Friends of Rufford

Rufford Abbey Country Park has a supporters' group, the Friends of Rufford. We raise funds for improvements, support the park with feedback from the visitor’s eye view, and run social events such as slide shows and talks.

Interested in joining the Friends of Rufford? Membership costs just £10 per year for individuals and £15 for two people at the same address.  Includes free admission to a programme of park events and talks through the year.

Contact our Treasurer, Janet Webb, e-mail: janetwebb@btinternet.com for more details.

Here are some projects that we are currently involved in:

Composter Scheme

In 2007 we put in a successful bid to the Lottery's Awards For All scheme.  This was to buy a composter machine for the park.  It will help the park to to recycle more green waste from landscape maintenence, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill. The group presented a cheque for £8,345 to the park in January 2008. for purchase of the new machine.

Herb Garden Project

The Herb garden at Rufford Abbey Formal gardens was laid out in the 1980's.  Now it's in need of renovation.  We aim to replant the Herb Garden and to create some raised beds, so that wheelchair users and the visually impaired can enjoy the scent and texture of herbs.  The new planting scheme will explore the many uses to which our traditional English herbs have been put over centuries - from cooking and remedies to brewing and dyeing.  We are bidding to the County Council's "Building Better Communities" scheme for £20,000 to carry out this work.  

Dig In and Lend a Hand

We need volunteers!  Join the Friends Group then come along to one of our work weekends to give us a hand:

Sunday 13th April, Saturday 19th April, Sunday 20th April, Sunday 27th April 2008, 10.30am - 3.30pm.  Come all day or just for a couple of hours.  Tea provided!

Digging out, building new raised beds, planting... There are lots of jobs to be done. Please contact our Volunteer Development Worker, Betty Ilett, e-mail: bettyilett@btconnect.com for more information on the project.  For more details on the work weekends, ring Senior Park Ranger Karen Emery tel 01623 821334.

Yew Tree Scheme

In 2007 we had to remove some trees from the edge of the park along the A614 for reasons of road safety and woodland management.  The Friends of Rufford would like to replant some young yew trees along this edge, recreating the boundary hedge that once existed in bygone days

For more details contact Bryan Hemstock - Chairman of the Friends of Rufford at e-mail: bryanhemstock@btconnect.com

Read the constitution of the Friends Group.