Mondelēz International has invested more than £200,000 into restoring The Girls’ Recreation Ground, located in the heart of Bournville, as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations of Cadbury.
The Girls’ Recreation Ground, established almost 130 years ago, is being restored thanks to the significant sum from Mondelēz International. The area, located directly opposite Bournville Place, now boasts brand-new pathways whilst the iconic rose pergola also forms part of the renovation, which colleagues and the local Bournville community use as part of daily life.
To celebrate the completed restoration, 220 colleagues and families within the local community got together on Saturday 30 March to enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt experience on the refurbished grounds. The Girls' Recreation Ground came into existence in 1896, a year after Cadbury acquired the Bournbrook Hall Estate, where the Bournville factory was built, and continues to exist to-date.
In 1896, the Bournbrook Hall gardens of around 12 acres, were allocated for the recreational use of female workers – now known as ‘The Girls' Recreation Ground’. A further 12 acres to the west were provided for recreational use for male workers – now known as ‘the Rec’.
Historically, the space was used for activities including amateur dramatics, Scottish dancing and for recreational and leisure time, which was important to George and Richard Cadbury. Today, the refurbished Girls’ Recreation Ground remains open to Mondelēz International colleagues and the local community, for people to use at their leisure.
Kelly Farrell, community and sustainability manager at Mondelēz International, said: “The Cadbury brothers were extremely passionate about the welfare of their employees and communities, and The Girls Recreation Ground is just one example of their ethos.
“We’re committed to investing in our local communities, and as well as celebrating the 200th anniversary of Cadbury this year, we are investing in our local communities, including some of our heritage assets within Bournville, such as The Girls’ Recreation Ground. We’re proud to be restoring this historic site, creating a welcoming environment for the local community to use and enjoy for many years to come.”
Since 1924, Cadbury has journeyed from its humble origins as a small grocery shop, to a factory in a garden and finally to the Cadbury who all know today. This year, the iconic brand is celebrating its milestone 200th anniversary.
