Bristol's Neighbourhood Partnerships

The project was created to support biodiversity, locally grown food and community. We want to engage with as many people within the local and wider community as possible to involve them in the fun, wellbeing and learning that a community garden can offer. We are building links with more local groups and now supply food from our kitchen garden to the Refugee charity Borderlands via the Bountiful Bristol initiative. We are starting to work on the permanent infrastructure to allow use of the site in all weathers, improve accessibility and widen our reach. This project aims to also harvest enough rainwater to make us self-sufficient for our irrigation needs. We are looking for pavers our kitchen garden floor for better accessibility and weed control. We have tasks throughout the year which suit a 'many hands on deck' approach that fits with a corporate volunteering model. We need help with tasks such as mulching and feeding the trees, habitat creation, compost making and structure building. We have to keep on top of encroaching brambles (without destroying this valuable habitat) and keep the site productive and clear but establishing waste loops which recycle green materials. We can also run skills based workshops such as fruit tree pruning or mowing with scythes.

Friends of Troopers Hill are working with Friends of St George Park and Friends of Dundridge Park to put on a series of guided walks and events throughout St George in 2015. A leaflet to publicise the walks can be downloaded from the 'documents' section below. It will also be distributed locally - eg library, park kiosk, St George Community Fair. The project is aimed at all residents of St George. The full programme of walks can be seen below. Troopers Hill (4 walks): Organised by Friends of Troopers Hill Heathland Walk - Thurdsday 16th July 7pm; Bugs & Beasties Hunt - Saturday 8h August 4pm; Fungi Foray Sunday 1st November 10.30am; Geology Walk - Sunday 29th November 2pm; North St George: Organised by Friends of Troopers Hill Walk to explore Plummers Hill, Meadow Vale, Rodney Rd, Primrose Lane & Colebrook Road and their wildlife. Sunday 6th September 10.30am Avon Valley: Organised by Friends of Troopers Hill Walk from looking at river wildlife, also visiting Dundridge & Troopers Hill. Sunday 17th May 10.am Dundridge Park (3 walks/events): Organised by Friends of Dundridge Park Dawn Chorus walk Saturday 18th April 5.30am; Family Funday at Dundridge Park Saturday 11th July; Bat Walk Thursday 10th September. St George Park (4 walks) Organised by Friends of St George Park Dawn Chorus Walk Saturday 4th April 6.30am History Walk with Barton Hill History Group 15th July 7.30pm Wildlife area walk with Avon Wildlife Trust 8th August 11.00am Bat walk Saturday 12th September 7.15pm Walks at Troopers Hill require prior booking, for more details see the Friends of Troopers Hill website.

We would like to inspire and educate the children of the school about nature, sustainability and where food comes from by developing a school allotment. A site has already been acquired in the Netham Road allotments. We are asking for funding for gardening equipment to help us to develop it and involve as many people as possible. The children will have regular trips to the allotment during the school week, linking in with the curriculum and learning where food comes from, how it's grown, about nature, and about healthy eating. Parents and community can get involved, parents and children working together (building relationships and sharing learning).