CARNEGIE UK TRUST and Fields in Trust have launched a new campaign to find and protect over 900 ‘lost’ playing fields across the UK, two of which are believed to be in Pembrokeshire; with one expected to be in Milford Haven and one in Haverfordwest. The #FieldFinders initiative aims to locate and catalogue playing fields, which were set up with the aid of a grant from Carnegie UK Trust between 1927 and 1935. They want to ensure that they are legally protected from developers.

Between 1927 and 1935, Carnegie UK Trust allocated the sum of £200,000, which is the equivalent of around £10m today, to over 900 different playing fields across the UK. While some details are known about the towns and cities where the playing fields are, the exact location and details of some of these fields was never centrally recorded.

The #FieldFinders campaign is targeted at local communities with the aim of local residents finding the Carnegie playing fields in their area. They will have until August 31 to report back through a dedicated web portal (www.fieldsintrust. org/carnegie.aspx) about the playing fields. Investigative ‘Field Finders’ are also being encouraged to share images of the sites using social media, such as Twitter and Instagram, using the hashtag, #FieldFinders to help spread the word of the campaign and encourage friends in other locations to join the hunt. Members of the specialist Fields in Trust team will then cross reference it with any surviving documentation and begin the process of improving legal protection for the site. Each confirmed location where legal protection can be added will be given the chance to win one of two £5000 prizes to make improvements to facilities such as children’s play areas.

Douglas White, Head of Advocacy at Carnegie UK Trust, said; “When these grants were made it was a significant sum of money for outdoor recreational spaces across the UK. A requirement of the grant was that the playing fields should remain public areas for the benefit of the community is perpetuity. We want to find as many of these fields as possible and ensure that that they remain legally protected for the local community.”

A pilot study by Fields in Trust looking at London, Surrey, Kent and Middlesex identified 107 grants in the area, and fourteen of those were confirmed to be Carnegie playing fields. The list of established grants will be available online alongside case studies of the newly confirmed sites to help inspire others to get involved. As each location is rediscovered and more details added, the list will be updated.

Kathryn Cook, Partnership & Communications Manager of Fields in Trust, who will be working to improve the legal protection to the sites, said; “Many playing fields in built up areas offer the only green space and safe playing area for children and families. They are places to relax, play sports, or hold community events. Ensuring they are around for future generations is an utmost priority.”

People who do find the ‘lost’ playing fields will have their names associated with the parks they have rediscovered alongside the online list so their efforts are recorded and the thanks of future generations can be given. The best of the photographs will be added to an online gallery where people can view photographs past and present.