Branston opens new play area in Shepton Beauchamp

19 September 2011

Youngsters from Shepton Beauchamp village are celebrating the opening of their new £25,000 play area co-sponsored by the ‘potato people' - Branston Ltd.

The play area was officially opened during the village's annual fun run on Sunday (11.9.11) by Richard Meecham, senior field service manager from Branston's South West site, who grew up in Shepton Beauchamp, and Pete Sanderson Recreation Field Committee member.

Five-year-old Anna Meecham, who joined her dad Richard for the opening said, "I'm really excited about opening the playground with my dad. There are lots of really new things we can play on. It's going to be really cool."

Recreation Field Committee member Pete Sanderson, who has worked on the campaign to raise the money for the past 18 months said, "We'd like to say a big thank you to Branston for contributing £7,500 toward the play area. Their generous contribution has been a very significant help in revitalising this for children of the village.

"We asked the local primary school what sort of play things they would like. That's how we came up with the changes to the site. It now includes swings, climbing equipment, an assault course, a stone circle and gardens plus seating for adults. It is a huge improvement on the old play equipment the kids had before."

Richard said, "It has been such fun working with the children at Shepton Beauchamp on this project. Pete approached us about helping out and we were more than happy to help. It's important that children have somewhere safe to play and we hope that the new playground will be used by everyone in the village.

The work took 10 weeks to complete. Branston was the largest private sponsor of the campaign, giving £7,500 of the total £25,000 spent on the park.

South Somerset District Council also provided a significant grant toward the project which was gratefully received by the Recreation Field Committee.