Old-fashioned fun at Bramston Gardens

Creating safe, attractive and accessible outdoor spaces is only part of the journey towards helping people become more active. Equally important is ensuring local residents know about the improvements that have been made and feel confident using these spaces. That's where community activation events play a vital role, bringing people together, encouraging activity and helping residents reconnect with their local parks and green spaces.

This summer, Bramston Gardens in Rastrick provided the perfect setting for one such celebration.

Located close to The Space @ Field Lane community hub, Bramston Gardens has recently benefited from a range of improvements designed to make the park more welcoming and accessible for everyone. Developments have included disabled access into the site, new playground equipment, a resurfaced basketball court, a walking trail and additional seating, helping to create a space that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities.

To showcase these improvements and encourage residents to make the most of the park, The Space @ Field Lane organised a family-friendly summer sports day. The event coincided with the opening of nearby Wellholme Park and Love Parks Week, creating a wider celebration of local parks and green spaces across the area.

The Space @ Field Lane is a valued member of the Active Rastrick Parks and Green Spaces Partnership Group and has played an important role in gathering community insights that have helped shape the development of Bramston Gardens. Their sports day was a natural next step, helping local people experience the park in a fun, welcoming and inclusive environment.

Inspired by traditional school sports days, the event featured a packed programme of activities including wheelbarrow races, egg and spoon races, sack races and a 100-metre sprint. Children and adults alike threw themselves into the activities, with welly throwing proving particularly popular among younger attendees.

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Partner organisations were also on hand to support the day, bringing adaptable bikes and balance bikes to ensure as many people as possible could get involved. One of the day's standout moments saw a young person learn to ride a pedal bike, highlighting the positive impact such events can have on building confidence and encouraging lifelong physical activity.

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More than 100 people attended throughout the day, many taking advantage of the opportunity to rediscover what their local park has to offer. Families enjoyed picnics on the grass, children explored the activities, and residents spent time walking around and enjoying the improved surroundings.

Reflecting on the success of the event, Anthony Whittaker, Public Health Practitioner, said:

"The summer sports day event was certainly a success. A success in how well it was organised by The Space @ Field Lane and how smoothly the event ran. We can also celebrate just how many local people attended, many for the first time in a while, enjoying what the park has to offer.

We saw people having picnics, taking part in the activities, walking around the park and generally enjoying themselves, which was great to see. Thank you to all those who made the day a success and we hope people continue to enjoy the park and its recent improvements."

Feedback from residents reflected the positive atmosphere throughout the day.

One local resident commented:

"What a well thought out and organised event, lovely to see all the children with smiles on their faces and the adults getting involved."

Another added:

"It's lovely to see something fun and engaging being done on the park."

Events such as these demonstrate the importance of not only investing in parks and green spaces, but also creating opportunities for communities to come together and enjoy them. By combining physical improvements with engaging local activities, Bramston Gardens is becoming a space where people can be active, connect with others and enjoy the benefits that quality green spaces bring to local communities.

As more residents discover and make use of the improved facilities, Bramston Gardens is helping to support the Active programme's ambition of creating healthier, happier and more active communities across Calderdale.