An Ilkley cricket club is set to receive its biggest ever grant as part of a Sport England programme designed to protect the playing fields of England.

The £46,000 grant, funded by the National Lottery, will allow Olicanian Cricket Club in Denton Road to increase its number of wickets, improve drainage at a ground which skirts the River Wharfe and improve the playing surface in general.

The grant is the largest ever received by the club and it follows a pattern of sustained improvements at the ground, including the reconstruction of the pavilion, nets and a digital scoreboard. And the work continues. In the last two weeks, 2,000 shrubs have been planted to create a new hedge around the perimeter of the club’s Denton Road ground.

Club secretary, Brent Armitage said he was delighted to receive a grant which, he believes, will allow the club to build a stronger future.

He said: “The club has been trying for several years to improve the quality of the cricket square and this grant will enable us to do this, producing an excellent standard of playing surface and also extending the number of wickets we have at our disposal.”

The improvements to the ground follow an £80,000 revamp to the club’s pavilion in 2011. The club hopes the latest alterations, together with the pavilion, will make the ground one of the best places to play cricket in the area.

“Whenever people play at our ground, they are always taken aback by the views of the surrounding moors. The new pavilion has been a huge success and now, to have the opportunity to improve the square means that these are exciting times for the club,” added Mr Armitage.

Olicanian CC’s grant is one of 97 announced nationwide which are aimed at protecting the country’s sports fields.