Community Projects

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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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On a sunny spring day in April, Cynthia Troup, Education Co-ordinator for Avon Gardens Trust, handed over a cheque for £500 to Ben Carpenter for the Community Space Challenge. The donation will to go towards the building and filling of five raised beds at the Springfield Allotments in Knowle West in Bristol. Working with the local south Bristol primary schools, Ben runs a Forest School with a programme where children spend half their time learning …

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A blowy January morning in Bathampton at the Dry Arch Growers site saw a large gathering of volunteers to plant young apple trees with a wassail in the afternoon to drive out the evil spirits and encourage good fortune. Hard work by many people had the trees planted by early afternoon, well staked, fed and happy in their new location. These new trees join some four year old apples planted for the local primary school …

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Shire Greens form part of the Shirehampton Community Action Forum, an overarching body which provides communication facilities for community projects. Shire Greens have planted and are looking after a community orchard on the Daisy Field near Shirehampton station. Winter is the time to prune pears and apples so on a Saturday morning early in December neighbours gathered to set about the pruning under instruction from an expert. During 2015 Shire Greens had applied to Avon …

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