The Mayor of Bridgwater has praised the “incredible” volunteers behind St Matthew’s Field parkrun during a visit to mark both Volunteers’ Week and the event’s 25th run.
Cllr Leigh Redman joined runners and marshals at the 5k event on Saturday, June 6 to thank the core team and regular helpers who give up their time each week to make the free, timed run possible.
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He said: "I’m incredibly proud of the volunteers at St Matthew’s Field parkrun. Their commitment and enthusiasm demonstrate the strength of community spirit here in Bridgwater.
"Events like this show the very best of our community, bringing people together, supporting wellbeing and creating a welcoming space for everyone. Parkrun is about far more than running, and I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t yet taken part to come along and experience it for themselves."
The visit coincided with St Matthew’s Field parkrun reaching its 25th event since launching in November 2025. What began as a new community initiative has quickly become a regular part of Bridgwater’s Saturday mornings. Around 175 people now taking part each week, supported by a dedicated rota of volunteers.
Parkrun is a global, free event held every Saturday at 9am, encouraging people of all ages and abilities to walk, jog, run and socialise outdoors.
Organisers say the St Matthew’s Field event has become a strong local example of how community‑led activity can boost physical and mental health while helping neighbours to meet and support one another.
Saturday’s celebrations put the spotlight on both the growth of the event and the contribution of volunteers, who take on roles such as marshals, timekeepers, barcode scanners and tail walkers.
The team behind St Matthew’s Field parkrun say they are keen to see even more people from across Bridgwater get involved as walkers, runners or volunteers in future weeks.
