BRAMFIELD features in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Bufelda - a settlement held by William The Conqueror’s companion Alan The Red.
Bronze and Iron Age archaeological sites have been identified nearby in east Suffolk.
But despite all that charm Bramfield has - including two churches, two schools, a pub, shop and village hall - what constituted a village green up until now was a small patch of land on which stands a bus shelter, where the Nos 521 and 522 occasionally stop.
All that, though, is changing thanks largely to the generosity and efforts of Oscar-winner Charlie Mackesy, the artist, illustrator, and the best-selling author of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.
Mackesy’s drawings feature the four characters having heartfelt and deep conversations about the meaning of life, universal truths and friendship and touched the hearts of literally millions all around the world.
The book was turned into an animated film, landing Mackesy an Oscar in March of last year.
Last summer, the 61-year-old delighted a packed audience at Thorington Theatre with stories of career as well as producing live drawings live on stage.
His visit was to boost funds to bring Bramfield its own proper village green and the £10,000 it brought in enabled the purchase of the agricultural land - where, fittingly, two horses used to graze - in Bridge Street.
Earlier this month Mackey was back at Thorington - he lives close to the theatre - for two talks. This time, an afternoon and evening one, which boosted funds by around a further £11,000 as organisers bid to complete the project.
“Last year I asked Charlie, who lives in east Suffolk, if he would do a story-telling event to raise money for the village green and he kindly said yes,” said Fi Ryder, trustee of Bramfield Village Hall.
“We thought about where we would like to do it and I love Thorington Theatre. I think it is an amazing space and Charlie agreed it would be an excellent place.
“It was a big ask and I wasn’t expecting it to be so grand in scale. I was thinking something slightly more local and not so big, but the way it has evolved is perfect.
“The design of the show is very much Charlie’s vision. He is a lovely man and we are so grateful to him for doing this. It is a massively generous thing to do in terms of his time and creativity.
“It is wonderful, but I think it is a project that is close to his heart and fits his ethics and approach to the world.
“This is about creating something for the community that is also good for the wildlife. I think those are all things he believes in.
“I bought three copies of Charlie’s book for my children when it was first published, in Southwold’s bookstore, and they’d all been signed.
“I just loved it. There is an accessible sentiment which is, of course, for children but I think adults have so much to learn from it too.
“It is a beautiful book and his drawings are just utterly charming. It is full of really essential values which we are in danger of forgetting.
“I think this [fund-raising campaign] is a great story in terms of making you feel there are still good things going on in the world.
“So many people are just amazing, kind and generous. The community has been phenomenally generous with their donations, including four-figure sums.
“It is not just Charlie, it is the people behind the scenes that make it happen. This year and last year someone brought a horse along and they did that entirely voluntarily.
“And the spirit that comes from this principal act of kindness by Charlie has a fantastic ripple effect and helps bind the community.”
On June 2, villagers gathered on the green at Bridge Meadow for the first time for a picnic and some music.
Explaining how the project came to light, Ms Ryder said: “I was on a community litter pick having recently moved into the village and the lady I was litter-picking with, Jane Edwards, was talking generally about the village and its history and all sorts of things.
“We got onto the field that is practically opposite my house and she was talking about the fact that the village tried to buy it in 2008 and they raised a lot of money and regrettably at the 11th hour the deal fell through, the vendor decided not to sell.
“It was a huge disappointment and the village was very upset about it. The money went back to all the donors and it stayed how it was.
“The official ‘village green’ is a very small piece of grass on which the bus shelter stands.
“We have a thatched bus shelter in Bradfield and it is lovely, but I would say this piece of land is about 15 metres by 15 metres in a sort of triangle shape. It is very small - you really can’t do much on it.”
“Around April a couple of years ago, I saw that this piece of land was being put up for sale. So I contacted Jane and said ‘shall we give it another go?’ and she said ‘why not?’
“Bramfield Village Hall, a registered charity, acquired ownership of it in December. The way it happened is that myself and another resident bought it from several individuals, who had inherited it, and held it for the village to get time to raise the money.
“It terms of the first phase, costs had probably been around £58,000, including the purchase of the land, legal fees and clearing the land up.
“It was Charlie’s event last year that tipped us over and gave us enough to buy the land."
She continued: “We are starting phase two fund-raising now, with obviously the two events with Charlie the first push.
“Our fund at the moment is just shy of £10,000 and we probably need another £60,000 because we expect the play equipment to be £40,000 or maybe even £50,000.
“We have a fantastic landscape design scheme that was created by Ed Flaxman of Studio 31.
“We had a large village meeting and we asked everybody what they wanted to see on the green and we have tried to reflect that in the plan.
“Because the aspiration is for it to be a community space, it clearly has to have something for everyone, not just a playing field.
“There will be some trees, some hedging and wild flowers. That will be costed and then we will start the process of writing for grants and more fund-raising.
"So, if any corporate entities want to get in touch to help us out, please do!”
To donate to the fund, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/bramfield-village-green-fund?member=26386645&sharetype=teams&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer
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