Ravenfield
Encyclopedia
Ravenfield is a small village and civil parish
in South Yorkshire
, England
. It is located in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham
, 3.3 miles (5.3 km) east of the town of Rotherham
. The older part is a former farming village and over recent years has become a pretty rural community; it has been particularly successful in the Britain in Bloom
competitions. It has a population of 2,018.
The old village is situated in a fold in the hills just below the 1756 church of St. James close to the site of the now demolished Ravenfield Hall and adjacent to Ravenfield Park. The estate was sold in 1920 when the park was broken into separate farms. Many of the old barns have been demolished or converted into homes.
Ravenfield old Village Garden Society was created in 1987 with the aim of improving the local environment. In the early days the village lacked colour and there were very few publicly planted areas. Fortunately most of the gardens were very well tended and colourful. It soon became apparent that entering the Yorkshire in Bloom competition led to greater awareness of the potential and diversity of the local environment and a concerted effort has been made ever since to improve it following the RHS guidelines on community, environment, sustainability and horticulture. The village has represented Yorkshire in the national Britain in Bloom competition winning medals on three occasions. In 2008 the village won a gold medal as well as best in category. Fund-raising activities to provide the floral displays throughout the village includes barn dance
s, quiz
zes, a bonfire
celebration and an annual carol singing event. These are all well supported by local residents.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is located in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham
Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham
The Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham is a metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. It is named for its largest town, Rotherham, but also spans the outlying towns of Maltby, Rawmarsh, Swinton, Wath-upon-Dearne, as well as a suburban and rural element composed of hills, escarpments and...
, 3.3 miles (5.3 km) east of the town of Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
. The older part is a former farming village and over recent years has become a pretty rural community; it has been particularly successful in the Britain in Bloom
Britain in Bloom
RHS Britain in Bloom, supported by Anglian Home Improvements, is the largest horticultural campaign in the United Kingdom. It was first held in 1963, initiated by the British Tourist Board based on the example set by Fleurissement de France. It has been organised by the Royal Horticultural Society ...
competitions. It has a population of 2,018.
The old village is situated in a fold in the hills just below the 1756 church of St. James close to the site of the now demolished Ravenfield Hall and adjacent to Ravenfield Park. The estate was sold in 1920 when the park was broken into separate farms. Many of the old barns have been demolished or converted into homes.
Ravenfield old Village Garden Society was created in 1987 with the aim of improving the local environment. In the early days the village lacked colour and there were very few publicly planted areas. Fortunately most of the gardens were very well tended and colourful. It soon became apparent that entering the Yorkshire in Bloom competition led to greater awareness of the potential and diversity of the local environment and a concerted effort has been made ever since to improve it following the RHS guidelines on community, environment, sustainability and horticulture. The village has represented Yorkshire in the national Britain in Bloom competition winning medals on three occasions. In 2008 the village won a gold medal as well as best in category. Fund-raising activities to provide the floral displays throughout the village includes barn dance
Barn dance
A barn dance is any kind of dance held in a barn, but usually involves traditional or folk music with traditional dancing. It is a type of dance, originating in America and popular in Britain in the late 19th century and early 20th, derived from Schottische...
s, quiz
Quiz
A quiz is a form of game or mind sport in which the players attempt to answer questions correctly. In some countries, a quiz is also a brief assessment used in education and similar fields to measure growth in knowledge, abilities, and/or skills.Quizzes are usually scored in points and many...
zes, a bonfire
Bonfire
A bonfire is a controlled outdoor fire used for informal disposal of burnable waste material or as part of a celebration. Celebratory bonfires are typically designed to burn quickly and may be very large...
celebration and an annual carol singing event. These are all well supported by local residents.