The large open space that links Whiteland Way at one end with Columbine Way at the other, is known as Down Farm Park. The land was transferred to the Parish Council after the Windmill View and St James Place developments were built.
The History of Down Farm
William Heath began farming the land in 1919 as a mixed market garden and dairy; it was converted to a full dairy farm in the early 1930s. There was a large pond to the west of the barn (recently known as Crimea Barn) located on the corner of the junction of Green Lane with Chalton Lane. The L-shaped flint building appears on the 1868 O.S map.
The family sold the farm in the mid-1970s and it became Down Farm Livery until the land was sold once again.
Down Farm Park is home to the Council’s allotments including parking, a play area, junior football pitches, bowls & sports club, and a public car park. The area has benefited in recent years from additional tree planting, bee hives, and additional hedging. The area including the paths and hedging is maintained by the Parish Council. Some areas are maintained as meadow. Unfortunately, Ragwort took hold in the large Meadow in 2022 and the Parish Council took the decision to maintain it as amenity grass to stop the spread.
Junior Football Pitches
The junior football pitches at Down Farm Park are located next to the Clanfield Bowls & Sports Club.
The pitches comprised two 9v9 pitches were transferred to the Parish Council from the Developer Barratts, in October 2023. Unfortunately, it took some years for the pitches to be ready and signed off as fit for purpose.
The pitches are Licenced to Clanfield Football Club and currently maintained by the Parish Council. The plan is for Clanfield Football Club to Lease the pitches and in preparation, planning permission was granted in April 2023 for an equipment store and mesh net protective fencing. There are steep embankments outside the western boundary, and part of the northern boundary that could pose a problem of constant breaks in play whilst footballs are retrieved and pose health and safety issues. The equipment store will be used for grounds maintenance and pitch preparation equipment and machinery and for football equipment.
Car parking for the pitches is in the Council’s adjacent car park which also serves the Bowls Club and visitors to the open space areas, including the children’s playground, of Down Farm Park.
The pitches are not available for general hire.
