The latest news and updates from AGT.
In January 2015 Dry Arch Growers in Bathampton planted fifty apple trees and we were delighted to have donated many of them. Move on to September 2017 and their first fruits are ripening. The reward for all their careful nurturing. It was in 2011 Dry Arch Growers set up their weekly vegetable box scheme. Six years later in March this year the cooperative took the decision to change their operating mode. They began the process …
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 …
Avon Gardens Trust were delighted to make two awards to primary schools in our area. One was a village school in North Somerset while the second was a city school in Bristol. Both schools are very keen to encourage and involve their pupils in learning about and understanding their outdoor environment. Schools Awarded Grants in 2016 Ashton Gate Primary School, Ashton Gate Rd, Bristol St Andrew’s C of E Primary School, Station Road, Congresbury, North …
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 …
For 2015, the Trust has also continued with our policy of awarding small grants to primary schools in our area. This year we donated grants to the following ten primary schools, six in Bath & North East Somerset and four in Bristol. Schools Awarded Grants in the 2015 Academic Year Bathford CofE VC Primary, Dovers Park, Bathford, Bath & NE Somerset Combe Down CofE Primary, Church Road, Bath, Bath & NE Somerset Hillcrest Primary, Totterdown, …
On a rainy afternoon in late June, Anne Hills and I visited St Andrew’s Primary School in Congresbury to see how the school was planning to spend the £50 grant that had been awarded to them by Avon Gardens Trust. This village school was created in 2009 with the amalgamation of the Glebe Infants School and St Andrew’s Junior School and now numbers over 250 pupils. We were met by Rosie Edwards, a teacher for …