A NATIONAL charity which safeguards local outdoor spaces for sport, play and recreation has recognised two sites at Sough Park for protection.

Sough Park, between Kelbrook and Earby, will be the first park in Pendle to be awarded two statuses, one which is known as a Centenary Field and the other is an area of the park to be designated a Carnegie Field.

Pendle mayor, Councillor David Whalley, and Mayoress Barbara Whalley recently unveiled the new Fields in Trust plaques at the park.

The Centenary Fields programme, launched in 2014, works in partnership with The Royal British Legion to secure recreational spaces in perpetuity to honour the memory of the millions of people who lost their lives in World War I.

Cllr Mohammed Arshad, who leads on parks for Pendle, said: “It’s fitting that the grand memorial to the fallen of both world wars has been recognised.

“This memorial area will be protected to honour the memory of people from this area who lost their lives in both world wars.”

Holme Playing Field, also at Sough Park, has been found to be one of 900 ‘lost’ Carnegie Fields in the UK, thanks to the research of Bob Abel of Earby Local Historical Society.

Mr Abel said: “The fields were protected as public green spaces by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie’s charitable trust 90 years ago.

“Their aim was to save these areas from future development and the Fields in Trust offers that protection.”

Jamie Leeson from Fields in Trust added: “Green spaces like those at Sough Park are vital to building happy and healthy communities.”