Chigwell, Essex
Welcome
Grange Farm Centre is a 90-acre community facility and charity located in Chigwell, Essex.
The scenic site is extremely popular with residents from Essex and North London, who find the facility an ideal setting for sporting, recreational and educational pursuits. The four top-quality football pitches are in high demand, the Pelican Playground is extremely popular with local parents and children, whilst walkers and wildlife enthusiasts come from all across Essex to explore the Roding Valley Nature Reserve. There is lots to do!
An architectural award-winning pavilion nestles in the heart of Grange Farm and is an impressive venue for clubs and groups to meet. Home Team, Colebrook Royals Football Club, always receive compliments from the opposition on the surrounding scenery of Chigwell and Essex and also the great viewing areas of the playing surfaces for spectators.
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The pavilion has two meeting rooms which are perfect for meetings, classes, corporate events, presentations, exhibitions, team building, workshops and corporate days.
Watch A Short Video Showing Our Fantastic Facility
If you fancy a good walk, you can wind your way along the meandering pathways of Chigwell Meadows which is accessible to all. You will discover a haven for wildlife including deer, hedgehogs, stoats, bees, great crested newts and foxes together with a variety of birds. The meadows are home to a unique swale running centrally through the reed beds into a pond with its aquatic life.
The Roding Valley Nature Reserve is a great family day out for those interested in nature and walks in the outdoors. The 160-acre site is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust and is the ‘go-to place’ for lovers of ancient trees, bird watching, butterflies, wildflowers and those who love great walks with stunning views. Visitors are encouraged to explore the beauty of this ancient landscape that has been recognised by being granted a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and to learn about its fascinating history.
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Bring your nursery, school or college to the Grange Farm Centre to explore the great outdoors and develop practical skills through programmes linked to the curriculum. We are a fantastic resource for activities such as orienteering, bushcraft and habitat exploration such as pond dipping and minibeast surveys. Our activities can be adapted to a wide range of groups.
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We hope you enjoy learning more about Grange Farm Centre and what's on from our website and please feel free to make contact via phone or email if you would like further information.
(Interested parties should contact the office for more information)
Find out about a 'Day in the Life' of our
Head Groundsman, Tom Hyde
(as part of #Groundsweek)
Tom tells us what his typical day is like, the challenges he faces in the job and why people should pay Grange Farm a visit.
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1. Please Introduce yourself and tell us how long you’ve been involved with the Grange Farm Centre
This is my sixth year working as the Head Groundsman/Deputy Site Manager at the Grange Farm Centre in Chigwell. I have a Level 3 City and Guilds Diploma in Sports Turf management and am currently studying for an RHS qualification in Horticulture.
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2. What’s your typical day like?
My typical day changes with the seasons. The weather conditions and available daylight hours often have a big influence on what I am doing and when. At the moment I will arrive between 7 and 8am and the first job will be to feed our three sheep which also gives me the opportunity to walk around the site and check everything is ok and make a note of any tasks that need doing. I will then turn my attention to the football pitches. That could be divoting, brushing, mowing or marking out depending on the day of the week. We’ve always got a number of ongoing projects and I’ll use the afternoon to continue the work on one or more. Recently we’ve been clearing an area of woodland which will be used by the local Scout group as well as.............................
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