Friends of Ashby Bath Grounds

09/01/2025

We regret to inform our members that due to lack of committee members and volunteers, the Friends of Ashby Bath Grounds group is temporarily inactive.

We will not therefore be asking for membership subscriptions for 2025. Existing funds in the Group's bank account will be used to make donations to various improvement works on the Bath Grounds undertaken by the Town Council.

We will continue to send a representative to the Bath Grounds Advisory Committee run by the Town Council and in due course we hope to be able to reactivate the Friends Group.

06/01/2024

Bath Grounds looking fantastic in the sun this afternoon.

Don't forget our Annual Meeting - Thursday 18th January, 7pm, Ivanhoe Social Club. Why not come along, hear what's been happening and have your say? All welcome.

Also, we'll be arranging a volunteer session soon to tidy up the wildlife walk and oval border. Details coming soon. Please let us know if you can help.

11/12/2023

Good messages being displayed on the Bath Grounds. Thanks to NWLDC for the sign.

06/12/2023

The wildlife walk had its annual trim today. We are hoping to tidy up the hedge and sow more wildflower seed in the new year. If you can help, please let us know.

30/11/2023

Have you spotted the latest edition to the Bath Grounds? Following feedback from the Bath Grounds Survey last summer, a play trail has been installed for children to enjoy. https://www.ashbytowncouncil.gov.uk/bath-grounds/

26/11/2023

A short ceremony was held at the Bath Grounds in Ashby de la Zouch to mark the occasion this week

02/08/2023

Well done everyone!

!!! PURCHASE OF THE BATH GROUNDS !!!

The purchase of the Bath Grounds was finally completed at 4pm on Tuesday 1st August. The Town Council and the people of Ashby and Blackfordby now own the Bath Grounds.

Chris Smith, Leader of Ashby de la Zouch Town Council, said “This is fantastic news for the town. It is a tribute to all those who campaigned to protect the Bath Grounds when they were under threat from new housing; to those who have worked hard, both Town Council staff and volunteers, to maintain the Bath Grounds and all the residents of the town who have, through their council tax, enabled the purchase to go ahead.”

“I also want to thank our Town Clerk, Jack Fargher, and the Town Council’s legal adviser, Ian Riley (Director & Head of Commercial Property at Fishers Solicitors), for all their advice, guidance and hard work over many years in negotiating the deal with Oakland Hotels.”

Ownership of the Bath Grounds protects them from further development and allows longer term plans to be put in place. The Town Council is committed to improving and enhancing the Bath Grounds for the benefit of everybody and would welcome suggestions and ideas from the people of Ashby. The Town Council will also investigate ways to ensure the Bath Grounds are protected for future generations whatever the make-up of the Town Council.
Not only has the Town Council purchased the Bath Grounds but it has also ensured that the money will be used to start the redevelopment of the Royal Hotel. Redeveloping the hotel is a very big project that will take many years, but very soon you should see scaffolding going up so that the hotel roof can be repaired to protect the integrity of the building.

28/07/2023

We'll be on the Bath Grounds on Sunday. Come and say hello and find out the latest on what's happening.

Tractors leave Roecliffe Farm on Leicester Road at 11am

Market Street - Derby Road, Burton Road - left to Blackfordby - through village to Norris Hill Road left to Moira Road into Ashby - Kilwardby Street -Bath Street - Station Road -
Bath Grounds Cricket Entrance @ 11.45am approx.

24/07/2023

Great news. Well done to all.

Bath Grounds awarded the coveted Green Flag Award as it is officially recognised as one of the country’s best parks

In a record-breaking year the Bath Grounds in the centre of Ashby de la Zouch is raising its prestigious Green Flag Award

Ashby de la Zouch Town Council is celebrating after receiving a Green Flag Award for the Bath Grounds.

The news that the Bath Grounds has achieved the accreditation - the international quality mark for parks and green spaces - is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green space so that everyone can enjoy it.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd MBE said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at the Bath Grounds in achieving a Green Flag Award.

“The Bath Grounds is a vital green space for the community in Ashby de la Zouch, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles. The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”

Councillor Chris Smith, Leader of Ashby de la Zouch Town Council, said:

“I am delighted that the Town Council has, once again, been successful in its application to retain a Green Flag Award for the Bath Grounds. This is a huge achievement for the town and testament to all of the hard work put in by the Town Council’s ground maintenance team, the Bath Grounds Advisory Group and many volunteers.

The Bath Grounds are valued greatly by our community, and we have shown that running the Bath Grounds is about so much more than just cutting the grass. This year there has been a real effort to encourage biodiversity, including the planting of native spring bulbs and the development of spring and summer meadows – and there is much more to come.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces is available here.

23/07/2023

Bath Grounds wildlife walk looking fantastic this afternoon. We'll be on the Bath Grounds next Sunday at Jim's Tractor Run. Why not come and say hello.

16/06/2023

We will be holding a General Meeting at the Ashby Hastings Cricket Club on Thursday 22 June at 7pm, everyone is welcome to attend, members and non-members.

We are delighted to announce that representatives from the Trent Rivers Trust will be attending to give a short presentation on their proposal to de-culvert Gilwiskaw Brook. We will also have the opportunity to ask the Trent Rivers Trust questions about the idea.

The committee will also give an update on our latest activities, including actions to retain our prestigious Green Flag award. You will have the chance to raise any matters regarding the Bath Grounds with your committee members.

The cricket club bar will be open before and after the meeting, which we expect to finish at around 8pm.

We really hope you can join us.