Darrington Village Field
Many residents of Darrington and particularly those new to the area are unaware of who owns and maintains the Village Field. It is not, as many think, owned and funded by Wakefield MDC, the Parish Council or the Church, but a separate entity and registered charity, the Darrington Village Field Trust.
In the 1970’s, the Field was acquired for the community and set up as a charitable trust for all the residents to use and enjoy. Today, we have three trustees, Richard Hirst, Pete Batty and Nick Storr, whilst day-to-day management is organised by a committee made up of representatives of various village organisations and members of the public. It is funded from the profit made at events held on the field, such as the summer Feast and Fayre and the Fireworks in the autumn.
Whilst ongoing maintenance and small changes are made to the field, there are always larger challenges and causes that we are working towards. Our most recent projects in 2024 saw the repair and replacement of much of the play equipment, which cost in excess of £72,000, whilst the main gate and posts were replaced and moved, costing over £3,000. This was only possible through the success of our events and the many generous donations from villagers, visitors and local government - Thank you to everyone who has and continues to contribute.
These all help to enhance our village to the benefit of all those who live here and visit us. We’re always reviewing the list of projects to work on, so would welcome any financial assistance towards our plans. If you think you could help, either financially or with skills and expertise, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Richard Hirst
Chair.