Save Castle Fields Campaign Newsletter - April 2026 |
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The latest from Berkhamsted Castle Trust, keeping you up to date on progress to secure Castle Fields. |
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Our fundraising is still heading in the right direction with lots of activites and events planned over the summer months.
This month we received our first generous donation from a well-wisher from who lives in Vermont, USA. She is a lifelong supporter of land conservation efforts and has visited Berkhamsted and the Castle several times over the years and appreciates its important role in English history. |
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We are currently exploring ways of harnessing more help on this international scale. Please do get in touch if you can help in this area.
The remaining challenge is still huge with a massive £356,871 to raise in the next 17 months. |
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what3words - Save Your Space launch - YOU'RE INVITED |
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Join us in the Fields, 3-5pm on Saturday 6 June!
To help celebrate those who have donated to save Castle Fields and help encourage others to contribute, we are launching the Save Your Space initiative, showing how every donation is helping to protect our historic green land. |
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We have virtually divided up all of Castle Fields into over 14,000 3m x 3m squares using what3words. People can now choose how much they wish to donate or space to save, and we allocate their sponsored spaces for them to visit - £39 per 3m x 3m space.
All donations received so far are being allocated spaces, and if they wish, may add their name and a message to be shown on our interactive map which will visually present our progress and support.
Join us to launch Save Your Space and celebrate how much has been raised so far on Saturday 6 June, 3-5pm in Castle Fields with fellow donors and campaigners. Bring your own drinks and picnics, and enjoy a surprise performance.
After launch the interactive map will be live and all donations will be allocated spaces. Spaces will also be available for sponsorship via our market stall on 14 June. |
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Castle Fields start for the Chiltern Ridge Classic 50k run |
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One of the best examples of the fields being available and open to the community enabled 300 runners taking part in the Chiltern Ridge Classic 50-kilometre run to start at the bottom of Castle Fields. It was a sight to see and our own wizard film maker Jeff Naylor captured this short clip which will later be integrated into a 20-minute history film of the Castle Fields Campaign. |
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BCA Gardeners’ Question Time – in aid of Castle Fields |
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Berkhamsted Citizens Association are hosting a Gardeners’ Question Time on May 7th in aid of Castle Fields. 7pm–9pm at Berkhamsted Town Hall. Tickets are just £5 on the door.
With a panel of expert gardeners including Zora Tyrone, Head Gardener at Ashridge House and plants to buy, this is a go-to event for all you gardeners out there.
For all information click here. |
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Music Event with Madalina Tudoran |
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Another BCA event in support of the Fields sees Madalina Tudoran and guest singers accompanied on the piano by the music director of the Castle Choir, Bertha Kum.
Saturday 9th May, 3pm, in the Town Hall. Tickets are £10 and available on the door. |
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| | . We’ll be at the Artisan Market on Sunday May 10th from 9.30am to 3.30pm to continue generating awareness and provide information about the Fields and our campaign. Please drop by or if you can lend a hand, please contact Simon at simon.lewis6@btconnect.com. |
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Another date for the diary – Saturday 6th June, 10.00am - 2.30pm, we will be supporting the Big Green Week initiative with our stall at the Eco Fair in the Civic Centre. |
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Crusaders, Murders and Ghosts! |
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Due to popular demand Dan Parry has added a new date to his Castle Fields Guided Walks: Crusaders, Murders and Ghosts! Sunday 28th June, 10am: Meet at the Castle Gate
Further walk also for the last May weekend: The Curse of the Bridgewaters, Sunday 31 May, 10am – Meet at the Ashridge House Car Park. |
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Book via 0794 2321901 – max. 4 places per booking. All walks are approx. 2 hours and cost £15, £10 seniors/students, £5 kids 5-16, (little ones go free), payment by cash or card with all proceeds going to Berkhamsted Castle Trust, supporting the Saving Castle Fields appeal. |
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Foggy Bottom Street Party in aid of the Fields Saturday 2nd May 3-8pm
Next time we write I expect to be able to share with you the success of the Foggy Bottom Street Party.
Why Foggy Bottom? It’s the old name for the area around Chapel Street , Bridge Street, Manor Street and Ravens Lane. The community here have a track record of enjoying a street party whether to celebrate a Royal Wedding, a Coronation or VE Day and many are regular users and supporters of the Castle Fields and the campaign, so no excuse was needed really for food, music fun and fundraising.
Contact foggybottomberko@gmail.com if you’d like to join in.
Tickets are £20 for adults, 10-17 £10 and 5-9 £5 and include 2 drinks and a BBQ. |
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These words from a donor
“I should say first that I’m quite emotionally invested in your project and have kept a close eye on your fantastic progress. I’ve lived in Berkhamsted my whole life and have so many fond memories of cutting through Castle Fields with friends, family, or just my dog on the way to the Alford Arms – or even Aldbury on a good day!
I remember feeling pretty frustrated when those gates went up, so I still have a little internal “whoop” every time I walk past where they used to be.”
Matt from The Boat We “whoop” with you Matt. As always, a huge thank you goes to everyone who has donated and helped us get this far. Please continue to support us with this enormous challenge. |
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Thank you to Mark Granger for this early morning picture of the deer enjoying their right to roam. |
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Thank You for Your Continued Support |
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| Please continue to help spread the word to #SaveCastleFields @BerkoCastle
Best wishes, James and the Castle Team |
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