About
Where We Play
We play at the bowling green in Ashwood Park which lies along Bakewell Road (A6) between The Wye Bridge House (Wetherspoons) and Morrisons supermarket.
For sat-nav users, the nearest postcode is SK17 9TB.
Facilities
The green allows a full size croquet lawn, but it is normally laid out to accommodate two smaller lawns, which allows more people to play at the same time.
We have access to a pavilion where tea and coffee and light refreshments are available. There are also toilet facilities.
The club has all the equipment needed to play – balls, mallets, hoops etc.
Our lawns are maintained by Green Thumb.
Parking
There are a few free parking spaces on Bakewell Road (A6), at the north end; otherwise there is a public pay-and-display car park at Sylvan Car Park off the south end of Spring Gardens.
Parking at Morrisons is for customers only.
Membership
Membership is open to people of any age.
New recruits are always welcome – please contact us if you would like to join.
Members play for free.
Members can play any time of the week (excluding open sessions, maintenance sessions or booked matches/tournaments).
All members have a key to the facilities and access to club equipment, and are welcome to bring guests (for a visitor fee).
Coaching is available from our more experienced players.
We hold member social events throughout the year.
Member Fees
If you live within 20 miles of Buxton, our club membership fee for 2026 is £105.50.
This includes a subscription to Croquet England which provides all the necessary insurance cover you will need, and a host of other services.
If you live over 20 miles from Buxton, we have a reduced annual ‘country’ membership fee of £50.
Club History
Buxton Croquet Club formed informally in 2018 as a U3A club playing on a Monday at Cote Heath Bowling Club. Equipment was loaned to us by the Croquet Association.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, croquet was one of the few sporting activities allowed under the regulations, so numbers grew quickly to over 20 active players. There was much demand for additional playing times so, in 2021, we were able to play a couple of extra days a week at Cote Heath.
In 2022, we obtained a licence from High Peak Borough Council to play at the disused Ashwood Park Bowling Green. Some enthusiastic members obtained a mower and quickly brought it up to playing standard, and we now have over 30 active players.
In 2024, we were mysteriously sent ‘The Court Heath Cup’, previously awarded at Buxton Croquet Tournament. Read about our investigations into the cup on our blog post here.
To read about the history of croquet in Buxton, read our blog post here.
Association
Buxton Croquet Club is a member of the East Midlands Croquet Federation, which coordinates clubs in the region, and organises leagues, development and coaching throughout North West England, North Wales and the Isle of Man.
We’re also a member club of Croquet England, which is the governing body for croquet throughout England and Wales.
Committee
| Name | Role | Number | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Matthews | Chairman | am4045@outlook.com | |
| Malcolm Bradbury | Secretary | malcolmbtad01@yahoo.com | |
| Peter Quas-Cohen | Treasurer | peter@conquestgb.com | |
| Julie Holmes | WhatsApp facilitator | 07855 252001 |