The UK National Inventory of War Memorial Fields (UKNIWM)

Cheshire County Playing Fields is combining with Fields in Trust (formerly National Playing Fields Association) to try to track down War Memorial Fields in Cheshire, Halton and Warrington as part of this national campaign linked with Remembrance Sunday.
Fields in Trust has been protecting playing fields across the country for more than 80 years - currently we protect more than 1200 sites, in excess of 8500 acres! We’re always looking for new and relevant ways to increase the amount of outdoor space for sport and recreation that is permanently protected in this country .We’re delighted to be launching a new campaign this autumn, in association with the UK National Inventory of War Memorials (UKNIWM), to ensure the long term protection of the hundreds of War Memorial fields that exist across the country.

War Memorial fields were created in memory of the local men and women who sacrificed their lives in service of their country, particularly but not exclusively in the First and Second World Wars, at Fields in Trust we feel very strongly that these important sites are an integral part of the UK’s heritage. Unfortunately the status of these fields is not always guaranteed and they can often be left vulnerable to both residential and commercial development. Through our new campaign we want to ensure that these fields are safeguarded – providing both a continuing memorial to those who died and also much needed recreational facilities for future generations. The War Memorial Fields Campaign is an exciting opportunity to ensure that this living legacy is assured for the future.
The first problem is that no-one knows exactly how many War Memorial fields there are or where they are. The UKNIWM has a list of 187 fields but it is not exhaustive. FIT aims to identify additional fields by surveying local authorities, county playing fields associations and by working in conjunction with the British Legion.

We also plan to roll out regional media campaigns to encourage the public to help us identify these important sites. We need everyone who knows a war memorial playing field to tell us about it at http://snipurl.com/rjhg5. Or Cheshire County Playing Fields Cheshire@cpfas.org.uk
Karen Tonge MBE
Chairman Cheshire County Playing Fields Association

Posted on Friday 27 November, 2009
Category: News