Project: Village Green
Location: Affetside
Value: £55k

A local residents association was successful in raising the money to convert a site central to this historic village and located at a junction of several old pack horse trails on the top of the Pennines and alongside the route of the original Roman Watling Road. The group wanted to have somewhere for community events and the small local primary school were keen to have an outdoor resource. The children were consulted and were keen to have a pond, presenting a tricky design challenge on this exposed site at the highest point of the hills. There was an ancient monument next to the site beside the narrow, often busy road, which suffered constant bumping so the funding to develop the site presented the opportunity to do something to better protect it from traffic.

A low random stone wall was constructed enclosing the monument, a market cross within the site acts as a focal point and an area of stone paving was laid around it with power supply to enable community celebrations. The pond with dipping platform and outdoor classroom space were made and paths connecting to the Pennine Way footpaths were put in with the fantastic view from the highest point captured by a lookout telescope. Planting to give the seating shelter from the winds and a small area of planting for habitat to enhance the use of the site as an outdoor classroom completed the scheme.