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Cuttings from the Newsletter- July 2004 |
'Park Life' - Summer 2004
Members, especially those who cringe from the idea of taking part in open-air 'events', or
who do not much go to Bristol parks, may find themselves surprisingly interested in the latest edition of 'Park Life', a 52-page pocket-fitting booklet of news and events put out by the Parks office of the City Council. Nicely designed and colourfully printed on recycled paper.
For a start we are told the names and locations of 25 major parks and open spaces, with bus
routes for reaching them; this listing may itself fill a gap in our knowledge of the city. We are also given the names of park keepers, now called Community Park Managers, organised in 'teams' with 'co-ordinators', and despite this management-speak it is a welcome advance to know who they are and to be able to ring them up at the numbers given.
We are also told about the Parks Forum, which meets quarterly and "brings together representatives of Park user and interest groups acts as a means for exchange of information and ideas ... and as a key consultative body". Gordon Tucker and Gill Brown are the Civic Society's members.
The first section gives news of general programmes and developments: amongst others Bristol Year of Sport, Scoop the Poop campaign, Heritage Lottery Fund contributions to Ashton Court Estate (£4.5million) and Blaise Castle Estate (£4.2 million), Bristol International Festival of Kites and Air Creations (4/5 September, location not given, but worth a visit just to find out what an 'air creation' is.)
A long diary of events from June to August follows. In late July and August, after this Newsletter
reaches members, we are offered, for example, Bats about the Downs, Orange Ashton Court Festival, Big Family Funday on successive Tuesdays in Mina Road Park, St Andrews Park, Eastville Park and Victoria Park, SWEB Energy Harbour Festival. Dog Show in Dame Emily Park. Balloons in August as usual. Music in the Park, several dates and locations. Deer Feeding Walk. A Midsummer's Night's Dream. Bristol Flower Show. And more besides.
Quite an eye-opener. Where do we find this tempting programme? Libraries, council offices,
community centres, schools. Not post offices. The print run is about 10,000 and it should not be too difficult to track one down. If seriously frustrated in your quest you could ring up Allison Brown, 922 2248, or Jane Greenway, 922 2694.Charles Manton
Amenities and Trees Group
973 3536
email: charles@mantons.net