Iffley Fields Residents Association (IFRA), in partnership with the City Council, local councillors, Friends of Aston Eyot and our local guerilla gardeners have slowly transformed the Meadow Lane Recreation Ground into a multi-purpose place to relax, meet friends, play sport and exercise thus meeting the varied needs of our local community.

Talking with young people particularly girls, parents and grandparents, we have identified that a couple of picnic tables would be a very welcome addition to the facilities at the Meadow Lane recreation ground. One might be placed near to the skate park and the other at the Jackdaw Lane side of the field approximately opposite the University Sports facilities turning. The costs for one picnic table plus securing 2 cement bases are £1696.60, and an additional VAT charge £339.32. So, for two picnic tables we need to raise a total of £4071.84. We have already raised £2000 and are looking to raise another £2000. (If IFRA is successful in becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, we will be able to avoid VAT).

As the City Council own and manage the land we are required to meet their specifications and use their installers. In the past, many of the successful projects carried out at Meadow Lane Recreation Ground have been a collaboration with a variety of partners but all of them have included crowdfunding. We are again asking for support this project and money to cover the cost.

Many of us have been shocked and saddened by the recent death of Samantha Robertson. Sam was a very sociable outward going person. We may have met her for the first time as she sat or worked in her ground floor flat garden on the corner of Warwick St and Chester St. She was friendly and always had a cheery word. She was also very welcoming to dogs with fresh drinking water available!

She was a very active member of our community. She was on the committee for Iffley Fields Residents Association – IFRA. Sam was a representative for IFRA on the waterways group and later Longbridges Nature area. She was also a Street Connector with a role to welcome new residents, alert them to things of local interest and explain the street WhatsApp system etc.

In recognition of her contribution to our local community and with her family we would like to continue raising the next £500 needed to purchase the tables. There will be small plaque in memory of Samantha Robertson.

Sue Hale, IFRA Chair

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