Bletchingley Bowls Club
Founded in 1929, Bletchingley Bowls Club is a community group which prides itself as having one of the best playing surfaces in East Surrey. It caters for male and female members of all ages and abilities. Regular social events are held throughout the year, creating an opportunity to remain socially connected for members in all seasons.
Maintenance of the club, including the bowling green, is upheld by volunteers.
Rural England Prosperity Fund project
A Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) grant was given for a battery powered hover mower and a switcher. The battery powered hover mower will assist with the cutting of grass on a steep bank which sits at a 45-degree angle.
Without this specialist equipment, maintenance is currently time consuming and dangerous for the volunteers. Whilst the switcher is required to deal with worm casts and dew on the playing field, so that members can play on smooth even ground.
Project impact
Proper care of the green will keep members coming and attract more members into the community of both volunteer workers and players, enticing some new people to join.
Bowls in a rural village is an important sports and social centre. It promotes regular physical activity along with health and wellbeing providing locals with a place to socialise and enjoy themselves. Furthermore, a battery powered mower is a more environmentally friendly option than a petrol powered mower, reducing the club's carbon footprint.
The club has now also purchased non-self-seeding flora planted around the green to increase the variety of plants and in lieu the bio-diversity. This will help reduce the impact of the self-seeding plants onto the green.
Project costs, grant awarded
Battery powered hover mower and switcher
Total project cost: £1,288.68
Grant awarded: £1,288.68
Are you eligible for a Rural England Prosperity Fund grant for your project?
Inspired? Would your project be eligible for a Rural England Prosperity Fund grant? Could you get up to £50,000 and up to 50% of your capital costs with Rural England Prosperity Fund grant? Find out about the Rural England Prosperity Fund.
