Bidford is a Saxon village in South Warwickshire that sits on the River Avon. It has grown quite considerably during the last years and now has a population of approximately 7000.

The village is blessed with a a number of Public Open Spaces, the largest of this being the Big Meadow, a 26 acre recreational park by the River Avon. There are other play areas scattered round the village as well  as a sports field which became a Field in Trust during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  It also has a Conservation Area. The village still retains a Fire Station, which is a great community asset; Bidford Primary School; Bidford Community Library (saved from closure and managed by volunteers); Crawford Memorial Hall (Bidford Village Hall) and has Anglican, Roman Catholic & Baptist churches. Bidford’s Parish Church, St Laurence, dates back to 1276.  Bidford Bridge, which crosses the River Avon and links Bidford with Barton and Marcliff is considered a Historic Monument.

Bidford is represented by Bidford-on-Avon Parish Council, which also represents the village of Broom, which has its own Village Hall,  and the hamlets of  Barton and Marlcliff. They are all riverside villages with Bidford, Barton and Marlcliff being built on the Avon Riverside and Broom by the River Arrow.  Both Bidford and Broom are mentioned in the well-known Shakespeare drinking rhyme where they are referred to as Drunken Bidford and Beggarly Broom

More details of the amenities on offer in the parish can be found by clicking ‘Around Bidford’ above.

Bidford-on-Avon Parish Council  has been in existence since 1895 and belongs to Stratford-on-Avon District. Its 10 Councillors are elected every 4 years (the latest election year being 2023) and, as the third tier of local government, it is the one closest to its community.

"Bidford rocks!" was a regular comment during lockdown as Bidford's Facebook pages filled with gratitude for so many volunteers in the village.

This included:

• 2,500 shopping deliveries for vulnerable and elderly people
• Hundreds of face masks and laundry bags made
• Pharmacy pick-ups
• Surprise hampers sent to the vulnerable and to care workers,
• Dementia café’s weekly phone calls to members
• Free ice-creams for children of the village and many, many hundreds of other individual acts of kindness by residents of Bidford, Broom, Barton and Marlcliff.

How many of us know about the many regular enthusiastic volunteers we have in our villages such as our Fire-fighters, Dementia Friends, Rubbish Friends, Brownies, Bidford Banners and the Jolly Teapot? Then there’s the Youth Club, Christmas Lights, St John’s ambulance, the Library, the Derby & Joan Club, the Senior Citizens Party Group, Barton Village Fund, the Rotary club and Church groups. Added to that are all those who give their time and enthusiasm to make all the sports and social clubs so successful and inclusive. There are so many people in our community to be thankful for – not all of them known about.

So, after the months of lockdown the Parish Council has decided to celebrate and tap into this community spirit by setting aside a special fund for the village.  The £25,000 "Brighter Bidford” fund has been created as a positive way of demonstrating pride in our parish as well as encouraging visitors to come back to support our businesses when they can.

We’re looking for ideas that will have real impact!

Early suggestions have included improving the look of roads into the village with planters and the sowing of wild flower 'bombs'. The roundabout is already having a general tidy up and we’re working with Warwickshire Highways to try to improve the chevrons.

Residents of Bidford, Broom, Barton and Marlcliff are encouraged to come up with ideas which can be sent to brighterbidford@gmail.com or by post to:

Bidford Parish Council
c/o Post Office,
Salford Road,
Bidford-on-Avon
B50 4AW