Culture, sports and leisure activities are important ingredients for quality of life, especially for their health, learning and social inclusion aspects. Their compass is very broad with sporting, recreational, musical and artistic endeavours all included. Engagement takes place at many different levels from hobbyists right up to career professionals.

There are a good number of active sports clubs in the area, and community and school facilities are also well used by different groups. The demand on existing facilities and the requirements of new legislation have led to a backlog of updating and improvement works. In addition, the increase in population and growth of tourism are driving demands for a new multi-purpose, all-weather recreation centre in Tavistock.

The open landscape of the Tavistock area is well suited for many outdoors activities, most popularly walking, cycling and riding. Such recreation is enhanced when local traditions are appreciated so historic buildings, interpretation panels and other features all have a key role to play. At a deeper level of expertise, there is wide scope to research and develop new displays for the various museums.

Culturally, the Tavistock area has a strong artistic and musical base, with regular exhibitions and performances being staged in a number of fine venues. There is, however, a demand for more workshop and studio space and a need to strengthen the co-ordination and promotion of events. In the public arena, there is room for more street theatre, sculpture, crafted furniture and other artwork. This could be linked with aims to improve parks and play areas.

Meeting halls continue to provide a mainstay for community life, especially in the villages. They vary greatly in their age and condition. The best halls are thriving, being used for a wide range of functions including business meetings; at the same time some of the older halls are clearly not meeting local needs and are well overdue for replacement.

Against this background, the Tavistock and Villages Initiative will work to:

Strategic aims	Supporting projects	Health Check references
Create more studio, workshop and practice spaces	Princetown corner site Lopwell pumping station Music rehearsal space	Adequacy of facilities for local arts groups
Co-ordinate and promote events	Events calendar Music Festival	Town centre management Events having the potential to draw the whole community together Strong cultural associations in the area
Develop and improve community facilities	Crowndale Recreational Site Lamerton Sports and Community Centre Lydford Community Hall The Princetown Village Centre Fillace Park Business Support Centres	Condition and use of sports and leisure facilities Demand for specific sports or leisure facilities not currently satisfied Types and usage of parks and play areas Threats to provision of open spaces, sports or leisure facilities Provision of open space Adequacy of community venues
Increase the range of arts and sports	Crowndale Recreational Site Fillace Park	Focal points Strong cultural associations in the area Ease of direction finding
Develop and interpret the area's history and traditions	Drake's Trail Town museum Prison museum Tavistock Town guided tours Tavistock heritage buildings Tourism and Marketing Strategy Abbey Place lighting Town Signage	Buildings that give town a distinctive character Areas of historic importance Natural or man-made links between town and country Historic commercial links between town and country Events having the potential to draw the whole community together Historic associations in the area
Build a network of interested parties	Internet marketing Events calendar	Proportion of local population involved in an art-based community group