Let's get the Council moving on Grove Wood

Grove Wood at full council from 6pm on Tuesday 21st June 2011

It is now over a year since Bristol City Council’s Cabinet declared their intention to designate Grove Wood a Local Nature Reserve and compulsory purchase it from the landowner if they could not reach an agreement with them.

Well precious little seems to have happened in the last year as far as we can tell. We know that the Council sent a letter to the landowner in November 2010 offering to buy the wood from him, but no official proceedings to declare the wood a nature reserve seem to have started. We can only assume that nothing is being done.

We are therefore going to lobby the next full Council meeting on Tuesday 21st June at 6pm. We have submitted a series of questions to the Council for the appropriate Councillor to answer so we can find out what is going on.

You can help put some more pressure on Bristol City Council to get moving by sending in a statement telling them exactly how you feel about this situation. Please send in a statement in your own words, but you might like to tell them that:

• Snuff Mills Action Group and the local community have been campaigning for over 3 years to get Grove Wood in to safe hands
• Thousands of people signed a petition to seek the declaration of Grove Wood as a Local Nature Reserve
• The landowner appears to have very little respect for the woods, local people or the attempts of the Council to resolve the situation
• The Action Group is seeking to make Grove Wood a Town Green, but this would not get it in to safe ownership or ensure that it is properly looked after
• It’s time the Council helped the local community in its efforts to save Grove Wood by compulsory purchasing it from the landowner

But this is really the time for you to say why you think Grove Wood should become a nature reserve and tell them how disappointed you are that nothing seems to be happening.

Please keep your statement polite and send it to democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk no later than noon on Monday 20th June. If you send us a copy, we will paste it on to the blog for others to see, to give them ideas.

If you wish to speak to the full Council meeting, let them know and don’t forget to join us outside the Council House on College Green at 5.45pm for yet another protest – bring those trusty banners from other protests or make a new one!

Everyone in Snuff Mills Action Group thinks it's time for the Council to take action - help us make that happen.

Fossil Walk - Thursday 9th June, 7-9pm

400 million years ago Snuff Mills was part of a massive river delta in warm tropical seas. Fallen trees were buried in the sand of the delta and these are now fossils hidden among the tough pennant sandstone that makes up the rocks of the valley. Come and see them for yourself with local fossil enthusiast, Steve England. We can't offer you dinosaur bones, because they hadn't evolved 400 millions years ago, but the fossils that we have are fascinating.

The walk starts from the Snuff Mills car park and the gates will be open.

Laundry Field news

Snuff Mills Action Group submitted an application for Laundry Field to become a Town Village Green last week. It is now nearly two years since the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) bought the field, along with Blackberry Hill Hospital. While we had hoped to be able to agree with the HCA about the future of the field, we have put in a Town Village Green application to ensure we have recourse to this process if negotiations with them over the future of the land are not successful.

Mutt Strut film

A short film of our recent Mutt Strut by Richard Pring

Laundry Field Update

On the 28th April a meeting was held at the Baptist Church Hall on Broom Hill.
The main topic of conversation was a discussion over the future of the Old Blackberry Hill Hospital Site and the adjoining Laundry Field.
Invited to attend were representatives from the current owners the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) namely Jay Lambe, Niki Wagstaff and Ben Lowndes.
In no particular order the meeting discussed the following:
Jay Lamb explained who the HCA were and gave some examples of the projects they had been involved in recently.
She also confirmed that they are the current owners of the site and have recently advertised for expressions of interest from developers to form a partnership with the HCA in developing the site.
This is done via a tender process and as part of this tender the developers would be expected to detail their vision for the site and also how they would engage in consultation with the community and other interested parties (stakeholders). It was emphasised that community involvement would be a key aspect in bringing forward any proposals for the site and this would include any development of laundry field. It was stressed that no decisions have been made in regards the future of Laundry Field. It was also pointed out that the historic nature and the presence of listed buildings within the hospital site would also have to be taken account of in any development scheme.
Niki explained her role as the Estates Manager of the site for HCA and outlined the work that the HCA had undertaken since its acquisition of the site. This included securing the building, tree surveys and tree works to many of the trees across the site. Works had also been done to some of the listed buildings with full approval of Bristol City Councils heritage team. Signs had also been erected on Laundry field stating the legal ownership outlining the public rights of way. This was required to protect the HCA from the potential of claims if somebody should injure themselves on the field when not on the footpaths.
Throughout the meeting much discussion took place over community involvement and the openness of the process that would take place. Apart from certain financial aspects of any agreements made it was explained that the process would be open for all to see but the appointment of the development partner would be the HCA’s decision due to the financial aspects and ensuring the right partner was chosen in a timely manner.
Members of the HCA left the meeting leaving the meeting to continue with discussions over what had been said and whether a Town and Village Green Application would be submitted to Bristol City Council.
After much debate it was agreed that the erection of signs stating that the land was private property and access was only allowed on the public footpaths could legally be deemed as prevention of the publics’ right of access to the field, and as such a Town and Village Green Application should go ahead.
Any queries about the day to day activities should be directed to Niki Wagstaff at Niki.Wagstaff@hca.gsx.gov.uk or tel 0117 937 7219 this should include any suspected vandalism/damage.
If you need any further information regarding the future developments should be directed to Ben Lowndes at Ben.Lowndes@hca.gsx.gov.uk or tel  0117 937 7209
The Ariel photograph shown is a plan of the ownerships boundaries reproduced approximately onto a google earth image, thanks to plans of the HCA’s ownership that cannot be displayed due to copyright. We take this opportunity to thank the HCA for attending the meeting and providing information to produce the above plans.

Dog show fun

The valley was full of dogs on Sunday for the second Snuff Mills Action Group sponsored mutt strut and fun dog show. We had more dogs taking part in the walk and especially the dog show compared with last year and everyone had a great time. By the end of the event all of the dogs were behaving like long lost friends, and one recently rescued Staffie had changed from a nervous little thing in to quite a confident hound.

Special congratulations to all the winners in the fun dog show and special congratulations to rescued Staffie Oscar (middle photo), this year's best in show, and the reserve best in show, Sam the lurcher (bottom photo). Oscar is set to feature in the evening post soon as his owner has told us: "I’m Paul and along with my partner Klaire we own Oscar the staffie who won the King of the Valley and overall dog show prize last Sunday at Snuff Mills held after the Mutt Strutt (which was great fun!). Anyway I just wanted to let you guys know that I contacted the Bristol Evening Post (my tagline was: from stray dog to show winner in six months!) and they plan on taking a photo of us and Oscar and publishing an article in their newspaper which will thus be seen right across the Bristol area. This will also generate publicity for Snuff Mills Action Group and Bristol DAWG"

All profits from the event will be shared equally between Snuff Mills Action Group and DAWG - Dog Action Welfare Group Bristol. A special thank you just go to Gerry Watkins from DAWG for judging the show for the second year and to Chris Williams and all the other volunteers from Snuff Mills Action Group who made it such a fun event.

Litter pick - Saturday 7th May

Join us for our spring clean of the valley on Saturday 7th May from 2-4pm. Bring gloves and a sturdy bin liner if you can. Meet in the garden area.

Sponsored mutt strut and dog show

Last year's mutt strut and fun dog show was so popular and so much fun that we have decided to hold another one. It will take place on Sunday 15th May from 2-5pm. There will be a sponsored 3 mile mutt strut around Snuff Mills and Oldbury Court to raise funds for Snuff Mulls Action Group and the DAWG - Dog Action Welfare Group Bristol. It starts from the Snuff Mills car park and you can register from 1.30pm.

From 3.30pm it will be time for the dogs to show off in the fun dog show. Who will be this year's Queen of the Valley and which dog will do the longest sit? This part of the event will take place in the grassy area just beyond the mill where the picnic bench is in Snuff Mills. You do not have to take part in the mutt strut to join in the fun dog show.

Sponsor forms and entry forms for the fun dog show are available by emailing us at snuffmills@hotmail.co.uk

Woodland walk Sun 17th April

Join us for a woodland walk to celebrate Spring from 2pm on Sunday 17th April. Naturalist Rupert Higgins will lead the walk around the valley and he will show you all of the amazing plantlife of the area. Bluebells will be in full bloom by then, but Rupert will also show you the rare plants that live in the ancient woodland areas of the valley, including this beautiful Solomon's Seal that some people also grow in their gardens.

Meet in the Snuff Mills car park at 2pm. Wear appropriate footwear - trainers should be alright if it is dry.

Grove Wood update

The Inquiry in to whether Grove Wood should become a Town/Village Green was adjouneed after four days of evidence last week. The hearing will start again in July when more evidence will be presented and Lord Jafari and his agent, John Mair, will give evidence and be cross examined. Both sides will also have a chance to sum up their cases. After this, the Inspector will write his report and we should know whether he recommends that Grove Wood should be registered as a Town Village Green by the early Autumn at the latest.

Thanks to everyone who came and gave evidence at the hearing and to others who came along to watch the proceedings.

Wickham Glen accident

Late on Friday night/Saturday morning a jeep type vehicle collided with the new entrance to Wickham Glen resulting in damage to the bollards and the new wall. Luckily it appears that no one was hurt.

It's terrible that this has happened just days after the completion of the new cycle track and pathway through the Glen. This picture shows the entrance before the accident.

Dippers by the Mill

For those who can remember back to the dawn chorus last year when dippers flew over us, well today whilst down at the mill I had the rare privilege of seeing a pair of dippers. They flew along the river about a meter high and decided to stop just opposite the benches overlooking the river by the mill. What a truly wonderful sight. Yet another example as to why it is so important that we all fight to protect the valley for all its wondefull inhabitants. I have often heard people say they had seen dippers upstream but never thought I would see them and yet today they decided to stop say hello by the gardens if only for a short while!

Otter Spotted

A member of SMAG saw an otter on Friday evening just before dark. It was swimming upsteam along Grove Woods but for obvious reasons we don't want to give away the exact location. The sighting, being at dusk, proves that there is a holt (an otter den) somewhere nearby as they will only start to venture out once the light is going. This is more proof, if it were needed, that the woods and the river banks need protection of the highest sort. We need the Local Nature Reserve plan to be completed as soon as possible.

Ghost seen at Snuff Mills?

We were sent this message today by someone, has anybody had similar experiences in the valley?

"My wife and I walked along the river Frome from Frenchay for the first time this week, what a wonderful walk! As we arrived at Snuffmills there was an elderly couple in front of us with an alsation dog. They turned right around the old snuffmills and entered the building through what we assumed was the entrance to the cafe. When we tried to do the same there were black railings and a padlocked iron fence leading to the waterwheel. They had walked through the fence and disappeared.
Has anyone else had a similar experience?"

Grove wood Town Green Hearing coming soon

An official notice has now been served to confirm that an Inquiry in to whether Grove Wood should become a Town Green will take place in April.

You can help us by providing details of your use of Grove Wood as evidence to be used at the Inquiry. Please email us at snuffmills@hotmail.co.uk for more details of how you can help.

Signs of Spring

The first signs of spring seem to be showing up in the valley. Greater spotted woodpeckers have been heard drumming, while great tits have been seen carrying nesting material around. Some of the ducks already have paired off along the river too. Snowdrops are also out in the garden, hopefully the first of many flowers to come.

Wickham Glen fiasco?

We have been getting reports that the works to construct a cyclists' ramp in Wickham Glen are damaging the area and we have been to have a close look too.

Work of this kind is always messy, but these before and after photos do show the serious impact that the works are having on the Glen.

Mark Logan, our Vice Chair, has been to take a close look so that he can compare the work being done with the precautions that were meant to happen to make sure the construction of the ramp has the least impact possible. Here's what he reports:

* At the entrance to the Glen a section of wall has been removed (at no point was this ever mentioned) thus destroying part of the historic fabric of the Glen.
* At the compound outside the Glen, soils have been stripped and just dumped behind the wall and into the woodland edge.
* As you go into the Glen a large pile a tree trunks etc has been dumped next to the river bank.
* There has been excessive movement of plant across the Glen that has occurred after the access track has been constructed. This can be clearly seen by the tracks going across the grass and then onto the track chewing up the geotextile separator.
* Just before you get to the ramp roots and debris has been dumped into the edge of the brambles.
* When you eventually get to the woodland and ramp area things are not being done in accordance with the arboricultural development statement. It categorically excludes the use of herras fencing with rubber feet and also states a wooden kick board should be used at its base.
* The Group 2 trees are supposed to be fenced and this has not been done.

We have constantly expressed our concerns over the potential damage to the Glen during construction and we were assured that the Glen would not be damaged. Of course Wickham Glen can recover from a lot of the damage, although it probably will never have the same special feel that it had before. But even so, how long will that recovery take if the work is not being done with enough care and attention?

We will be meeting the Council next week to discuss the situation.

Grove Wood Town Green Hearing

A hearing will be held in April to help decide whether Grove Wood should become a Town Green. If this was to happen, the rights of local people to enjoy Grove Wood would be protected. An Inspector has been appointed and he will hear evidence from those in favour of this (Snuff Mills Action Group and the people who use Grove Wood) and those against the idea (that's the landowner and his related companies). The Inspector will then decide whether to recommend that Grove Wood should become a Town Green and write a report for the Council.

Please contact us if you can provide photos showing people using Grove Wood or would be prepared to write a statement or take part in the hearing itself. Email snuffmills@hotmail.co.uk We can then explain how you can help in more detail.

The Big Save Our Parks Petition

The Big Save Our Parks Petition
Lead Petitioner : Mark Weston
http://epetitions.bristol.gov.uk/epetition_core/community/petition/1403

Petition
“We, the undersigned, call on Bristol City Council to reconsider the proposed land sales as part of the Parks & Area Green Spaces Strategy. We consider the consultation process undertaken by the Cabinet to be flawed and by signing this petition, we want the Cabinet Councillors and officers to hear our concerns. Neighbourhood Partnerships should decide on any green space disposals in their area - making sure local people are involved in the decision making, unlike the decisions taken so far by Cabinet. We support continued investment in green spaces but not at the price of selling off the green lungs of our City.

We understand that, under new rules, petitions with 3,500 or more signatures will be debated at Full Council. The 20-year green space strategy is so important to Bristol and will affect communities for many years to come, so we believe it is right for all Councillors and the public to have their say at a meeting of the Council."


Background Information
Under recently adopted rules governing petitions, the Authority is obliged to bring a matter to Full Council where an issue attracts 3,500 signatures from people who live, work or study in the city.

Once this trigger point is reached, petition organisers can advise Council Officers that they wish to take up this opportunity for debate at the next available meeting.

We hope that by getting enough signatures from across the city that we can call for a debate at the March Council meeting and SAVE OUR PARKS.

The Making of "The Story of Snuff Mills"

Wickham Glen - work about to start

Work to create the new cycle ramp in Wickham Glen is about to start. Over the next few days contractors will begin to remove a number of trees along the route of the new ramp and then construction will commence. The contractors will bring materials through Wickham Glen itself and so the area is likely to be very muddy for a while. Once the ramp is built the Council will resurface the footpath with a no more than 2.2m wide 'dust and stone' path. This should improve access for everyone, but keep the natural feel of the area in tact.

Cold winters

Apparently December 2010 was the coldest one on record, but these photos show it could have been a lot worse. The top picture shows that the River Frome was so frozen over in 1963 that people could skate on it. The lower picture shows massive icicles hanging off the old quarry faces in 1947 - another exceptionally cold winter.

Photos courtesy of Sheila Hill. If you have old photos of the area, we'd love to see them - send them to snuffmills@hotmail.co.uk

Broom Hill Quarry

A lot of older people have mentioned the quarry that used to be where the car park is now at the end of River View. Thanks to some archive research at the Bristol Records Office by Andrew Hill, we have now found a black and white photo of the quarry from the 1950s. Sadly we did not find this picture in time for it to be included in the 'All About Snuff Mills' booklet, but there are lots of mentions of the quarry in it. You can get a copy of the booklet from the Snuff Mills cafe and various other places in Stapleton and Fishponds.

If you have old photos of the area, we'd love to see them, email them to snuffmills@hotmail.co.uk