Friends of Rufford

Rufford Abbey Country Park has a supporters' group, the Friends of Rufford. We raise funds for improvements, support the park with feedback from the visitor’s eye view, and run social events such as slide shows and talks.

Interested in joining the Friends of Rufford? Membership costs just £10 per year for individuals and £15 for two people at the same address.  Includes free admission to a programme of park events and talks through the year.

Contact our Treasurer, Janet Webb by e-mail: janet.webb663@btinternet.com for more details. Or simply pick up an application form from Rufford Visitor Information.Point.

Here are some projects that we are currently involved in:

Composter Scheme

In 2007 we put in a successful bid to the Lottery's Awards For All scheme. This was to buy a composter machine for the park. It will help the park to to recycle more green waste from landscape maintenence, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill. The group presented a cheque for £8,345 to the park in January 2008. for purchase of the new machine.

Herb Garden Project

The Herb Garden at Rufford Abbey Formal gardens was laid out in the 1980's. Now it's in need of renovation. We aim to replant the Herb Garden and to create some raised beds, so that wheelchair users and the visually impaired can enjoy the scent and texture of herbs. The new planting scheme will explore the many uses to which our traditional English herbs have been put over centuries - from cooking and remedies to brewing and dyeing. We have been granted £20,000 from the County Council's Building Better Communities scheme to carry out this scheme. The old planting has now been cleared and the next stage is to draw up a new planting plan.

Dig In and Lend a Hand

We need volunteers! Join the Friends Group then come along to one of our work weekends to give us a hand. Come all day or just for a couple of hours. Tea provided!

Digging out, building new raised beds, planting... There are lots of jobs to be done. Please contact our Volunteer Development Worker, Betty Ilett, e-mail: bettyilett@btconnect.com for more information on the project. For more details on the work weekends, ring Steve Koefoed tel: 01623 821335.

Read the constitution of the Friends Group.