The annual Bedford Girls’ School lacrosse match between the 1^st XII and Alumnae team – last Wednesday (7^th September) – marked the opening of the state-of-the-art Cople Fields sporting facility.

Cople Fields boasts six full size lacrosse pitches, which will also be used for rounders, and a modern pavilion, offering large changing rooms and an impressive viewing gallery.

As one of the UK’s premier girls’ schools for sports, Bedford Girls’ School is looking forward to hosting regional and national lacrosse tournaments at Cople Fields.

“Cople Fields is a wonderful new addition to the School’s estate, and will help cement our reputation as a leading school for sport,” said Bedford Girls’ School Headmistress Miss MacKenzie, who witnessed a 10-4 win for the 1^st XII in the company of more than 200 members of the School’s community.

“We play lacrosse at a high level nationally and it is important that we have the room to host regional competitions and tournaments. Cople is a stunning site and there is a real sense of excitement within the Bedford Girls’ School community about the facility.”

Granted planning permission in the summer of 2014, the School enlisted the services of Northamptonshire-based S.A.C. Construction Ltd to construct the new sporting facility on the 30-acre site, sitting on the outskirts of the village.

In addition to laying new pitches and building the pavilion, the two-year project has included undertaking an archaeological survey, managing the migration of Greater Crested Newts to a newly created pond, planting a community orchard and installing swift boxes. The site will also be used as an outdoor learning space, providing pupils with an alternative environment to study in.

Miss MacKenzie added: “Cople Fields is much more than just lacrosse pitches, in the summer it will provide us with a wonderful venue for holding rounders tournaments, and all year round the girls and teachers will be able to make full use of the area.

“We are very thankful to Cople village for their support and we look forward to inviting the village school to use the resources at Cople Fields.”

To see a range of images of the opening of Cople Fields, click here.