Grant funding from Alnwick Town Council for tennis and bowls clubs and community orchard

A £1,000 grant has enabled Alnwick Tennis Club to complete a major project to improve access to the courts.

Landlord Northumberland Estates also recently restored the stone wall bordering the access path at the back of the courts which had been in a state of disrepair.

Dr Ernie Harpur, chair of the club’s management committee, said: “We are very grateful to Alnwick Town Council for their grant of £1,000 towards the cost of improvements to the path at the back of our courts which together with the reconstructed wall which will greatly improve access to the courts.

"In addition to the grant from Alnwick Town Council, we have also received funding from Northumberland Estates, Alnwick Lions and Northumberland County Council Community Chest.

“The tennis club is determined to fulfil its goals are to promote, and facilitate the playing of tennis in Alnwick and the surrounding area and to encourage and support junior participation, enjoyment and development in the sport. The club is committed to improving and developing the venue for the local community and visitors to the town.”

For many years the club played on the tennis courts at the old Duchess’s High School but moved to the former council-run public tennis courts on Prudhoe Street around 15 years ago.

A £1,000 grant has also enabled Alnwick Bowling club to carry out essential electrical repairs. An ageing fuse box has been replaced and the electric supply to an outdoor cabin and external power sockets have been improved.

Meanwhile, a £600 grant will enable a community orchard to create a social area which will accommodate an accessible table. The work involved includes levelling the area, the laying of a permeable surface material and the provision of sleepers to edge the area.

The Friends of Moorlands Community Orchard aims to develop connections within the local community through activities and events, as well as educating about organic planting, wildlife and increasing biodiversity on the land which is near the Chapel Lands estate. In the three years since community orchard group was formed they have planted 60 fruit trees, hung bird boxes and brought the community together with a number of activities.