To walk on our Oval back field and woods requires an Oval Dog Permit. The minimum donation for the permit for 1st March 2024 to 28th Feb 2025 is £80.

1. Fill out Dog Walker Permit Request Form:

MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING:

Between Youth With A Mission and Dog Walking Permit Holders:

Please read carefully and ensure that anyone else who walks your dog at the Oval has also read and understood these terms. 

Highfield Oval is privately owned by Youth With A Mission. The site has no public right of access and there is no intention on the part of the owner to designate it as such. Dog walking may only be undertaken by permit holders and acceptance of the permit requires the holder to agree to the following terms and conditions. Youth With A Mission reserves the right to recall the permit of any dog-walker not complying with this agreement.    

Permit holders are required to make a payment towards the cost of maintaining Highfield Oval. YWAM maintains the woods and keeps them safe for use by the public, but we are a charity and your payment makes a valuable contribution to the upkeep of the site.  The minimum donation is £80.00 for the year.  

Please be aware that the field and woodland constitute a rural area, and pest control is a part of our responsibility for managing the area. The government established body of “Natural England” recognizes the need for human predation to keep the population of certain pest species under control. From time to time persons authorised by the owners will be culling in the woodland. On these occasions a sign will be posted on the gate at the point of entry. Anyone who wishes to avoid the sounds of shooting nearby should not enter the woods when the sign is posted. Shooting is not permitted in the wood except by those few authorised to do so by Youth With A Mission. 

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

• Permit holders agree to abide by the posted regulations regarding the use of the site. Dogs are only allowed in the back fields and woods (and in certain seasons the back field only). No dogs are permitted on the Oval road and grass, or around the residential buildings.
• Permit holders agree to not hold Youth with A Mission liable for any injury or damage to person, property or animals.
• Entry is by the back gate only, during the hours of admission posted. However, during building works this is subject to change at YWAM’s discretion.
• Dog-walkers arriving by park should park in any available spaces near the Factory or Clock Building.  Please be aware that the Oval is very busy week days and we cannot guarantee parking availability. Cars are not allowed on the field except with permission.
• Dogs must be kept under the control of their owner and not allowed to wander outside the designated areas. You are requested to be aware of other users on the site, particularly school children and others who use the playing fields and fitness classes with babies and direct your dog away from them.
• All dogs must not be allowed to foul the playing fields.
• All dog waste must be removed from the premises. A dog waste bin is provided outside the back gate for your convenience and is maintained by the town council. Dog waste must not be deposited in bins located on the Oval or thrown in the surrounding fields.
• Permit holders must wear their permit in a lanyard around their neck or have the dog tag on your lead, when walking the dog on the site so that they can be easily identified as a registered dog walker.  YWAM staff have the right to check your permit/ lanyard and you may be asked to leave the property if you do not have this to hand.
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• Description automatically generated with medium confidenceYouth With A Mission reserves the right to close the site for events and other purposes. Every effort will be made to give advance notice of closures.
• You can sign up to the Facebook group “Friends of Highfield Oval” for the latest information on site closures and other information about our property. 

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