22 November 2025
We are thrilled to announce Joanne Cheek, Treasurer of the Bedgrove Residents & Community Association (BRCA), as this year's Green Flag Award Best of the Best UK 'Volunteer of the Year'!
We are thrilled to announce Joanne Cheek, Treasurer of the Bedgrove Residents & Community Association (BRCA), as this year's Green Flag Award UK Best of the Best 'Volunteer of the Year'! Joanne's dedication and perseverance have resulted in the delivery of an incredible, much-needed new facility for Bedgrove Park in Aylesbury: a brand-new pump track.
A Two-Year Journey of Community Partnership
In a challenging climate of decreasing local authority budgets for parks and increasing demand for quality facilities, Joanne's work stands as a shining example of what community-led projects can achieve through effective partnership.
Over two tireless years, Joanne project-managed the entire design and build of the pump track. This was a complex, community-led endeavour in partnership with Buckinghamshire Council, requiring a wide array of skills.
Her key contributions included:
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Community engagement: Setting up a dedicated user group to inform and shape the design of the pump track, ensuring it met the needs of park users.
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Fundraising success: Leading a successful fundraising campaign that secured over £117,000 from multiple sponsors, including HS2, The National Lottery Community Fund, Fairhive, and the Aylesbury Vale Lions Club. This was the most significant obstacle, and Joanne’s dedication, which included attending bid writing courses, was instrumental in overcoming it.
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Project administration: Overseeing the entire administrative and contractual process, including managing the planning application (including Biodiversity Net Gain requirements), appointing the contractor, and serving as the 'contract administrator'.
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Completion and celebration: Managing the entire build and orchestrating the official opening event for the new facility.
Meeting a Critical Community Need
The demand for a pump track was initially highlighted by the unauthorised building of a track in the Woodland Spinney, which was having a detrimental impact on the area's trees and wildlife. Working with stakeholders, Joanne helped channel this energy into a legitimate, well-planned, and sustainable project.
The final facility provides a vital provision previously unavailable in Aylesbury, actively encouraging physical activity, community engagement, and outdoor fun for people of all ages.
Furthermore, Joanne’s commitment to the park extends beyond the pump track. She successfully submitted a bid to the Woodland Trust for a wildlife pack of 420 trees to be planted in the park this November. Additionally, the project itself includes the planting of 7 new trees as part of the planning condition (Biodiversity Net Gain requirements), further benefiting wildlife and park users.
An Asset to the Town
This project would have remained a mere aspiration for the Council and the community had Joanne not dedicated her time and energy to driving it forward. Her work, which included continuous engagement with residents who had concerns and diligently working with the Council's Legal Team on crucial agreements like the Licence for Access/Works, ensured its successful and compliant delivery.
Joanne Cheek's tireless work demonstrates the vitally important role of dedicated external volunteer groups in delivering high-quality green spaces in challenging times. Her passion and perseverance have created a real asset, not just for Bedgrove Park, but for the entire town of Aylesbury.
We extend our deepest congratulations to Joanne—a truly deserving winner of the Green Flag Award Volunteer of the Year!
