The Magpie Centre Celebrates £57,109 Funding Boost for Outdoor Arena

The Magpie Centre, home of West Norfolk Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), is celebrating after being awarded £57,109.00 in Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding from the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, officially granted on 29th March 2025.

The funding is being used to carry out a full refurbishment of the outdoor arena, with work already underway and due for completion this week. The project is being delivered by AB Equestrian Fencing and Groundwork Ltd, a business local to King’s Lynn, who are installing a brand-new 930m² all-weather riding arena complete with creosoted treated fencing and gates.

The works have involved:

Excavating and removing over 300mm of subsoil.
Installing ground stabilisation membranes with 200mm overlaps.
Laying and compacting around 250 tonnes of equestrian granite to create a free-draining arena base.
Installing 60 metres of new post and rail fencing with sand-retaining boards and gateposts.
Adding a non-woven (200 needle punched) membrane, glued and taped to prevent lifting.
Laying around 200 tonnes of equestrian premier silica sand to a depth of 125mm and compacting.
Blending advanced stabiliser/fibre into the surface for durability and performance.
Hanging new 12ft and 4ft wooden five-bar field gates with all ironmongery.

The outdoor arena has long been a cornerstone of rider development at the Magpie Centre, particularly in dressage training, providing a safe, supportive space for students to build their skills and confidence. It also plays a vital role in the Centre’s partnership with the local Pony Club, hosting the annual Dressage Winter League, which offers riders both from the Centre and the wider community valuable competition experience.

These opportunities have already enabled several RDA riders to progress to the RDA Regional Championships and even the prestigious National Championships at Hartpury. The improved arena will ensure riders of all abilities continue to benefit from the highest-quality facilities.

Scilla Ash – Trustee at the Magpie Centre leading the project said “We are extremely grateful for this CIL funding, which allows us to make a long-term investment in the future of our riders. We’d also like to thank AB Equestrian Fencing and Groundwork Ltd for their expert work in delivering this project. The new arena will give our riders the very best chance to learn, grow, and succeed , from their first lessons right through.”

The Magpie Centre continues to provide life-changing opportunities for children and adults with disabilities across West Norfolk, helping them build confidence, independence, and joy through horses.