PLANS for a second football pitch at Burston Meadows in Bow have been given a huge boost thanks to a donation from Devon Freemasons through the WAKE Fund.

Burston Meadows is a community sports and recreation ground (located opposite the Co-op in Bow) managed by the Bow Recreation Group.

It is home to Bow AAC and two of Copplestone’s youth football teams. The site also supports Bow 1st Scout Group and is available for other community teams and initiatives.

The £1,250 donation, organised by Crediton Freemasons of Unity Lodge, will be used to support works required to generate a second football pitch at the site.

Mark Burrow, Vice-Chair of Bow Recreation Group, said: “We are very pleased and a little overwhelmed to have been nominated for this donation. It has become a recent priority of ours to generate a second football pitch.

"We already have one full-sized pitch which supports two adult teams and two youth teams.

"Having a second pitch will allow us to spread the playing out a bit and will ensure that the pitches each remain in a good state and with the proper care, will last for years to come.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to Crediton Freemasons for their nomination and to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Devonshire for awarding our project this wonderful donation.”

Lee Fallows, resident of Bow and Freemason, said: “It has been a fantastic opportunity for Freemasonry to support a local community initiative. Charity is at the very heart of Freemasonry and being able to witness it having such a positive effect in my local community is heart-warming.”

Stan Matthews, Worshipful Master of Unity Lodge, said: “We are so pleased to be able to support Burston Meadows.

"Community is important to us all, especially during these turbulent and uncertain times.

"We have a fantastic Lodge in Crediton – with 2020 being our 150th anniversary year.

"We have supported the local community for 150-years and we will continue to do so for the next 150-years and beyond.”

The Burston Meadows project is not the first scheme in Bow to benefit from a donation by Crediton Freemasons.

In October last year, Bow AAC was provided with a donation to help with the purchase of portable goals to support the team’s training, while Bow 1st Scout Group also received funding, both donations coming directly from the Unity Lodge in Crediton.