Claire Loder had a dream; she dreamt the front gardens on the Whiteway estate in Bath were full of plants, flowers, shrubs, fruit and humming with insects which had attracted more birds. So Claire did something about it and together with like-minded friends and neighbours, she set about publicising and organising a Festival of Front Gardens for the summer of 2017. They wanted to celebrate Whiteway’s front gardens and public facing spaces, bring Bath to …
I first visited the Easton Community Garden in September and discovered a very well laid out productive space next to a small Trading Estate near Greenbank Cemetery. I was shown round by Cristina Crossingham who had been an early member of the community enterprise. In 2001 the land had become a neglected allotment site. The first volunteers to see the potential of the site were a Bristol Permaculture Group who undertook negotiations with Bristol City …
A fun day at Holcombe Lane in Bathampton with families coming to celebrate the Apple Harvest. They enjoyed games for the children, freshly baked pizzas, cakes and of course apple juice and cider as well as tea. Great folk style music from Arcoustic provided entertainment. Together with Orchard Share, their Bath Apple Juice has become a popular and successful brand. Apple pressing demonstrations continued throughout the afternoon with some of the older children lending a …
A blustery storm last winter ripped the oldest poly tunnel to shreds, quite beyond repair. This largest poly tunnel provided a good growing space plus it could be used for demonstrations. Inside the poly tunnel there was also an old vine which produced an abundant crop of sweet black grapes every year. Clearly the vine would not survive a winter without shelter. The group applied to the Avon Gardens Trust to see if there was …
Over the last few years Avon Gardens Trust has worked closely with the Woodland Trust and the Friends of Bishop’s Knoll Wood at Bishop’s Knoll in Sneyd Park. One result has been an interpretation board at the entrance to the site which features the AGT logo. Wendy Tippett has researched the site and has written a number of articles for the Trust including ‘Bishop’s Knoll Hospital’ in Journal No 8. Representing the AGT, Wendy joined …
When I visited Knowle West Health Association I came to understand the wide variety of services, activities and projects they run to promote, protect and preserve good health and wellbeing in the community. Among these is the Let’s Grow Community Allotment site in Andover Road, Knowle West. This community space occupies a beautiful 1.3 acre allotment plot with stunning views over Bristol and is managed by a small team with help from volunteers. The Association …
Many families came to Torthworth Forest Centre’s Arbor Fest Day on 1st May. So much hard work during the winter had achieved a transformation since I was there last summer. A year ago what had been impenetrable scrub below trees now had a cleared path to walk through and one can begin to see the shape of the original layout of the arboretum. I reached an amazing old goat willow its branches spread out along …
Tortworth Forest Centre is a 20 acre woodland with a rich and fascinating history that has become overgrown over the last decade. It forms part of the arboretum of Tortworth Court and was a wonder of its day, considered in the 1890s to be one of the top arboreta in the country. Its collection of over 300 rare and champion trees hosts an amazing ecosystem of birds, bats, butterflies and other insects. The new owner …
In January we told you about Fifty Apples Trees and a Wassail. I have recently visited Dry Arch Growers in Bathampton to see how they have fared over the summer. On a very wet Sunday morning I met up with volunteers and we walked round the site, up by the rows of young apples trees to which we contributed; they have taken well and look healthy. They are now fenced in to protect them from …
Do you remember the pictures of many hands helping to put up a new cover on a poly tunnel for the Hartcliffe Health and Environmental Action Group? They had a less than useful space with a cover in shreds and we were able to help them with a new cover. I visited them recently and was shown how they had lost no time in making use of it. They have recently harvested cucumbers in the …