called  The Good the Bad and the Ugly, given by our local esteemed naturalist Roger Parrish.
He showed the group some fantastic photos he had taken of mainly tiny insects and showed us how they had evolved from the scaly creatures centuries ago. It was fascinating.
Thanks were given to Roger and to Stuart, his assistant in this instance.

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Romans artefacts found in her garden!


At the March meeting of the WI Wendy Higham from Friends of Roman Aldborough gave a fascinating talk about the site and even brought a few Roman artefacts she had found in her garden.
For full report click here 
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A Christmas meal held in February


Twelve members of the Book Group enjoying their annual Christmas meal held in February. Click for more.
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Temptation by Charlotte
Click here to read her new poem
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Amateur astronomers build planetarium

Background to its creation by 3 guys, including Chris Higgins

BBC News - click here

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A lot of rubbish!

Talking about Rubbish by Phil Goodier - click here for photos
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Church Events
Thursday 25th April - Puds & Buds
click here for details
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Village Hall AGM
Meeting minutesclick here
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Grewelthorpe Planetarium
Stray Ferret publicises and promotes the facilityclick here

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Oak tree planted at the Village Hall
A 12ft tall Oak has been planted next to the stone which marks the Queen Platinum Jubilee with the Hall being indebted to Nick and Linda Beadle for their very generous donation. Please click here for more details
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Church/Chapel News
Travelling Together - click here
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Parish Magazine
Find out more - click here
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Dates for your diary
The dates for Singing for Fun sessions have now been announced for January to July.
Parish Council meeting dates 2024 are also listed
For details click here

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Send us your club news
Village groups are invited to send a reports and photographs after each of  their meetings for inclusion in a new feature on this site.
Send them after each meeting to editorbmtoday@aol.com
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Quick CLICK

A new way to make it easier for you to navigate round the site once you have read the front page:


Click on the inside section you wish to read:

Church click here
Chapel click here
Housing  click
Letters click 
Local History  click here
Village groups  click here
Parish Council click here
People click
Best photos click
School click 
Sport click here 
WI click here
Weather click

What's On click 

(just updated are in red)
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Table tennis challenge
Here's  one opponent you wouldn't want to meet!

Click here
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Church Draw - March
1st 44,  2nd 31,  3rd 10.

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TODAY

Tuesday,
March 19th
Site accesses since launch in 2005:

1,117,409
'Hits' in last 24 hours.
380
4 December 2023: 669
Coronation Day. 6 May 2023: 529
Highest ever: Monday, June 6, 2022: 812
Reached 1 million 'hits' : Wednesday, 1 February 2023 

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THE TEAM
Editor: Richard Field, BCA
(editorbmtoday@aol.com)
Assistant to The Editor: Pat Field
Technical Advisor: Martin Minett

Additional coverag
e: Colin Philpott
Columnist: Roger Parrish

with regular input from dozens of villagers.

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Award winning news website
which provides you with:
35 sections
100 pages to view

- - - - - -
A caring and achieving village

QUEEN'S JUBILEE MEDAL 2022
PRESIDENT'S RDA AWARD 2018
NATIONAL CROQUET  DIPLOMA 2018
GOOD EGG AWARD 2018
BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL 2018
BRITISH CITIZEN'S AWARD 2016
UK'S BEST LOVED FIELD 2013
NAMED QE2 FIELD &
PRESERVED FOR POSTERITY 2012


MEDIA TRUST NATIONAL AWARD 2010
VILLAGE OF THE YEAR
COMMUNICATIONS AWARD 2009
VILLAGE OF THE YEAR COMMUNITY AWARD 2006

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