Recreation Ground

Parish Council minutes record the efforts made by the council to obtain a recreation ground. An application in 1898 to use the current site was rejected by the Dering Estate. However, in 1900 it is recorded that a lease had been signed and the grazing rights subsequently let for the sum of £7.10s.0d a year. A minute in March 1915 states that Sir Edward Dering had confirmed the tenancy.

In 1928 the Parish Council purchased the recreation ground from the Dering Estate for £250. The ground has a children’s play area with swings, slide and climbing frame, two tennis courts (one marked out for netball), a cricket pitch, school football pitch, and skateboard/BMX course.

The play area is constantly refurbished from funds raised in the community and by successful applications to grant funding agencies. The village appraisal reported that of those who had an opinion, 86% felt these facilities were either good or reasonable.

The play areas are checked weekly and RoSPA make an annual inspection. All items with a ‘high risk’ factor are dealt with as soon as possible. As soon as funding allows, other matters are put in hand when funding is available. A grant from Ashford Borough Council of £1,250 together with a donation of £250 from the Pluckley Recreation Fund contributed to the repairs in 2002. In 2006 a further grant of £4,844 from Awards for All allowed extensive resurfacing and renovations to take place.

One of the major problems has been the discovery of broken glass on both the children’s play area and the skate board arena. In addition youths have been riding motorcycles and go-karts around the ground to the danger of other users, especially small children. Whenever possible the parents of the youths concerned are being informed. The parish council now employs someone to keep the south side of the recreation ground clear of litter.