Berryfield
Berryfield is a community of about 1,000 people in the parish of Melksham Without. Although expansion in Melksham has made it physically closer to the town it is still a separate community with its own identity. Berryfield has its own public house and play area. Although the village shop closed, it re-opened as a very successful Pram and Baby Shop. There is also a thriving café next door. Berryfield was largely developed during the war when houses in Berryfield Park were built for the WRAFS who used to march up Shails Lane to the main RAF Station at Bowerhill. Berryfield now has a thriving Action Group; the Berryfield and Semington Road Action Group, with its own newsletter. A temporary meeting place has been erected near the Play Area which is very well used. A working group has been set up which in 2010 submitted plans for a permanent purpose built hall. Planning permission was granted in 2011.
There are now plans to route a new section of the Wilts and Berks Canal through Berryfield. One alignment passes right through the existing temporary village hall. Until the route for the new Wilts & Berks canal is finnaly decided, the plans for a new village hall are at a stand still.
The Duchess of Cornwall doing the first cut of the Wilts & Berks Canal 28th August, 2010
The Duchess of Cornwall at the official launch of Wilts & Berks Canal
The Play Area had been refurbished with up to date equipment including the provision of a youth shelter.
New Briansfield Allotments
The council allotments have always been at Berryfields. Over the past few years, as the economic climate has become harsher, the demand for allotments has increased. A couple of years ago, when there were at least 35 people on the waiting list, the Parish Council decided to search for an additional allotment site. The Council was delighted when local farmer Mr Trevor Guley offered a piece of land early in 2010, which would provide another 36 plots; 32 at five perches and 4 at two and a half perches.
It was with great joy and celebrations, that the new Briansfield allotments were officially jointly opened on Tuesday, 6
th September, 2011 by the Chair of MWPC Cllr Mike Mills and Mrs Susan Gray, a member of the Guley family. The tenants are enjoying the new facility and there is a great spirit of camaraderie between them all.
Click Here for a brief history of Berryfield
