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With the recent planting of the final planned tranche of trees and completion of a rustic stone cairn, the main tasks of the Forbes Field project, launched in January 2022, have now been accomplished. From 2025 onwards, work will switch principally to the maintenance of the Field as a valued village asset. In the meantime, this report describes our latest activities.

Over a dozen volunteers from the Management Group and the Friends of Forbes Field turned out to our Field Day on Saturday, 16 November. Although representing a smaller number than in previous sessions, a lot was achieved by this gallant band, kindly reinforced by Janey Whipp’s parents, who were visiting Chilmark. Work undertaken included: the replacement of three poorly Cherries in the Orchard; the planting of four Field Maples and three Silver Birches in the high, southwestern, corner of the Field; the clearing of tree bases and hedgerows of weeds to give trees and young whips a better chance of future growth; and not least the strimming of a number of areas to tidy up the Field and its entrance area. And not forgotten, switching off the water supply at the roadside stopcock. As a result, the Field is now ready for winter.

Wednesday, 20 November saw us complete the rustic stone cairn located near the highest point of the Field. It now features an elegant plaque donated by the Forbes family that simply states: ‘Forbes Field Given to Chilmark in 2008 by Diana Forbes who lived here for over 70 years’. Looking over the cairn, visitors will enjoy not only a fine view of the Field but also one of the village as a whole, just as Diana Forbes intended sixteen years ago. That said, we still have a little landscaping to do in this corner of the Field, which we’ll undertake next year. We anticipate that the area in the vicinity of the cairn will become a pleasant picnic spot in summer months, with the newly planted Silver Birches and Field Maples providing a pleasing backcloth and shade in the years to come.

In closing, and on behalf of all members of the Management Group, I would like to thank most sincerely all those who have supported the Forbes Field project so enthusiastically and effectively over the past three years. The results of this great community effort are now plain to see and to experience: please visit the Field and be prepared to assist us in sustaining it as an accessible and attractive place for all in Chilmark to enjoy long into the future. We have some fun events in store!

Mungo Melvin
Chair, Forbes Field Management Group