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The Group

Friends of Borstal Open Spaces was formed in 2006 by the people of Borstal, the outcome of a successful campaign in 2005 by the village to stop the loss and development of the Borstal Recreation ground which, is our only local informal open space which is used by walkers, the local football team Real 60 and many other stakeholders.

Borstal Open Spaces was set up with the following 3 aims: 

     a) to co-operate with Medway Council Open Spaces and Ranger Depts. To Ensure that 

         Borstal Recreation Grounds ("Shorts Way" fields) and including Baty's Marsh are 

         protected from the threat of development in the future and kept as public open  

         spaces.

     b) To liaise with the designated Council Officials to present ideas relating to the  

         recreational use of this area for the benefits of all users, whether for official sports or 

         causal use and to enhance the environmental value of the area.

     c) If when other open spaces become accessible to the public, to consider incorporating 

         such spaces into a) and b) above.

To see a full copy of our constitution please click here    Constitution

Part of these fields were once part of what was "Manor Farm" (the farm no longer exists and the Manor House which remained, was demolished around 1960) and the other part was known as "Riverside sport ground" which was used by the Mathematical school as their school football ground. The Short Brothers had a seaplane factory on the esplanade and on the 9th December 1948 Sir Hugh Oswald Short, gifted the shorts way fields to the Mayor Alderman & the Citizens of the city of Rochester to be used as a open space and playing fields, by deed of gift of which BOSS have a photocopy. There was at one time a plaque positioned on the site which read -

The Oswald Short Playing Fields

Hugh Oswald Short Esq. & Freeman of the City of Rochester

 on the 9th day of December 1948

gave this land to the city for the purpose of playing fields

Borstal Recreation Ground now owned and managed by Medway Council is used by our local football team Real 60 and for the pleasure and recreation of the local residents and for other people living in the Medway towns. It is a popular site for young children as there is also a children's playground on the Manor Lane side of the site. The site is also used by, dog walkers, runners, teenagers and walkers. The site is a well used and busy open space, and is a very important asset for the Medway towns especially at this current time with the over development of Medway. 

Unfortunately in ? the the old cricket pavilion was burnt down on the shorts way field and then in ? the Pavilion which was built in ? was also damaged in fire, in ? the Medway council decided to pull what was left of the pavilion down rather that repair it. Then in 2004 Medway Council put forward plans to build a new school on the recreation ground and close the two current local schools St Mathews and Borstal Manor and sell the land of the two schools off for housing development. A campaign was launched by the local people including parents of the school children who it would effect, to stop Medway Council building and restricting access to the public on our only informal open space in Borstal. In 2005 after a successful campaign by the people of Borstal Medway Council decided to reject the proposal by the LEA. 

Borstal Open Spaces are currently lobbying Medway Council to get a new permanent pavilion built.

Which was once called Borstal Marsh is the local salt marsh which runs parallel to the Recreation Ground. 

Baty's Marsh is the local salt marsh and is particularly special as it is unusual for a salt marsh to form this far up from the mouth of the river approx. 14 miles and salt marsh is special because salt marsh will have different type of flora, fauna and wildlife  to what you will find on fresh water marsh land further up river. 

In 1983 Medway Council put forward plans to turn the "Borstal Marsh" into a Ice rink and sports complex, the council were eventually thwarted by strong local protest and a local man called Mr Bob Baty's took out a court injunction to prevent the development of the site of this special site. After years of uncertainty about the future of the Marsh the local council decided to preserve the site and was designated a " Local Nature Reserve" in 1986. Rod Hull & Emu officially open the site as a LNR along with local school children in 1988. In 1991 Rev. John King christened the marsh with its new name "Baty's Marsh" in honour of the late Mr Bob Baty's who did so much to ensure the marsh was preserved from development, following the ceremony a public clear up too place and new seats and information boards where put in place. 

The Centenary Walk Footpath runs from Rochester and to beyond Wouldham following the path of the River Medway part of the the footpath runs in-between Borstal Recreation Ground and Baty's Marsh. This part of the footpath is lined with trees and is a important habitat for Wildlife. Over the last 2 years Borstal open spaces has been carry out tree works with Medway Council. 

At one time the banks of the River Medway were scattered with Cement works and at one time the Medway was one of the major cement producer, notably the cement that rebuild San Francisco after the major earthquake in 1906 was a product of the local cement works which was shipped over to the US. There are many visible remnants to be found and seen of the once Major industry which was part of the Medway towns and the "Old Chalk Pit" is one of theses. 

The chalk pit is positioned at the back of the top field of the Borstal recreation ground, behind the houses on Mansel drive. This pit was once part of the Manor Cement works, which at one time was owned by the same man who owned Manor Farm. When Manor Cement works ceased the pit was left like many other that can be found in this part of the country. The pit is now fenced and there is no public access as it is two dangerous, the pit was used as a dumping ground when the builders, built the houses on Mansel drive, but at one time there were tunnels leading to the pit. But the pit is full of trees, plants, and lots of wildlife.