Greater Bedminster Community Partnership
Working together to improve Bedminster, Ashton and Southville in Bristol
From Matt Collis of Avon Wildlife Trust
October is the month of misty mornings and warm afternoons as we all enjoy the last of the suns summer rays. It also sees the last of the summer flowering plants give us their final blooms and final nectar for the year. Don’t be surprised to see them over-flowing with insects gasping for one last sugar-sweet drink!
Birds Continue reading “Special NEWSLETTER on My Wild Bedminster (54:17)”
Organisations in Greater Bedminster/BS3 have been working with Avon Wildlife Trust on their My Wild City project since 2016. Our main contact has been Matt Collis and he will be editing special newsletters on wildlife about once a month. This is the first.
We also want to include information from YOU about wildlife activities in your school, back garden, local park or wherever in BS3, so keep sending them to gbcpnewsletter@gmail.com and paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk . Pictures and drawing too, please.
South Bristol Voice has been working closely with us on this project, so for even more news look at their monthly reports.
September sees the inevitable close of summer and the dawn of autumn. It’s a fantastic month for wildlife in gardens as many creatures make the most of the remaining nectar-filled flowers and the abundant fruits and nuts.
Birds
Having hidden away for most of August, garden birds return with freshly grown feathers and are looking their absolute best. They are much more active and vocal again with bird song heard most mornings. Be prepared to hear some weird Continue reading “NEWSLETTER (49:17) – Special on My Wild Bedminster”
Thanks to a grant from Liverpool Victoria, it is possible to bring those over 55 in Bristol a new type of event that is going to focus on health and wellbeing. The event will have three elements that will combine to create a fun, social and, most importantly, wellbeing boosting afternoon for over 55s.
These are: a combination of therapists (massage, chiropodist etc.) charging affordable rates; a social space serving refreshments and cake (surely cake is good for ones wellbeing!); group ‘wellbeing focussed’ activities that will be open to everyone.
The event will be free to attend and therapists will charge people directly at the event for massages etc. These will be around £5 for a 15 minute session. There are no bookings available in advance.
The group activities for the first event will be run by Paul and Monika from Twin Wave CIC, a community music and sound therapy organisation. They will be doing music based sessions including DIY music and craft sessions, celebrating songs old & new and sound mindfulness using gongs and singing bowls.
The Health and Wellbeing Cafe will take place on Thursday 12th October, 1-5pm @ The Southbank Club, Dean Lane, BS3 1DB.
St Monica Trust, Way Out West and Acta are putting on a community picnic in South Street Park on Thursday 21st September, 12-2pm. (flyer attached)
The picnic is to bring people of all ages from the local community together in a nice setting where they can share food and conversation and enjoy some local entertainment together. The picnic will take place outside in the local South Street Park, a nice local green space that is accessible to all. Food, refreshments and entertainment will be provided. Also chairs (and shade if needed) for older residents and others in need will be provided.
The event will also hopefully be graced by some of the cast of Acta’s upcoming ‘Blood on the coal’ show which tells the forgotten story of the coal mines of Bedminster, the men who dug the coal, and the women who struggled beside them. They will hopefully be performing some songs from the production.
For more information please contact St Monica Trust’s community development team on 0117 305 2365.
The Bristol History & Archaeology Society have an event with Mike Hooper coming up at Monica Wills House, Bedminster on Saturday 9th September from 2-4pm, Conference Room. Cost: £3 to include buffet tea.
Please vote for Chessel Centre, a brand new community space in the heart of Bedminster using the link https://www.mandsenergyfund.com/projects/improving-the-economic-and-environmental-sustainability-of-the-chessel-centre
This Café is situated in a container in Dame Emily Park. It is a venue for young people in BS3 to have a cuppa & a chat, meet friends and play sports with qualified coaches. For more information have a look at https://www.facebook.com/TheDeanerCafe/
As you may know, the 14 Neighbourhood Partnerships have come to an end. Some will be replaced by community led neighbourhood networks, but the pattern is, as yet, unclear. But, there is also some doubt about city-wide networks. Which will survive and which will not? Continue reading “NEWSLETTER (47:17) – Cafes, picnics, networks, pensions”
GBCP started to work with Avon Wildlife Trust (AWT) on their My Wild City project in 2016. The objectives of the project are two-fold.
BS3 is amongst the most densely populated parts of the city and therefore it’s an area less attractive to wildlife. On the other hand, there’s still quite a lot of wildlife about, if you look for it. AWT and GBCP’s strategy has been to make the most of what we’ve got. Firstly, there are several major wildlife corridors that allow insects, birds and mammals to come in and out from the countryside. These include the Avon New Cut and the railway lines. Secondly, there are ‘islands’ of green. These include parks and other green spaces and also great chunks of back and front garden. Many homes in BS3 have very small back gardens and no front garden, but even a pot of flowers or a hanging basket can mean something to a butterfly, especially if you choose the right plants. The aim is to ‘improve’ these islands for wildlife and to link them up so that creatures can move more easily from one space to another. Continue reading “GBCP NEWSLETTER (16:17) – 13th April 2017 Special on My Wild Bedminster”
