Upper Hopton Community Association recognition: Prestigious Green Flag award ‘means everything’ to villagers with fête on horizon

And the hard-working volunteers of the Upper Hopton Community Association, which tends to the multi-use park on Jackroyd Lane, are celebrating after receiving the prestigious Green Flag Community Award.

The group is one of 20 in Yorkshire and the Humber to have reached the high standards required to receive a coveted Green Flag Award in the community section, as environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy celebrates the 30th anniversary of the scheme.

The Upper Hopton park is regularly used by children in the playground area or in the wildlife garden, whilst there is also a junior football pitch.

Chair of the group, Chris Breare, told the Reporter Series: “It means everything to us. We look after this recreation ground with help from Kirklees, who encouraged us to enter.

“It is for the village and the facilities are for everybody. It is a community park. You never come by when there is nobody in. There is always somebody in it. It is a marvellous facility.”

Chris, who has lived in the village since 1973 and is also involved in the local church as well as being a member of the nearby social club, says the group is now looking forward to welcoming people to the fête on the Recreation Ground next Saturday, July 25 - an event advertised in the village’s famous red telephone box, which was bought by the community for just £1.

She said: “The fête is always a wonderful opportunity. We have been holding it for around ten years now. It is very old fashioned and the park will be full of marques and stalls.

“There will be a bouncy castle, a brass band, children’s games, Katie Philpott School of Dance, and plenty of refreshments.

“It will be a wonderful thing and we hope to get a lot of people coming.”

The Upper Hopton Village Fête will be held on Saturday, July 25, at the Recreation Ground, from 10.30am to 4pm.

Take a look at these photos from the beautiful village of Upper Hopton.