Bishopswood Village Hall, near Ross-on-Wye, held an open day to celebrate National Village Hall week on Saturday, January 27th with local residents invited to see showcases of the activities held at the hall.

Village Hall Week is an initiative created by England’s largest network of rural community support organisations - ACRE. The annual, week-long, celebration is a chance to say a collective “thank-you” to all volunteers who work tirelessly to keep community buildings and village halls open for the benefit of residents living in rural communities.

Local Village Hall advisor for Community First, Richard Timney, attended the celebrations to say a big thank you to the dedicated local people running the hall.

Richard said: “Village Halls are the cornerstone of many rural communities. They provide opportunities for people to meet socially, stay in touch with neighbours, get fit, learn new things or pursue hobbies and interests. These days the village hall is often the only community asset left in a village with Post Offices, shops and pubs closing all over the place. This event at Bishopswood was a chance for me to say how much their services are appreciated.”