Recreation Facilities in the Parish

We are fortunate to have some fantastic recreational facilities in the Parish.

• The Amenities Committee is responsible for the upkeep of Woolton Hill recreation ground. This includes the CCTV (which covers the ground, car park and playground) and the tennis court.
• Woolton Hill playground.
• Heath End recreation ground, including the tennis court.

In the summer months, the grass is normally cut twice a month and recreation ground hedges are in line with nesting season restrictions.

The boules court and exercise equipment in the pictures below were paid for with S106 monies received from the Meadow Brook development in Woolton Hill.

New to boules? Here are the rules:

• The game is played between two teams of 1, 2 or 3 players. In singles or doubles each player uses 3 boules, in triples 2 boules per player. For leisure play it’s okay to use 2 boules per player of any number.

• To start, a coin is generally tossed to decide who begins the game and has the right to place the cochonnet (the small ball). If you haven’t got a cochonnet to hand, a stone or cork from a bottle is usual!

• A circle or area is drawn by the winner of the coin toss (or a member of his/her team). When throwing the boule, you must not step out of the ring. The circle should be about 0.5m in diameter and at least 1m from any obstacle.

• Any player from the coin toss winning team then throws the first boule. You’re aim is to get as close as possible to the “cochonnet” but without touching it. Both feet must stay together on the ground and within the circle while throwing and until the boule has landed. Although rarely practiced in friendly games, it’s good to know this rule in case your French opponents want to make the game more serious!

• The winner of the coin toss throws the cochonnet between 4m and 8m, or 6 to 10 paces from the circle in any direction. It must not be closer than 1m from any obstacle or you have to throw again.

• A player from the other team then steps into the circle. Their goal is to throw a boule closer to the cochonnet than their opponent. Or to knock the opponent’s boule away. You must throw within 1 minute of your turn starting.

• The winner or winning team starts the new round.

Usually someone produces a tape measure or some means of rule to identify who is nearest to the cochonnet if it’s not glaringly obvious. Without it there can be lively debate!

If you are interested in joining or forming a team, please contact mark.rand@eastwoodhay-pc.gov.uk