With a 2 acre small-holding, community gardens, woodlands and allotments, we provide green sites accessible to all and targeted services that equip people with knowledge, skills and confidence. Just 1.5 miles from Bristol city centre, surrounded by 5 wards that fall within the 10% most disadvantaged in the UK, our services seek to address disadvantage and inequality. With over 3,500 service users and 55,000 visitors each year, we are a vital community resource, freely accessible to all.
Our aims are to:
- increase knowledge of where food comes from through activities and educational interpretation;
- increase confidence and knowledge in growing, cooking and eating fresh food through activities and services that showcase local produce;
- increase access to locally produced food, especially Farm grown or reared food by supporting allotment holders, providing a cafe and other services;
- enhance access to and enjoyment of green spaces through activities that develop people’s awareness of, interest in and confidence to explore their environment;
- enhance health and wellbeing through opportunities that enable people to develop, learn and play outdoors;
- enhance our sites by developing them to be welcoming, accessible, playful and informative whilst supporting wildlife and biodiversity;
- improve communication, helping to create a supportive, friendly and understanding community through events and activities that bring a diverse range of people together;
- improve skills and qualifications through education and training experiences, leading to greater opportunities
Our community services and projects include:
- Accredited training and therapeutic animal care and horticulture sessions for adults with learning difficulties, promoting mental and physical wellbeing whilst building social skills, confidence and independence.
- Therapeutic outdoor wellbeing sessions to support mental health, engaging adults experiencing disadvantage in activities that increase health and wellbeing, reduce social isolation, improve skills and interests whilst helping to care for our green spaces.
- Volunteering opportunities for local people to get involved with conservation, crafts, cooking, plant propagation, horticulture, food growing and animal care,
- Outdoor educational opportunities for inner-city children, supporting them to develop practical and personal skills and build their confidence and self-esteem
- Placements for young people struggling in mainstream education, building young people’s resilience and capability for education and personal development.