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The Hambleton District Council operates in a North Yorkshire area that includes Thirsk and Sowerby – (Sowerby is a village tight against Thirsk), and was determined to raise funds to develop a Sowerby Sports Village. Using in part a landfill site and with funding in place, the first requirement was a sustainable drainage system
Then, the first stage facilities: a fitness trail, landscaping for informal recreation, even allotments. In time grass pitches, a full size 3 G artificial pitch and pavilion are planned.
So why the hero tag? COVID came along. Overnight, much like the local town shops I have already mentioned who set up efficient delivery systems, the council determined to do their bit, and opened early to encourage exercise. Dog walkers, other walkers, runners and cyclists could use the fitness tracks. The centre team sports area was to be used for play, strolling – with social distancing a requirement. Though dogs will not be permitted once the crisis abates.
If you set off from the start, there are markers on the one km track, which runs around the team sports area.These markers tell you how far you’ve come. Or perhaps more importantly, how far you have yet to go. Would that be a good idea for life? Probably not – who wants to know when the final end game is due.
You can walk or cycle on or off road. Which puts me in mind of a charity bike round and across Israel, on and off road, staying at kibbutz. Our leader would explain the route for the next day, and mention as though it was nothing – that there were a few undulations. Oh yeah – they were cliffs, let me tell you. Here it is barely an undulation, so all quite doable.
There are useful information boards, because the nesting boxes put up high along and above the hedges attract myriad birds.
Forgive the wire fencing. But nobody’s going to get in and take these blooming babies.
The allotments are underway. The car park is planted with bee friendly beds of lavender and rosemary. There are hedges being replanted along the road edge, after the landscaping and drainage work necessitated the removal of the original.
Like so many district councils these days, Hambleton is nature friendly. Where new residential developments are being erected in their area there are attempts to create green spaces and nature gardens. Quite right too, in these bee conscious times.
Pretty much like the bees on the rosemary, the place is buzzing. A safe place for exercise in these strange times.
More information here
Annie Clarke’s latest novel Wedding Bells on the Home Front is out now. 