Frenchay Residents Association Reports 2021
FRA Contacts:
Adrian Collins, Chair, email: [email protected]
Ronnie Barber, President, email: [email protected]
Adrian Collins, Chair, email: [email protected]
Ronnie Barber, President, email: [email protected]
Report No. 85 December 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbours,
This year we would like to launch the inaugural Frenchay Festive Windows for Christmas Trail. Any address in Frenchay is welcome to join the trail and your window can be decorated in any way that you like. This could be using stickers, glass paint, card and tissue paper, silhouettes, lights, 3Ddesigns, drawings or paintings.
The options are endless, but the main thing is to have fun creating it and for people to enjoy seeing all the wonderful window displays that Frenchay can produce.
We recommend using an upstairs window if possible as that can be seen best from the road. If this is not possible bear in mind that those doing the trail will have to come on to your premises at their own risk. If you have doubts about this then wait until next year when we will have seen how the experience has worked in practice.
There are lots of ideas online if you search Christmas window trails. If you would like to take part you need to email [email protected] to register your property by the 10th December. You will then receive a message /email informing you of the number that you will be on the trail map. You will need to incorporate this number into your display so people know which house on the trail they are viewing.
We will light up our windows from the 16th-22nd December between 4-5pm allowing people to follow the trail map and take part.
Trail maps will be made available in various locations including to download on the FRA Facebook page, and links sent out in an email to all on our circulation list.
We might even establish a vote for favourites and prizes if enough properties want to take part. So please let’s get into the festive spirit and add to the magic of Christmas in Frenchay this year.
We also look forward to seeing you all at the community carol service on Frenchay Common opposite the Parish Church on Monday 20th December starting at 6.30pm
New Primary School Project Update
We are very grateful to Jason and his construction team for working so closely with FRA to keep the community informed. Here is an update from Jason:
BAM and our groundworks contractor GWorks have completed the concrete base to the entire footprint of the new school building. We greatly appreciate the support you have given our construction teams working onsite, and the interest you have shown in the construction process, with many of you stopping to have a look through our site entrance gates and often speaking with members of the site team.
Invitation to visit our site.
To complement this healthy interest in the project, BAM would like to offer an open invitation for a tour around the new school construction project on Thursday 16th December 2021. The BAM site team will escort members of the public around the new school construction site, showing you the timber frame structure that will form the overall shape of the building and create the internal teaching spaces.
BAM will provide four tours each starting at specific times to help accommodate everyone’s varying availability. The times of each tour will be: 14:30, 15:00, 15:30 and 16:00. We do hope many of you will be able to join the BAM team on Thursday 16th to see the new school during construction phase and enjoy a small festive treat of mince pies.
Jason Cisneros | Project Manager | BAM Construction Ltd
Biodiversity projects.
Thank you so much to everyone who helped us on a Sunday morning recently to plant some more purple crocuses. This is the ‘thank you’ that we have received from Rotary International.
On behalf of The Rotary Club of Clifton, and also Rotary International, I write to thank you and The Frenchay Residents Association most sincerely for your wonderful generosity of a cheque for £350.00 for the supply of 2, 000 purple crocus corms.
This money will go towards Rotary’s “Purple for Polio” campaign which is striving to eliminate Polio from the world. We are being supported and helped by “The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation”.
There are now only a couple of small pockets in the world where polio still exists, and we are very close to clearing those areas of this terrible disease. This will be an incredible result which has taken many years to achieve. Once again my sincerest thanks for your kindness.
In other news on this diverse subject, please also see the very interesting feature in this magazine about the new Friends Group intended to make plans for the Voluntary Village Green when it comes into Parish ownership very soon. Hugh Whatley has championed this as Preservation Society Chairman and all Frenchay groups are working very closely together to enhance and protect our environment.
Similarly the Frenchay Allotments Society, whose report makes great reading on what they have achieved in helping community food schemes with surplus produce. This is a fantastic achievement that we hope will be championed elsewhere as well.
On the 4th of December many of the FRA committee will be attending the Grow Wilder Christmas Pop-Up Christmas Market down at their Stoke Lane premises. The event is from 10am until 4pm so please pop in and join us. We had wonderful support from
GW at our August picnic day, so we are delighted to support them for what looks to be a wonderful event.
It’s great to have everyone working together on these projects in Frenchay’s best interests.
The Planning Application Maze
Everything about the SGC planning application process seems to assume that you have a degree in computer sciences and use intricate technology every day! Furthermore, very few properties within a radius of a property that has applied receive a postcard, or letter, to let you know what is happening on your doorstep.
Although it takes yet more time in assimilating technology, it is worth registering with the SGC planning portal, so that you can receive email alerts and follow progress on existing applications affecting you and your surroundings. This is the link to set up that process: developments.southglos.gov.uk/online-applications/registrationWizard.do?action=start
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone and all the best for 2022, thank you for your continued support and engagement during 2021.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
This year we would like to launch the inaugural Frenchay Festive Windows for Christmas Trail. Any address in Frenchay is welcome to join the trail and your window can be decorated in any way that you like. This could be using stickers, glass paint, card and tissue paper, silhouettes, lights, 3Ddesigns, drawings or paintings.
The options are endless, but the main thing is to have fun creating it and for people to enjoy seeing all the wonderful window displays that Frenchay can produce.
We recommend using an upstairs window if possible as that can be seen best from the road. If this is not possible bear in mind that those doing the trail will have to come on to your premises at their own risk. If you have doubts about this then wait until next year when we will have seen how the experience has worked in practice.
There are lots of ideas online if you search Christmas window trails. If you would like to take part you need to email [email protected] to register your property by the 10th December. You will then receive a message /email informing you of the number that you will be on the trail map. You will need to incorporate this number into your display so people know which house on the trail they are viewing.
We will light up our windows from the 16th-22nd December between 4-5pm allowing people to follow the trail map and take part.
Trail maps will be made available in various locations including to download on the FRA Facebook page, and links sent out in an email to all on our circulation list.
We might even establish a vote for favourites and prizes if enough properties want to take part. So please let’s get into the festive spirit and add to the magic of Christmas in Frenchay this year.
We also look forward to seeing you all at the community carol service on Frenchay Common opposite the Parish Church on Monday 20th December starting at 6.30pm
New Primary School Project Update
We are very grateful to Jason and his construction team for working so closely with FRA to keep the community informed. Here is an update from Jason:
BAM and our groundworks contractor GWorks have completed the concrete base to the entire footprint of the new school building. We greatly appreciate the support you have given our construction teams working onsite, and the interest you have shown in the construction process, with many of you stopping to have a look through our site entrance gates and often speaking with members of the site team.
Invitation to visit our site.
To complement this healthy interest in the project, BAM would like to offer an open invitation for a tour around the new school construction project on Thursday 16th December 2021. The BAM site team will escort members of the public around the new school construction site, showing you the timber frame structure that will form the overall shape of the building and create the internal teaching spaces.
BAM will provide four tours each starting at specific times to help accommodate everyone’s varying availability. The times of each tour will be: 14:30, 15:00, 15:30 and 16:00. We do hope many of you will be able to join the BAM team on Thursday 16th to see the new school during construction phase and enjoy a small festive treat of mince pies.
Jason Cisneros | Project Manager | BAM Construction Ltd
Biodiversity projects.
Thank you so much to everyone who helped us on a Sunday morning recently to plant some more purple crocuses. This is the ‘thank you’ that we have received from Rotary International.
On behalf of The Rotary Club of Clifton, and also Rotary International, I write to thank you and The Frenchay Residents Association most sincerely for your wonderful generosity of a cheque for £350.00 for the supply of 2, 000 purple crocus corms.
This money will go towards Rotary’s “Purple for Polio” campaign which is striving to eliminate Polio from the world. We are being supported and helped by “The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation”.
There are now only a couple of small pockets in the world where polio still exists, and we are very close to clearing those areas of this terrible disease. This will be an incredible result which has taken many years to achieve. Once again my sincerest thanks for your kindness.
In other news on this diverse subject, please also see the very interesting feature in this magazine about the new Friends Group intended to make plans for the Voluntary Village Green when it comes into Parish ownership very soon. Hugh Whatley has championed this as Preservation Society Chairman and all Frenchay groups are working very closely together to enhance and protect our environment.
Similarly the Frenchay Allotments Society, whose report makes great reading on what they have achieved in helping community food schemes with surplus produce. This is a fantastic achievement that we hope will be championed elsewhere as well.
On the 4th of December many of the FRA committee will be attending the Grow Wilder Christmas Pop-Up Christmas Market down at their Stoke Lane premises. The event is from 10am until 4pm so please pop in and join us. We had wonderful support from
GW at our August picnic day, so we are delighted to support them for what looks to be a wonderful event.
It’s great to have everyone working together on these projects in Frenchay’s best interests.
The Planning Application Maze
Everything about the SGC planning application process seems to assume that you have a degree in computer sciences and use intricate technology every day! Furthermore, very few properties within a radius of a property that has applied receive a postcard, or letter, to let you know what is happening on your doorstep.
Although it takes yet more time in assimilating technology, it is worth registering with the SGC planning portal, so that you can receive email alerts and follow progress on existing applications affecting you and your surroundings. This is the link to set up that process: developments.southglos.gov.uk/online-applications/registrationWizard.do?action=start
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone and all the best for 2022, thank you for your continued support and engagement during 2021.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
Report No. 84 November 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbours,
As I write this month's piece at the start of October for November's magazine we have suddenly seen the autumn weather start to 'catch up' as the beautifully warm and sunny September disappears in a flash.
This year the Downend Round Table fireworks extravaganza is set to resume on Friday 5th November after a year with no display, it will be great to see families enjoying the display in the cold crisp night air again.
Interestingly, as the old hospital site celebrates its centenary of healthcare in that location, Headway and Headway House specifically benefitted from charity funds raised over two years of DRT firework events. Those funds got them through their large target so that the facility could be established alongside the old hospital. The BIRU facility continues the outstanding treatment and care for brain injuries and we await news on the remainder of the healthcare facilities promised to us in that location as part of the redevelopment.
Carols on the Common & Christmas Windows
We were unable to hold the carol concert by Becks Pool last Christmas because of lockdown, although consideration was given to holding this on the common outside the church where space and fresh air was easy to find.
This year the plan is to hold a carol service on the common opposite Frenchay Parish Church on Monday 20th December, specific details will be circulated nearer to Christmas.
We hope that this can go ahead safely on the assumption that we can continue to gather in crowds as winter sets in.
This Christmas FRA plans to organise and facilitate a 'Christmas Window' decoration and walk around route, with prizes for the most popular displays. Full details and instructions will be provided for everyone interested to participate.
Wild Flower and 'No Mow' projects.
Planning for the next 12 months is well underway and has benefited from careful collaboration by all parties involved. This has enabled Winterbourne Parish Council to provide clear instructions to the contractors looking after Frenchay Park Lands through our Frenchay Parish Councillors and many grants and collaborative projects are planned for the current area and the soon to be adopted voluntary village green and nature reserve.
The SGC declared 'climate emergency' has led to additional expertise and resources being available to us, which will be very welcomed. We will also need teams of volunteers from residents, so prepare to join us in getting muddy and working hard together on several exciting projects. We have had requests from some residents to suggest planting schemes for their gardens and many offers to help us grow wild flower plugs from seed.
In addition to the nature reserve pond restoration project we also hope to have planting schemes alongside the new footpath route to school next to the allotments. The North Bristol Healthcare Trust with the NHS environmental resource team have agreed to set out a plan for fruit trees along the pathway as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee ‘Canopy’ tree planting initiative in 2022.
We will also arrange shortly for a new flowering cherry tree to replace the one vandalised next to the play area, this was planted in memorial for Zoe who was a child heart patient who sadly died. We have been able to fulfil the family’s wishes thanks to some great assistance from Alan Freke.
We also have had further interest in students wanting to complete their DofE bronze with community service, following the successful wild flower project on Frenchay Hill. We can provide more and different tasks, one student with her Mum has just taken on delivery of this magazine in the main road through Frenchay Park.
Through an initiative with Rotary International we will shortly have over 2, 000 purple crocuses to plant, so plenty of opportunity for more DofE community service credits.
The ‘rubbish walks’ are also continuing, thank you to those residents involved.
Speedwatch
One of the current team has volunteered to manage speedwatch sessions now that Ian Potter has moved away, but any additional volunteers would be most welcome. The training is not onerous and is completed online. Speeding is a problem, for example, 44% of motorists monitored going through Frenchay Common were speeding, which is a staggering proportion. Bristol Road is not far behind that. Thank you to everyone involved, it really is making our roads safer.
Graffiti and TAGS
We have some budding artists who have been busy in a few locations recently, the bus stop at the entrance to Frenchay Park was targeted recently, all in lovely blue.
Several residents reported this and SGC Street Care acted very promptly and professionally. You can report these incidents online in addition to the usual channels, here is the link; www.southglos.gov.uk/general-information/online-services/report/
Let us just hope that the dark winter nights discourage our ‘Banksie’ apprentices.
FRA Membership
Our recent activities, like the picnic afternoon, have encouraged many new volunteers and members who have signed up to our information and support database. If you are not a member of FRA, but would like to be, please contact us for a consent form; email [email protected]
By registering formally with FRA, you give your consent to our emailing you with updates about what is happening within our community. This is in addition to our monthly update in Frenchay Community News.
A reminder also that the New Residents’ Welcome Pack created for the new dwellings in Frenchay Park are available for all new residents. So, if you or one of your neighbours are moving, you can request one from any FRA committee member.
Stay safe and well everyone, thank you for your continued support and engagement.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
As I write this month's piece at the start of October for November's magazine we have suddenly seen the autumn weather start to 'catch up' as the beautifully warm and sunny September disappears in a flash.
This year the Downend Round Table fireworks extravaganza is set to resume on Friday 5th November after a year with no display, it will be great to see families enjoying the display in the cold crisp night air again.
Interestingly, as the old hospital site celebrates its centenary of healthcare in that location, Headway and Headway House specifically benefitted from charity funds raised over two years of DRT firework events. Those funds got them through their large target so that the facility could be established alongside the old hospital. The BIRU facility continues the outstanding treatment and care for brain injuries and we await news on the remainder of the healthcare facilities promised to us in that location as part of the redevelopment.
Carols on the Common & Christmas Windows
We were unable to hold the carol concert by Becks Pool last Christmas because of lockdown, although consideration was given to holding this on the common outside the church where space and fresh air was easy to find.
This year the plan is to hold a carol service on the common opposite Frenchay Parish Church on Monday 20th December, specific details will be circulated nearer to Christmas.
We hope that this can go ahead safely on the assumption that we can continue to gather in crowds as winter sets in.
This Christmas FRA plans to organise and facilitate a 'Christmas Window' decoration and walk around route, with prizes for the most popular displays. Full details and instructions will be provided for everyone interested to participate.
Wild Flower and 'No Mow' projects.
Planning for the next 12 months is well underway and has benefited from careful collaboration by all parties involved. This has enabled Winterbourne Parish Council to provide clear instructions to the contractors looking after Frenchay Park Lands through our Frenchay Parish Councillors and many grants and collaborative projects are planned for the current area and the soon to be adopted voluntary village green and nature reserve.
The SGC declared 'climate emergency' has led to additional expertise and resources being available to us, which will be very welcomed. We will also need teams of volunteers from residents, so prepare to join us in getting muddy and working hard together on several exciting projects. We have had requests from some residents to suggest planting schemes for their gardens and many offers to help us grow wild flower plugs from seed.
In addition to the nature reserve pond restoration project we also hope to have planting schemes alongside the new footpath route to school next to the allotments. The North Bristol Healthcare Trust with the NHS environmental resource team have agreed to set out a plan for fruit trees along the pathway as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee ‘Canopy’ tree planting initiative in 2022.
We will also arrange shortly for a new flowering cherry tree to replace the one vandalised next to the play area, this was planted in memorial for Zoe who was a child heart patient who sadly died. We have been able to fulfil the family’s wishes thanks to some great assistance from Alan Freke.
We also have had further interest in students wanting to complete their DofE bronze with community service, following the successful wild flower project on Frenchay Hill. We can provide more and different tasks, one student with her Mum has just taken on delivery of this magazine in the main road through Frenchay Park.
Through an initiative with Rotary International we will shortly have over 2, 000 purple crocuses to plant, so plenty of opportunity for more DofE community service credits.
The ‘rubbish walks’ are also continuing, thank you to those residents involved.
Speedwatch
One of the current team has volunteered to manage speedwatch sessions now that Ian Potter has moved away, but any additional volunteers would be most welcome. The training is not onerous and is completed online. Speeding is a problem, for example, 44% of motorists monitored going through Frenchay Common were speeding, which is a staggering proportion. Bristol Road is not far behind that. Thank you to everyone involved, it really is making our roads safer.
Graffiti and TAGS
We have some budding artists who have been busy in a few locations recently, the bus stop at the entrance to Frenchay Park was targeted recently, all in lovely blue.
Several residents reported this and SGC Street Care acted very promptly and professionally. You can report these incidents online in addition to the usual channels, here is the link; www.southglos.gov.uk/general-information/online-services/report/
Let us just hope that the dark winter nights discourage our ‘Banksie’ apprentices.
FRA Membership
Our recent activities, like the picnic afternoon, have encouraged many new volunteers and members who have signed up to our information and support database. If you are not a member of FRA, but would like to be, please contact us for a consent form; email [email protected]
By registering formally with FRA, you give your consent to our emailing you with updates about what is happening within our community. This is in addition to our monthly update in Frenchay Community News.
A reminder also that the New Residents’ Welcome Pack created for the new dwellings in Frenchay Park are available for all new residents. So, if you or one of your neighbours are moving, you can request one from any FRA committee member.
Stay safe and well everyone, thank you for your continued support and engagement.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
Report No. 83 October 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbours,
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our ‘Frenchay Unlocked’ picnic afternoon, we have had lots of positive feedback about the activities laid on and it was also so nice to see so many of you from Frenchay Park that afternoon. I hope that many of you learned a lot more about Frenchay Park Lands, the FRA Treasure Hunt is still available if you fancy learning more about our voluntary village green and nature reserve. Unfortunately the main prizes have been claimed, but we still have a vast selection of seed packets to give away as a reward for those completing the event. Please contact FRA for the map and clues.
Thank you to Frenchay Parish Church and everyone involved in providing teas/refreshments and events at the church during the afternoon, which was very welcome.
A big thank you to our FRA committee and many other significant helpers on the day, the work and dedication behind the scenes from everyone involved was phenomenal.
We all hope that you enjoyed the occasion and hope that by next summer Frenchay Flower Show and all of the associated entertainment can be resumed in full.
We had some new residents joining FRA with the form provided at the Museum, if anyone else would like to register and receive our email updates please contact us.
Wild Flower and ‘No Mow’ projects, Nature Reserve Pond
Thank you for your feedback and support during our picnic afternoon at the Museum hub where we had Grow Wilder attending and lots of engagement about our work to enhance our environment in response to the climate emergency initiatives. Thank you also to our new SG Councillor Liz Brennan and her family who attended the event to see what Frenchay is up to! Many FRA initiatives will be followed up and used as great examples of what can be achieved, including the DofE Bronze Community Service accreditation for local students. FRA will continue to engage and move forward with these ideas, we have established great relationships with so many support organisations who are now looking to fund and resource local biodiversity initiatives.
One very significant initiative is the restoration of the ‘pond’ in the nature reserve on the old hospital site. This ‘puddle’ is of ecological significance and the new school construction company BAM have pledged to provide funds and equipment/materials as part of their community service initiative in conjunction with this school project.
With full consent from the current land owners NBHT a licence will be granted so that the work can commence November pending transfer to the Parish, which is the perfect time for protecting the wildlife on the current site. This will enable BAM and FRA to go full steam ahead very soon, some preliminary saving of pennant stone as BAM cleared the site has already been done. We will put a shout out for volunteers once the timetable is set.
FRA are delighted with the outstanding support from BAM project manager Jason Cisneros and his team in response to our initiative.
FRA AGM 2021 traditionally we look to hold this public event in the village hall towards the end of October each year, due to Covid restrictions this has not been possible or sensible since we were last able to do this in October 2019. This has also been the case for other local groups like Frenchay Preservation Society.
Until we are entirely confident, following some normal activity and schools returning, that it is safe to do so we are reluctant to encourage large gatherings of residents in a small space.
Consequently we are monitoring the situation and looking for a safer way to hold any meeting, this includes deferment until it is entirely clear that current infection rates in South Glos are diminishing as we head into winter. At this stage we are still being very cautious with a view to keeping everyone safe and well.
Speedwatch We are very sad to lose Ian Potter who is moving house away from the area, Ian has been an FRA committee stalwart and has been totally responsible for patiently getting the Frenchay speedwatch initiative underway. At the time of writing we need someone to continue this project now it is up and running and replace Ian’s talents in our FRA team. Thank you Ian for your tireless work and enthusiasm as part of FRA and best wishes to you, Geraldine and your family as you embark upon your ‘grand designs’ move.
FCN Magazine Distribution Many thanks to those of you who have responded to our September magazine appeal, we now have many more willing residents to help with distribution and some from Frenchay Park as that continues to expand. This helps the existing volunteer network considerably, which is just what we needed.
Stay safe and well everyone, thank you for your continued support and engagement.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our ‘Frenchay Unlocked’ picnic afternoon, we have had lots of positive feedback about the activities laid on and it was also so nice to see so many of you from Frenchay Park that afternoon. I hope that many of you learned a lot more about Frenchay Park Lands, the FRA Treasure Hunt is still available if you fancy learning more about our voluntary village green and nature reserve. Unfortunately the main prizes have been claimed, but we still have a vast selection of seed packets to give away as a reward for those completing the event. Please contact FRA for the map and clues.
Thank you to Frenchay Parish Church and everyone involved in providing teas/refreshments and events at the church during the afternoon, which was very welcome.
A big thank you to our FRA committee and many other significant helpers on the day, the work and dedication behind the scenes from everyone involved was phenomenal.
We all hope that you enjoyed the occasion and hope that by next summer Frenchay Flower Show and all of the associated entertainment can be resumed in full.
We had some new residents joining FRA with the form provided at the Museum, if anyone else would like to register and receive our email updates please contact us.
Wild Flower and ‘No Mow’ projects, Nature Reserve Pond
Thank you for your feedback and support during our picnic afternoon at the Museum hub where we had Grow Wilder attending and lots of engagement about our work to enhance our environment in response to the climate emergency initiatives. Thank you also to our new SG Councillor Liz Brennan and her family who attended the event to see what Frenchay is up to! Many FRA initiatives will be followed up and used as great examples of what can be achieved, including the DofE Bronze Community Service accreditation for local students. FRA will continue to engage and move forward with these ideas, we have established great relationships with so many support organisations who are now looking to fund and resource local biodiversity initiatives.
One very significant initiative is the restoration of the ‘pond’ in the nature reserve on the old hospital site. This ‘puddle’ is of ecological significance and the new school construction company BAM have pledged to provide funds and equipment/materials as part of their community service initiative in conjunction with this school project.
With full consent from the current land owners NBHT a licence will be granted so that the work can commence November pending transfer to the Parish, which is the perfect time for protecting the wildlife on the current site. This will enable BAM and FRA to go full steam ahead very soon, some preliminary saving of pennant stone as BAM cleared the site has already been done. We will put a shout out for volunteers once the timetable is set.
FRA are delighted with the outstanding support from BAM project manager Jason Cisneros and his team in response to our initiative.
FRA AGM 2021 traditionally we look to hold this public event in the village hall towards the end of October each year, due to Covid restrictions this has not been possible or sensible since we were last able to do this in October 2019. This has also been the case for other local groups like Frenchay Preservation Society.
Until we are entirely confident, following some normal activity and schools returning, that it is safe to do so we are reluctant to encourage large gatherings of residents in a small space.
Consequently we are monitoring the situation and looking for a safer way to hold any meeting, this includes deferment until it is entirely clear that current infection rates in South Glos are diminishing as we head into winter. At this stage we are still being very cautious with a view to keeping everyone safe and well.
Speedwatch We are very sad to lose Ian Potter who is moving house away from the area, Ian has been an FRA committee stalwart and has been totally responsible for patiently getting the Frenchay speedwatch initiative underway. At the time of writing we need someone to continue this project now it is up and running and replace Ian’s talents in our FRA team. Thank you Ian for your tireless work and enthusiasm as part of FRA and best wishes to you, Geraldine and your family as you embark upon your ‘grand designs’ move.
FCN Magazine Distribution Many thanks to those of you who have responded to our September magazine appeal, we now have many more willing residents to help with distribution and some from Frenchay Park as that continues to expand. This helps the existing volunteer network considerably, which is just what we needed.
Stay safe and well everyone, thank you for your continued support and engagement.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
Report No. 82 September 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbours,
If you receive this magazine before Sunday 29th August please remember to join our 'Frenchay Unlocked' village picnic afternoon from 1pm on the new village green and common. Hopefully you have seen all of the pre event details in August's FCN and on posters/messages on social media and email. I look forward to seeing you all.
Wild Flower and 'No Mow' projects
As part of the FRA project to experiment with wild flower (no mow) areas can we firstly thank everyone for their engagement. These changes are a big step, but the Climate Emergency that we all face needs action now and SGC are asking all Parishes to respond. Real 'wilding' means shutting the gate and leaving areas untouched, which in an ur \.02ban area is just not practical. So our emphasis has been on creating 'urban meadows' and riots of colour, such as the area adjacent to Becks Pool the village pond.
FRA wanted to use this opportunity to help educate our local children by using our spaces for Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Community Service accreditation. Ammaarah Vohra, a local student, applied and her excellent report follows here;
#nomow was a campaign I hadn't even heard of before I volunteered with FRA, but looking back, it has taught me so much. #nomow is a campaign that began on Twitter to encourage native wildflower growth and creation. Bristol Parks forum supports one of the main objectives for local authorities to achieve, to reinstate and create wildflower habitats.
As a result of this, Bristol is already amongst the much greener areas of the UK, covered by lush greenery and beautiful meadows. The forum focuses mainly on growing these flowers on roadside verges, motorways, railway edges etc. These are the single MOST VIEWED habitats in the country, so this is a chance for thousands of people to have everyday contact with the wildflower journey and hopefully educate many on how important planting these flowers are.
I was really interested in this as it is vital in combatting the climate emergency and helping the environment, but also making Bristol an even prettier and healthier city than it already is. Since the 1930's, over 97% of wildflower meadows have been lost
(7.5 million acres) due to pollution, deforestation and as well as a loss of wildflowers, wildlife has decreased too. All of this plus the negative impact humans have on the environment, I knew this would be a chance for me to give back to the world, positively.
For three months I volunteered for my Bronze DofE by researching and growing wildflowers..
In this project there were three main locations we focused on to plant flowers; Frenchay pond, the steep grass bank on Frenchay Hill, and the grass triangle on the Frenchay Road and Beckspool Road intersection
We had a variety of seeds that we were going to grow, and this would help us compare which plants in different locations and situations. We had a wide range of flowers that we planted, such as:
Betony, Wild Teasel, Red Campion, Meadow Cranes Bill, Oxeye Daisy, Wild Carrot, Clustered Bellflower and Field Scabious.
After researching all the attributes of all the flowers, I knew as well as their ability to be pollinated, they also looked aesthetically pleasing, and their bright colours would attract even more bees and insects.
For around the six weeks the plants were kept in trays in a greenhouse as they grew, watered every other day. At around 4 weeks I transferred some of the plants to plug pots so they had more space to grow individually, before planting them into the ground.
Even after they had been planted, we continued to check on them and water them for another fortnight, before letting them adapt to the new environment. They have made excellent progress and I loved the process. It not only made me more aware about the environment, but also kept me active and busy. Thank you to Adrian & FRA for this opportunity and I hope to continue giving back to the world and the environment, for it has given me so much. Ammaarah, age 14.
This has been a fascinating and rewarding experience, and thank you also to Ammaarah's mother, Huma, for being willing to invest the time and effort to help her daughter and FRA conclude this fantastic project.
What happens next is down to us as residents so that between all stakeholders we can plan forwards, order seeds and prepare planting schemes, especially when the new Frenchay Parklands are handed over to the Parish. Here is a whole list of ideas and actions that we need you to let us have your views on, plus any other ideas and initiatives which we would welcome from you all;
Would residents be willing to grow wild flower plug plants for us?
Where would you like to see more urban meadows or wild flower drifts?
Who is willing to help with the manual work restoring areas such as the pond in the nature Reserve in the old hospital grounds?
FRA have many ideas and considerable pledges of funds and resources now from many sources including One Planet Matters, SGC and BAM who are building the new Primary school. The Climate Emergency has created many green credit opportunities for investment funds and private organisations to fulfil and we intend to take full advantage of these.
For example, it would cost £250 a year to continue a spring bulb planting programme, to create a similar carpet of colour to that opposite CLIC Cottage. FRA have been able to procure this through the Rotary International 'in memorial' purple crocus campaign.
We also want to help the Parish create something special to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 and have been fascinated by the Kings College Cambridge project to let all of their grasslands become meadows which were recently cut by horse drawn hay making equipment. Could we do this on the common opposite the Church?
Please let us have your thoughts, commitments to help and ideas ASAP.
CN Magazine Distribution As you are probably aware we help significantly with this logistical operation and due to existing helpers moving away and expansion due to new houses there are several areas where more volunteers are required.
At present we need help with Worrell Road, Clarendon House and please can we have some Frenchay Park volunteers? Over 1300 magazines are distributed each month, rising to 1500 by 2022.
Speedwatch is now up and running on a weekly basis in key locations, thank you to the team doing this to make our roads safer. The traffic police liaison contact has been surprised at some of the excessive speeds and driving behaviour, which is just why FRA have campaigned and succeeded in getting this road safety scheme in place.
Rubbish Walks please continue the good work litter picking in and around our Village, the results have been superb and very much appreciated by everyone.
Thank you all.
Stay safe and well everyone, we really look forward to seeing as many of you as pos \.02sible on Sunday 29th August afternoon.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
If you receive this magazine before Sunday 29th August please remember to join our 'Frenchay Unlocked' village picnic afternoon from 1pm on the new village green and common. Hopefully you have seen all of the pre event details in August's FCN and on posters/messages on social media and email. I look forward to seeing you all.
Wild Flower and 'No Mow' projects
As part of the FRA project to experiment with wild flower (no mow) areas can we firstly thank everyone for their engagement. These changes are a big step, but the Climate Emergency that we all face needs action now and SGC are asking all Parishes to respond. Real 'wilding' means shutting the gate and leaving areas untouched, which in an ur \.02ban area is just not practical. So our emphasis has been on creating 'urban meadows' and riots of colour, such as the area adjacent to Becks Pool the village pond.
FRA wanted to use this opportunity to help educate our local children by using our spaces for Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Community Service accreditation. Ammaarah Vohra, a local student, applied and her excellent report follows here;
#nomow was a campaign I hadn't even heard of before I volunteered with FRA, but looking back, it has taught me so much. #nomow is a campaign that began on Twitter to encourage native wildflower growth and creation. Bristol Parks forum supports one of the main objectives for local authorities to achieve, to reinstate and create wildflower habitats.
As a result of this, Bristol is already amongst the much greener areas of the UK, covered by lush greenery and beautiful meadows. The forum focuses mainly on growing these flowers on roadside verges, motorways, railway edges etc. These are the single MOST VIEWED habitats in the country, so this is a chance for thousands of people to have everyday contact with the wildflower journey and hopefully educate many on how important planting these flowers are.
I was really interested in this as it is vital in combatting the climate emergency and helping the environment, but also making Bristol an even prettier and healthier city than it already is. Since the 1930's, over 97% of wildflower meadows have been lost
(7.5 million acres) due to pollution, deforestation and as well as a loss of wildflowers, wildlife has decreased too. All of this plus the negative impact humans have on the environment, I knew this would be a chance for me to give back to the world, positively.
For three months I volunteered for my Bronze DofE by researching and growing wildflowers..
In this project there were three main locations we focused on to plant flowers; Frenchay pond, the steep grass bank on Frenchay Hill, and the grass triangle on the Frenchay Road and Beckspool Road intersection
We had a variety of seeds that we were going to grow, and this would help us compare which plants in different locations and situations. We had a wide range of flowers that we planted, such as:
Betony, Wild Teasel, Red Campion, Meadow Cranes Bill, Oxeye Daisy, Wild Carrot, Clustered Bellflower and Field Scabious.
After researching all the attributes of all the flowers, I knew as well as their ability to be pollinated, they also looked aesthetically pleasing, and their bright colours would attract even more bees and insects.
For around the six weeks the plants were kept in trays in a greenhouse as they grew, watered every other day. At around 4 weeks I transferred some of the plants to plug pots so they had more space to grow individually, before planting them into the ground.
Even after they had been planted, we continued to check on them and water them for another fortnight, before letting them adapt to the new environment. They have made excellent progress and I loved the process. It not only made me more aware about the environment, but also kept me active and busy. Thank you to Adrian & FRA for this opportunity and I hope to continue giving back to the world and the environment, for it has given me so much. Ammaarah, age 14.
This has been a fascinating and rewarding experience, and thank you also to Ammaarah's mother, Huma, for being willing to invest the time and effort to help her daughter and FRA conclude this fantastic project.
What happens next is down to us as residents so that between all stakeholders we can plan forwards, order seeds and prepare planting schemes, especially when the new Frenchay Parklands are handed over to the Parish. Here is a whole list of ideas and actions that we need you to let us have your views on, plus any other ideas and initiatives which we would welcome from you all;
Would residents be willing to grow wild flower plug plants for us?
Where would you like to see more urban meadows or wild flower drifts?
Who is willing to help with the manual work restoring areas such as the pond in the nature Reserve in the old hospital grounds?
FRA have many ideas and considerable pledges of funds and resources now from many sources including One Planet Matters, SGC and BAM who are building the new Primary school. The Climate Emergency has created many green credit opportunities for investment funds and private organisations to fulfil and we intend to take full advantage of these.
For example, it would cost £250 a year to continue a spring bulb planting programme, to create a similar carpet of colour to that opposite CLIC Cottage. FRA have been able to procure this through the Rotary International 'in memorial' purple crocus campaign.
We also want to help the Parish create something special to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 and have been fascinated by the Kings College Cambridge project to let all of their grasslands become meadows which were recently cut by horse drawn hay making equipment. Could we do this on the common opposite the Church?
Please let us have your thoughts, commitments to help and ideas ASAP.
CN Magazine Distribution As you are probably aware we help significantly with this logistical operation and due to existing helpers moving away and expansion due to new houses there are several areas where more volunteers are required.
At present we need help with Worrell Road, Clarendon House and please can we have some Frenchay Park volunteers? Over 1300 magazines are distributed each month, rising to 1500 by 2022.
Speedwatch is now up and running on a weekly basis in key locations, thank you to the team doing this to make our roads safer. The traffic police liaison contact has been surprised at some of the excessive speeds and driving behaviour, which is just why FRA have campaigned and succeeded in getting this road safety scheme in place.
Rubbish Walks please continue the good work litter picking in and around our Village, the results have been superb and very much appreciated by everyone.
Thank you all.
Stay safe and well everyone, we really look forward to seeing as many of you as pos \.02sible on Sunday 29th August afternoon.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
Report No. 81 August 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbours,
Frenchay Unlocked! Village Picnic Afternoon - Sunday 29th August - from 1 pm
We are able now to go ahead with our Village Picnic afternoon on Sunday 29th August, as we prepare this article almost a month in advance we are confident of going ahead.
After such a difficult time during lockdown, our aim is to create a time when everyone can enjoy and learn more about our village space. It is particularly sad that our very popular Flower Show and Fete plus many other events cannot be held until summer
2022, so this occasion is hopefully something that we can all enjoy together in their absence.
This celebration of our village green spaces is particularly significant when you consider the incredible amount of work undertaken by so many to secure this legacy for our future generations. We only have one chance to get it right, as the balance between housing needs and protecting our environment and village is considered. This picnic event was originally designed to complement Frenchay Parish Church's World Climate Sunday service and events, the Church will still be able to provide refreshments from 4pm until 5.30pm on Sunday 29th.
To continue that theme, the plan is for people to picnic from 1 p.m. on the new Village Green and any other green space they care to enjoy, like the Common. As the bye laws prohibit naked flames for safety reasons, please note any BBQ's can only be in the area set aside by the school boundary where there is a stone area purpose built. Please also take your litter home if the bins are too full or far away, thank you.
FRA will provide:
- guided tours of the new voluntary village green and nature reserve every hour from 2pm onwards;
- a family treasure hunt, with suitable rewards for effort; AND
Frenchay Museum will have a fascinating exhibition, Hugh Whatley's article in this magazine in July explained the significance of this year for Frenchay's medical facility heritage.
Grow Wilder will also be providing an information centre for us by a blue tent on the voluntary village green and other local event groups, like the Flower Show, have been invited to do the same.
Porta-loos will be situated in the museum car park.
We particularly extend a warm welcome to new residents in Frenchay Park, who can hopefully meet their new village neighbours and learn more about our wonderful village.
Assuming that we are blessed with kind weather, it should be a very enjoyable and social occasion for everyone.
Please bring games to play in addition to all of your picnic essentials, seeing the green spaces used for enjoyment is our number one objective.
STOP PRESS!! - New acquisition for the Museum
Thanks to a combination of local knowledge and steady nerves in the auction room, the Museum has successfully bid for the original 'Subscription List' of contributors to the cost of Frenchay Bridge, built in 1788. Subject to the usual conservation protocols, it is hoped to have this item on display during August.
Yet another reason to call into the Museum on the Village Picnic Day - Sunday 29th!
(Hugh Whatley)
PS: The Museum are still looking for more volunteers, so please contact Hugh, if interested.
New School Building Work Commences
We very much welcome BAM construction as they start work on the new school. They are keen to support FRA, children going into the new school and our local community work, including improving the local environment. The site team are led by Project
Manager Jason Cisneros and Senior Site Manager Simon Hill. FRA will circulate BAM's full newsletter, but here is an extract summarising the project for everyone;
BAM is building the new Frenchay Church of England Primary School, on behalf of South Gloucestershire Council. The school has outgrown its current teaching facility and will completely relocate into the new school building when it is complete. This new building will provide a modern, comfortable learning environment for 420 local children to the Frenchay area. The project will involve the construction of a 2 storey, primary school with a double height hall space and adjacent catering kitchen. The building will be constructed from a full timber frame structure with steel supports for the larger spanning areas. The structure will be founded on reinforced concrete raft ground floor slab with thickening and high load points. The external fabric will com \.02prise of half height rendered masonry wall around the full perimeter of the building, above this low-level blockwork will be larch timber cladding up to the roof level. The external scheme will provide two hard games court areas, one soft sports pitch and associated car parking and cycle storage, with surrounding hardstanding.
Can we please ask that residents and visitors avoid parking between the site entrances and the new bungalows during working hours to allow safe and achievable lorry movements to the new school site. Thank you everyone.
Community Speed Watch
After what seems like an eternity, our traffic expert Ian Potter has finally received confirmation that the speed watch volunteers can commence their training, which should be complete by the time you read this. Feedback from residents has helped
Ian to identify the relevant 'hot spots' and these will be used for the monitoring of motorists.
It would be great if this project ends up with motorists sticking to local speed limits more and the generic results will be communicated back to residents as well as the traffic police.
There is no doubt that with less traffic during lockdown the reports of speeding vehicles in certain locations increased dramatically. Many thanks to Ian and the volunteers working hard to make our local roads safer.
Stay safe and well everyone, we really look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Sunday 29th August afternoon.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
Frenchay Unlocked! Village Picnic Afternoon - Sunday 29th August - from 1 pm
We are able now to go ahead with our Village Picnic afternoon on Sunday 29th August, as we prepare this article almost a month in advance we are confident of going ahead.
After such a difficult time during lockdown, our aim is to create a time when everyone can enjoy and learn more about our village space. It is particularly sad that our very popular Flower Show and Fete plus many other events cannot be held until summer
2022, so this occasion is hopefully something that we can all enjoy together in their absence.
This celebration of our village green spaces is particularly significant when you consider the incredible amount of work undertaken by so many to secure this legacy for our future generations. We only have one chance to get it right, as the balance between housing needs and protecting our environment and village is considered. This picnic event was originally designed to complement Frenchay Parish Church's World Climate Sunday service and events, the Church will still be able to provide refreshments from 4pm until 5.30pm on Sunday 29th.
To continue that theme, the plan is for people to picnic from 1 p.m. on the new Village Green and any other green space they care to enjoy, like the Common. As the bye laws prohibit naked flames for safety reasons, please note any BBQ's can only be in the area set aside by the school boundary where there is a stone area purpose built. Please also take your litter home if the bins are too full or far away, thank you.
FRA will provide:
- guided tours of the new voluntary village green and nature reserve every hour from 2pm onwards;
- a family treasure hunt, with suitable rewards for effort; AND
Frenchay Museum will have a fascinating exhibition, Hugh Whatley's article in this magazine in July explained the significance of this year for Frenchay's medical facility heritage.
Grow Wilder will also be providing an information centre for us by a blue tent on the voluntary village green and other local event groups, like the Flower Show, have been invited to do the same.
Porta-loos will be situated in the museum car park.
We particularly extend a warm welcome to new residents in Frenchay Park, who can hopefully meet their new village neighbours and learn more about our wonderful village.
Assuming that we are blessed with kind weather, it should be a very enjoyable and social occasion for everyone.
Please bring games to play in addition to all of your picnic essentials, seeing the green spaces used for enjoyment is our number one objective.
STOP PRESS!! - New acquisition for the Museum
Thanks to a combination of local knowledge and steady nerves in the auction room, the Museum has successfully bid for the original 'Subscription List' of contributors to the cost of Frenchay Bridge, built in 1788. Subject to the usual conservation protocols, it is hoped to have this item on display during August.
Yet another reason to call into the Museum on the Village Picnic Day - Sunday 29th!
(Hugh Whatley)
PS: The Museum are still looking for more volunteers, so please contact Hugh, if interested.
New School Building Work Commences
We very much welcome BAM construction as they start work on the new school. They are keen to support FRA, children going into the new school and our local community work, including improving the local environment. The site team are led by Project
Manager Jason Cisneros and Senior Site Manager Simon Hill. FRA will circulate BAM's full newsletter, but here is an extract summarising the project for everyone;
BAM is building the new Frenchay Church of England Primary School, on behalf of South Gloucestershire Council. The school has outgrown its current teaching facility and will completely relocate into the new school building when it is complete. This new building will provide a modern, comfortable learning environment for 420 local children to the Frenchay area. The project will involve the construction of a 2 storey, primary school with a double height hall space and adjacent catering kitchen. The building will be constructed from a full timber frame structure with steel supports for the larger spanning areas. The structure will be founded on reinforced concrete raft ground floor slab with thickening and high load points. The external fabric will com \.02prise of half height rendered masonry wall around the full perimeter of the building, above this low-level blockwork will be larch timber cladding up to the roof level. The external scheme will provide two hard games court areas, one soft sports pitch and associated car parking and cycle storage, with surrounding hardstanding.
Can we please ask that residents and visitors avoid parking between the site entrances and the new bungalows during working hours to allow safe and achievable lorry movements to the new school site. Thank you everyone.
Community Speed Watch
After what seems like an eternity, our traffic expert Ian Potter has finally received confirmation that the speed watch volunteers can commence their training, which should be complete by the time you read this. Feedback from residents has helped
Ian to identify the relevant 'hot spots' and these will be used for the monitoring of motorists.
It would be great if this project ends up with motorists sticking to local speed limits more and the generic results will be communicated back to residents as well as the traffic police.
There is no doubt that with less traffic during lockdown the reports of speeding vehicles in certain locations increased dramatically. Many thanks to Ian and the volunteers working hard to make our local roads safer.
Stay safe and well everyone, we really look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Sunday 29th August afternoon.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
Report No. 80 July 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbours,
Frenchay Unlocked! Village Picnic Afternoon - Now Sunday 29th August
As this article goes to press, we are unable to go ahead with our Village Picnic afternoon on Sunday 18th July, due to the extension of the current Covid rules until 19th July. To leave some safety margin with this extra uncertainty, we feel it best to push this back to Sunday 28th August, which is a Bank Holiday weekend. Schools are due back that following week. We hope that this means more of you may be at home that weekend to join us.
Obviously we will keep everyone fully informed by all communication means available to us. Please also keep in touch with our Facebook page and Frenchay Community News.
After such a difficult time during lockdown, our aim is to create a time when everyone can enjoy and learn more about our village space. It is particularly sad that our very popular Flower Show and Fete plus many other events cannot be held until summer 2022, so this occasion is hopefully something that we can all enjoy together in their absence.
This celebration of our village green spaces is particularly significant when you consider the incredible amount of work undertaken by so many to secure this legacy for our future generations. We only have one chance to get it right, as the balance between housing needs and protecting our environment and village is considered.
Frenchay Residents Association was formed out of Frenchay Residents User Group (RUG) on 20th July 2014 to Safeguard Frenchay's Best Interests at all times.
FRA's Purpose is formally set out as; The purpose of FRA, as the representative organisation for local residents, is to promote at all times the best interests of the community in and around Frenchay, with particular reference to the delivery area for the Frenchay Community News. This purpose includes, but is not limited to, all or any matters affecting the natural and built environment, without limit to current municipal boundaries.
Prior to this RUG had fought to challenge the development of the old hospital site and loss of the hospital for a new replacement hospital in Southmead. Out of that campaign, where the old Frenchay hospital was lost, came promises that some secondary health and social care facility would be retained as well as BIRU and Headway. We are still battling to secure the additional community hospital development where land is set aside next to the BIRU buildings.
The huge achievement from the RUG and FRA campaigns was to secure 20 acres of 'Voluntary Village Green' and Nature Reserve from the 70 acre hospital site. The significance of a 'Voluntary Village Green' is that it sets aside this land as Village Green in perpetuity because the land owner has 'voluntarily' assigned it for Frenchay.
It comprises all of the area that was used for recreation and convalescence by Frenchay Hospital staff and patients. Many of the trees, and within the nature reserve by the allotments, are rare and interesting tree species. One, by the Observation ward bungalows, is the famous 'handkerchief' tree, (davidia involucrata) whose large white rectangular flower petals in May/June drape down like someone has covered the tree in large white handkerchiefs.
This picnic event was originally designed to complement Frenchay Parish Church's World Climate Sunday service and events on the 18th July and the Church will provide refreshments from 4 pm until 5.30 pm. on that Sunday.
The plan for the picnic day on 29th August is to have people picnicking from 1pm on the new Village Green and any other green space they care to enjoy, like the Common. As the bye laws prohibit naked flames for safety reasons please note any BBQ's can only be in the area set aside by the school boundary where there is a stone area purpose built. Please go prepared to take all your litter home with you.
FRA will provide guided tours of the new voluntary village green and nature reserve every hour from 2pm onwards, or every half hour if we are still restricted to smaller groups.
FRA will provide a family treasure hunt, with suitable rewards for effort, and Frenchay Museum will have a fascinating exhibition. Hugh Whatley has put a piece in this magazine about the significance of this year for Frenchay's medical facility heritage.
Grow Wilder will also be providing an information centre for us by a blue tent on the voluntary village green and other local event groups have been invited to do the same.
We particularly extend a warm welcome to new residents in Frenchay Park, who can hopefully meet their new village neighbours and learn more about our wonderful village.
Assuming that the planned progress in easing Covid restrictions can continue and we are blessed with kind weather, it should be a very enjoyable and social occasion for everyone.
Please bring games to play in addition to all of your picnic essentials, seeing the green spaces used for enjoyment is our number one objective. FRA will also provide portaloos.
Wild Flowers and 'No Mow' Trial Areas
These projects are now well underway, the eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed an additional trial around the evergreen tree on the small common opposite the Unitarian Chapel. Robert and Sarah Beetham have been monitoring Frenchay's flora and fauna for decades and are probably our most knowledgeable residents in the field, helping the Flora and Fauna project.
Robert and Sarah explain "The area around the evergreen tree (a Holme Oak) contains a good number of clusters of knapweed leaves and some hawkbit leaves. We hope that by leaving this area we may get an insight into what it might look like if left and what else may appear from the 'original' flora. We use the word 'original' in inverted commas because we don't actually know without access to the supposed flower survey made some time in the 1970s whether knapweed etc were part of the flora at that time.
Once we have the information, we can then plan with all stakeholders how any further approach to flora management in Frenchay can proceed with most people on board.
Thank you Robert and Sarah, we await the results from the various trials with interest and hope that many more can be put into place going forwards in response to the Climate Emergency.
Allotments
We have permission from WPC to consider use of the S106 monies for additional allotments by the Village Hall in Tuckett Field and are in advanced talks with SGC and their 'climate emergency' partner 'One Planet Matters', where we hope to gain grant support for this very important project and others that we are involved with, like the Community Orchard along the new Woodward Walk way to the new school. More details will follow in August. One Planet Matters are seeking grants to assist all of these growing projects and if you can take the time to complete their online survey it will help them and us with the plans for Frenchay growing projects: https://forms.gle/TNeKDTQyyVDRKfVk6 Thank you.
Zoe Smith Memorial Tree
With many thanks to Alan Freke who is in touch with Zoe's family, we will arrange between FRA, WPC and Redrow for the tree to be replaced in November, which is the best planting time. A flowering cherry tree has been requested by the family, this is the same as was originally planted by the old hospital buildings in her memory.
Stay safe and well everyone, thank you for your continuing support and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Sunday 18th July afternoon.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
Frenchay Unlocked! Village Picnic Afternoon - Now Sunday 29th August
As this article goes to press, we are unable to go ahead with our Village Picnic afternoon on Sunday 18th July, due to the extension of the current Covid rules until 19th July. To leave some safety margin with this extra uncertainty, we feel it best to push this back to Sunday 28th August, which is a Bank Holiday weekend. Schools are due back that following week. We hope that this means more of you may be at home that weekend to join us.
Obviously we will keep everyone fully informed by all communication means available to us. Please also keep in touch with our Facebook page and Frenchay Community News.
After such a difficult time during lockdown, our aim is to create a time when everyone can enjoy and learn more about our village space. It is particularly sad that our very popular Flower Show and Fete plus many other events cannot be held until summer 2022, so this occasion is hopefully something that we can all enjoy together in their absence.
This celebration of our village green spaces is particularly significant when you consider the incredible amount of work undertaken by so many to secure this legacy for our future generations. We only have one chance to get it right, as the balance between housing needs and protecting our environment and village is considered.
Frenchay Residents Association was formed out of Frenchay Residents User Group (RUG) on 20th July 2014 to Safeguard Frenchay's Best Interests at all times.
FRA's Purpose is formally set out as; The purpose of FRA, as the representative organisation for local residents, is to promote at all times the best interests of the community in and around Frenchay, with particular reference to the delivery area for the Frenchay Community News. This purpose includes, but is not limited to, all or any matters affecting the natural and built environment, without limit to current municipal boundaries.
Prior to this RUG had fought to challenge the development of the old hospital site and loss of the hospital for a new replacement hospital in Southmead. Out of that campaign, where the old Frenchay hospital was lost, came promises that some secondary health and social care facility would be retained as well as BIRU and Headway. We are still battling to secure the additional community hospital development where land is set aside next to the BIRU buildings.
The huge achievement from the RUG and FRA campaigns was to secure 20 acres of 'Voluntary Village Green' and Nature Reserve from the 70 acre hospital site. The significance of a 'Voluntary Village Green' is that it sets aside this land as Village Green in perpetuity because the land owner has 'voluntarily' assigned it for Frenchay.
It comprises all of the area that was used for recreation and convalescence by Frenchay Hospital staff and patients. Many of the trees, and within the nature reserve by the allotments, are rare and interesting tree species. One, by the Observation ward bungalows, is the famous 'handkerchief' tree, (davidia involucrata) whose large white rectangular flower petals in May/June drape down like someone has covered the tree in large white handkerchiefs.
This picnic event was originally designed to complement Frenchay Parish Church's World Climate Sunday service and events on the 18th July and the Church will provide refreshments from 4 pm until 5.30 pm. on that Sunday.
The plan for the picnic day on 29th August is to have people picnicking from 1pm on the new Village Green and any other green space they care to enjoy, like the Common. As the bye laws prohibit naked flames for safety reasons please note any BBQ's can only be in the area set aside by the school boundary where there is a stone area purpose built. Please go prepared to take all your litter home with you.
FRA will provide guided tours of the new voluntary village green and nature reserve every hour from 2pm onwards, or every half hour if we are still restricted to smaller groups.
FRA will provide a family treasure hunt, with suitable rewards for effort, and Frenchay Museum will have a fascinating exhibition. Hugh Whatley has put a piece in this magazine about the significance of this year for Frenchay's medical facility heritage.
Grow Wilder will also be providing an information centre for us by a blue tent on the voluntary village green and other local event groups have been invited to do the same.
We particularly extend a warm welcome to new residents in Frenchay Park, who can hopefully meet their new village neighbours and learn more about our wonderful village.
Assuming that the planned progress in easing Covid restrictions can continue and we are blessed with kind weather, it should be a very enjoyable and social occasion for everyone.
Please bring games to play in addition to all of your picnic essentials, seeing the green spaces used for enjoyment is our number one objective. FRA will also provide portaloos.
Wild Flowers and 'No Mow' Trial Areas
These projects are now well underway, the eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed an additional trial around the evergreen tree on the small common opposite the Unitarian Chapel. Robert and Sarah Beetham have been monitoring Frenchay's flora and fauna for decades and are probably our most knowledgeable residents in the field, helping the Flora and Fauna project.
Robert and Sarah explain "The area around the evergreen tree (a Holme Oak) contains a good number of clusters of knapweed leaves and some hawkbit leaves. We hope that by leaving this area we may get an insight into what it might look like if left and what else may appear from the 'original' flora. We use the word 'original' in inverted commas because we don't actually know without access to the supposed flower survey made some time in the 1970s whether knapweed etc were part of the flora at that time.
Once we have the information, we can then plan with all stakeholders how any further approach to flora management in Frenchay can proceed with most people on board.
Thank you Robert and Sarah, we await the results from the various trials with interest and hope that many more can be put into place going forwards in response to the Climate Emergency.
Allotments
We have permission from WPC to consider use of the S106 monies for additional allotments by the Village Hall in Tuckett Field and are in advanced talks with SGC and their 'climate emergency' partner 'One Planet Matters', where we hope to gain grant support for this very important project and others that we are involved with, like the Community Orchard along the new Woodward Walk way to the new school. More details will follow in August. One Planet Matters are seeking grants to assist all of these growing projects and if you can take the time to complete their online survey it will help them and us with the plans for Frenchay growing projects: https://forms.gle/TNeKDTQyyVDRKfVk6 Thank you.
Zoe Smith Memorial Tree
With many thanks to Alan Freke who is in touch with Zoe's family, we will arrange between FRA, WPC and Redrow for the tree to be replaced in November, which is the best planting time. A flowering cherry tree has been requested by the family, this is the same as was originally planted by the old hospital buildings in her memory.
Stay safe and well everyone, thank you for your continuing support and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Sunday 18th July afternoon.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
Report No. 79 June 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbours,
As we come out of a truly challenging time it is nice to think we have the summer to look forward to and much of this month’s FRA report is all about our great outdoors. We have lots going on to enhance our beautiful village in response to the current local council Climate Emergency and there are many opportunities to enjoy our green and pleasant spaces with our new found freedom. Thank you for the hard work by so many behind the scenes to help serve Frenchay’s best interests, as FRA we will never lose sight of that responsibility to our residents and will work tirelessly with everyone involved in keeping our village and community so special.
Frenchay Picnic Afternoon – Sunday 18th July
We still plan to invite everyone to enjoy a village picnic afternoon on Sunday 18th July from 1pm. Our plans are well underway and we hope that as many residents as possible will be able to join us. This is designed to complement Frenchay Parish Church’s World Climate Sunday service and events that morning.
The plan is to have people picnicking from 1pm on the new Village Green and any other green space they care to enjoy, like the common.
FRA will provide guided tours of the new voluntary village green and nature reserve, provide a family treasure hunt with suitable rewards for effort and Frenchay Museum will hold a special event with a fascinating ‘then and now’ picture postcard exhibition.
Grow Wilder will also be providing an exhibition and information centre for us.
We particularly extend a warm welcome to new residents in Frenchay Park, who can hopefully meet their new village neighbours and learn more about our wonderful village.
Assuming that the planned progress in easing Covid restrictions can continue and we are blessed with kind weather, it should be a very enjoyable and social occasion for everyone.
Wildflower and ‘No Mow’ Trial Areas
These projects are now well underway, thank you for the support that we have had. It has been interesting to see that SGC have had a ‘No Mow May’ campaign, here is the link to their very informative web page; www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/no-mow-may
A big thank you to Ges Rosenberg and his Marvel Explorer Scout Unit who have scarified and seeded a wild flower area adjacent to Becks Pool where we undertook a similar trial last year, we will watch with interest as the plants and flowers develop.
For the second trial area on the embankment at the top of Frenchay Hill, we are taking a Bronze level Duke of Edinburgh award community service student through her project.
This has involved researching the soil and suitability of sites for up to eight wild flower species on that embankment and at the time of writing the seeds are being sown and nurtured ready for eventual planting. This project is in response to FRA’s offer of providing constructive educational assistance to young people and the young lady undertaking this project for us will provide an article about her experience and learning for this magazine later in the season. We are grateful for the parental support this student has had too.
Finally, the third area at the back of the triangle of grass at the top of Frenchay Hill will see a large arc of grass under and coming out from the trees left to grow just to see what comes through for this season, some wild flowers have also been planted around the trees.
With help from volunteers and the very knowledgeable contractor who is responsible for grass mowing in much of Frenchay, we have plans on what could be considered in Spring 2022 already and we will outline these suggestions for consideration later in the year.
Becks Pool Update
Thank you to the ‘pond team’ who recently carried out more maintenance and planting of marginals around the pond, we have seen an abundance of wildlife as well as people enjoying this lovely setting. Unfortunately the abundance of food for the ducks and geese has led to a problem with rats which has now been dealt with successfully. Thank you to residents who have responded to our notices not to feed the ducks for a short period whilst the rat problem was being addressed.
Allotments
We have had a request from WPC to consider how new allotment space could be considered following a grant that has become available as a planning condition of a private development in the village. At present a space in Tuckett Field next to the black hut by the village hall is being considered and our current Frenchay allotment committee/users are doing a feasibility study to help us. There are already a number of people on the waiting list for allotments in Frenchay, a number that is likely to increase as Frenchay Park reaches capacity, so any new space, and financial assistance, to provide more of them would be most welcome.
More time working from home and the emphasis on healthy fresh home grown produce has also led to a boom in ‘grow your own’. This goes a stage further where surplus produce from our current allotment holders is being donated to a local partnership scheme with a national charity assisting families and children. This is an excellent way to support those families and the Regional Organiser wrote saying:
“Thanks all for organising this, what a great opportunity for local families to eat locally grown allotment vegetables.”
Help Needed Please
Sadly, on a less positive note, some mindless vandals have damaged the new tennis courts and destroyed two young trees next to the children’s play area and at the museum end of Lime Tree Avenue. This almost certainly occurred on Sunday evening 2nd May.
The tree by the play area was planted in memory of a five year old girl called Zoe Smith who died on 8th May 1990. If anyone has information or knows the family please can you contact FRA so that we can arrange for a replacement tree to be planted in November.
It is hard to find the words to describe this awful vandalism, so any information to assist in finding the perpetrators would be very welcome for us to pass to the police investigation.
Please remember that for you and anyone you know who might need assistance, the FRA task force is available to help those needing to stay safe in isolation.
Stay safe and well everyone, thank you for your continuing support.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
As we come out of a truly challenging time it is nice to think we have the summer to look forward to and much of this month’s FRA report is all about our great outdoors. We have lots going on to enhance our beautiful village in response to the current local council Climate Emergency and there are many opportunities to enjoy our green and pleasant spaces with our new found freedom. Thank you for the hard work by so many behind the scenes to help serve Frenchay’s best interests, as FRA we will never lose sight of that responsibility to our residents and will work tirelessly with everyone involved in keeping our village and community so special.
Frenchay Picnic Afternoon – Sunday 18th July
We still plan to invite everyone to enjoy a village picnic afternoon on Sunday 18th July from 1pm. Our plans are well underway and we hope that as many residents as possible will be able to join us. This is designed to complement Frenchay Parish Church’s World Climate Sunday service and events that morning.
The plan is to have people picnicking from 1pm on the new Village Green and any other green space they care to enjoy, like the common.
FRA will provide guided tours of the new voluntary village green and nature reserve, provide a family treasure hunt with suitable rewards for effort and Frenchay Museum will hold a special event with a fascinating ‘then and now’ picture postcard exhibition.
Grow Wilder will also be providing an exhibition and information centre for us.
We particularly extend a warm welcome to new residents in Frenchay Park, who can hopefully meet their new village neighbours and learn more about our wonderful village.
Assuming that the planned progress in easing Covid restrictions can continue and we are blessed with kind weather, it should be a very enjoyable and social occasion for everyone.
Wildflower and ‘No Mow’ Trial Areas
These projects are now well underway, thank you for the support that we have had. It has been interesting to see that SGC have had a ‘No Mow May’ campaign, here is the link to their very informative web page; www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/no-mow-may
A big thank you to Ges Rosenberg and his Marvel Explorer Scout Unit who have scarified and seeded a wild flower area adjacent to Becks Pool where we undertook a similar trial last year, we will watch with interest as the plants and flowers develop.
For the second trial area on the embankment at the top of Frenchay Hill, we are taking a Bronze level Duke of Edinburgh award community service student through her project.
This has involved researching the soil and suitability of sites for up to eight wild flower species on that embankment and at the time of writing the seeds are being sown and nurtured ready for eventual planting. This project is in response to FRA’s offer of providing constructive educational assistance to young people and the young lady undertaking this project for us will provide an article about her experience and learning for this magazine later in the season. We are grateful for the parental support this student has had too.
Finally, the third area at the back of the triangle of grass at the top of Frenchay Hill will see a large arc of grass under and coming out from the trees left to grow just to see what comes through for this season, some wild flowers have also been planted around the trees.
With help from volunteers and the very knowledgeable contractor who is responsible for grass mowing in much of Frenchay, we have plans on what could be considered in Spring 2022 already and we will outline these suggestions for consideration later in the year.
Becks Pool Update
Thank you to the ‘pond team’ who recently carried out more maintenance and planting of marginals around the pond, we have seen an abundance of wildlife as well as people enjoying this lovely setting. Unfortunately the abundance of food for the ducks and geese has led to a problem with rats which has now been dealt with successfully. Thank you to residents who have responded to our notices not to feed the ducks for a short period whilst the rat problem was being addressed.
Allotments
We have had a request from WPC to consider how new allotment space could be considered following a grant that has become available as a planning condition of a private development in the village. At present a space in Tuckett Field next to the black hut by the village hall is being considered and our current Frenchay allotment committee/users are doing a feasibility study to help us. There are already a number of people on the waiting list for allotments in Frenchay, a number that is likely to increase as Frenchay Park reaches capacity, so any new space, and financial assistance, to provide more of them would be most welcome.
More time working from home and the emphasis on healthy fresh home grown produce has also led to a boom in ‘grow your own’. This goes a stage further where surplus produce from our current allotment holders is being donated to a local partnership scheme with a national charity assisting families and children. This is an excellent way to support those families and the Regional Organiser wrote saying:
“Thanks all for organising this, what a great opportunity for local families to eat locally grown allotment vegetables.”
Help Needed Please
Sadly, on a less positive note, some mindless vandals have damaged the new tennis courts and destroyed two young trees next to the children’s play area and at the museum end of Lime Tree Avenue. This almost certainly occurred on Sunday evening 2nd May.
The tree by the play area was planted in memory of a five year old girl called Zoe Smith who died on 8th May 1990. If anyone has information or knows the family please can you contact FRA so that we can arrange for a replacement tree to be planted in November.
It is hard to find the words to describe this awful vandalism, so any information to assist in finding the perpetrators would be very welcome for us to pass to the police investigation.
Please remember that for you and anyone you know who might need assistance, the FRA task force is available to help those needing to stay safe in isolation.
Stay safe and well everyone, thank you for your continuing support.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
Appendix
Geoff Haskett reports:
Going, going……..gone.
Geoff Haskett reports:
Going, going……..gone.
Restoration of Becks Pool came too late for one decaying tree. The Management reluctantly decided that it was in danger of falling into the pond. So early on Friday a cable was attached near the top and with the help of a chain saw and a hoist, it was felled onto the bank. It will be missed as it was a familiar silhouette on the skyline, particularly by the Heron that used to perch near the top and watch for aquatic life below.
Report No. 78 May 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbours,
Thanks to everyone who has endorsed and offered to be involved with our Frenchay wild flower trial in three key locations, those working hard on the ground also appreciate the public support and hot drinks supplied during planting. We have had residents asking to grow wild flowers for us to use, so please come forward as we would welcome such help.
There is no doubt, after the difficulties of being in lockdown during the winter, that the spring bulbs and vibrant colours have been much appreciated. Many thanks to our team of volunteers for creating such a positive and beneficial plan to help respond to our climate emergency. We are also seeking extra support from SGC, who are keen to provide any Climate Emergency grants that might be available for us to use.
It is also very nice to be able to report that the ‘vibrant colours’ of litter are very difficult to see these days thanks to the fantastic and largely anonymous response to our appeal at the start of the year.
One particular family have shared with us their very productive efforts and how brilliantly SGC responded to collecting their extra rubbish by making a ‘tweet’ request on twitter.
That same family have children who have coined the phrase ‘rubbish walks’ to describe their activity, so feel free to ask your kids to join you for a ‘rubbish walk’ from now on!
Thanks so much to them and many other residents who quietly help to keep the area litter free. If everyone took their litter home or used the bins provided we would of course have no problem to solve.
One park in the midlands has put up signs asking dog owners to hang their bags of dog poo on trees in their own gardens to see how it fails to biodegrade, rather than throw it into the trees and bushes in the park, as happens all too frequently. Great idea!
Frenchay Picnic Afternoon – Sunday 18th July (a date for the Diary)
Assuming that restrictions have been lifted, our plans to invite everyone to enjoy a village picnic afternoon are well underway and we hope that as many residents as possible will be able to join us. This is designed to complement Frenchay Parish Church’s World Climate Sunday service and events in the morning.
Much more detail will follow, but the plan is to have people picnicking from 1pm on the new Village Green and any other green space they care to enjoy, like the common.
FRA will provide guided tours of the new voluntary village green and nature reserve, provide a family treasure hunt and Frenchay Museum will hold a special event with a fascinating ‘then and now’ picture postcard exhibition.
Local Facilities
We all welcome the news, at last, that work will start soon on the new school building. However, we are still waiting for confirmation of the health care facilities, and nursery school, to be provided – both having been identified, by the community and South Gloucestershire Council, as essential parts of the community infrastructure to support the increased population in Frenchay following the redevelopment of the Frenchay Hospital site for housing. This should also include local shops and a café, which we desperately need for a community that will have doubled in size between 2018 and 2023.
With local by-elections in May, perhaps we should be asking candidates whether they are sufficiently aware of these community deficits and what they will do to ensure that they are rectified as soon as possible? Many of the candidates have mentioned these important issues in their literature setting out why they should have our votes, but how will they achieve changes when there has, so far, been no response to constant requests locally for these essential facilities?
The South Gloucestershire website ‘By-elections 6 May 2021‘ lists the four candidates nominated for the Frenchay and Downend ward. Some candidates have posted leaflets through doors, but many areas in Frenchay have had fewer or no leaflets so far.
The website for the Mayoral election for the West of England combined authority states that a mayoral booklet listing information about the election and a statement from each candidate will be delivered to all electors in mid-April. Information about virtual online hustings in April is also available online.
Web-editor's note: These comments concerning the progress of the election campaigns where clearly written several weeks ago and consequently are no longer accurate at the time of publication (1st May).
Grow Wilder Project – Avon Wildlife Trust
This project is situated on the former ‘Feed Bristol’ site and the bottom of Stoke Lane beside the new Metrobus stops and link road to the M32.
FRA is keen to involve our residents. We know that allotment holders in Frenchay work closely with the project, including the provision of surplus fresh produce for local food banks. There is also an extensive list of planned events on the Grow Wilder web site.
We have recently had a request to consider a village ‘seed bank’ exchange and other co-operative ventures between keen growers and gardeners. Please channel any such activities through Grow Wilder and support their activities. Their web site can be found at: avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/grow-wilder
Becks Pool Update
Thank you for responses to our request for drawings and suggested plans for the stone plinth information display planned for the pond bank in the near future. We still welcome ideas, it is not too late to contribute. Tony Joiner would be pleased to hear your thoughts.
Neighbourhood Watch
FRA would welcome resident’s thoughts and feedback on Neighbourhood Watch provision at present. We are aware that social media pages for specific streets in Frenchay makes communication and security issues easier to deal with and our own FRA Facebook page aims to keep residents informed on local issues and events requiring everyone’s attention.
At present some of this is just as effective as the NW street warden system, but we also recognise that some NW support is very much in place with active patrols.
As part of ‘working together’ for everyone’s benefit we would welcome your thoughts please on what works well for you and your street, recognising that some form of cohesive and well-structured system is a necessity to help everyone feel protected.
Please provide your feedback, ideas and availability to assist on the ground to any of the FRA committee or Email [email protected] Many thanks for your help.
Please remember that for you and anyone you know who might need assistance, the FRA task force is available to help those needing to stay safe in isolation.
Stay safe and well everyone, thank you for your continuing support.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
Thanks to everyone who has endorsed and offered to be involved with our Frenchay wild flower trial in three key locations, those working hard on the ground also appreciate the public support and hot drinks supplied during planting. We have had residents asking to grow wild flowers for us to use, so please come forward as we would welcome such help.
There is no doubt, after the difficulties of being in lockdown during the winter, that the spring bulbs and vibrant colours have been much appreciated. Many thanks to our team of volunteers for creating such a positive and beneficial plan to help respond to our climate emergency. We are also seeking extra support from SGC, who are keen to provide any Climate Emergency grants that might be available for us to use.
It is also very nice to be able to report that the ‘vibrant colours’ of litter are very difficult to see these days thanks to the fantastic and largely anonymous response to our appeal at the start of the year.
One particular family have shared with us their very productive efforts and how brilliantly SGC responded to collecting their extra rubbish by making a ‘tweet’ request on twitter.
That same family have children who have coined the phrase ‘rubbish walks’ to describe their activity, so feel free to ask your kids to join you for a ‘rubbish walk’ from now on!
Thanks so much to them and many other residents who quietly help to keep the area litter free. If everyone took their litter home or used the bins provided we would of course have no problem to solve.
One park in the midlands has put up signs asking dog owners to hang their bags of dog poo on trees in their own gardens to see how it fails to biodegrade, rather than throw it into the trees and bushes in the park, as happens all too frequently. Great idea!
Frenchay Picnic Afternoon – Sunday 18th July (a date for the Diary)
Assuming that restrictions have been lifted, our plans to invite everyone to enjoy a village picnic afternoon are well underway and we hope that as many residents as possible will be able to join us. This is designed to complement Frenchay Parish Church’s World Climate Sunday service and events in the morning.
Much more detail will follow, but the plan is to have people picnicking from 1pm on the new Village Green and any other green space they care to enjoy, like the common.
FRA will provide guided tours of the new voluntary village green and nature reserve, provide a family treasure hunt and Frenchay Museum will hold a special event with a fascinating ‘then and now’ picture postcard exhibition.
Local Facilities
We all welcome the news, at last, that work will start soon on the new school building. However, we are still waiting for confirmation of the health care facilities, and nursery school, to be provided – both having been identified, by the community and South Gloucestershire Council, as essential parts of the community infrastructure to support the increased population in Frenchay following the redevelopment of the Frenchay Hospital site for housing. This should also include local shops and a café, which we desperately need for a community that will have doubled in size between 2018 and 2023.
With local by-elections in May, perhaps we should be asking candidates whether they are sufficiently aware of these community deficits and what they will do to ensure that they are rectified as soon as possible? Many of the candidates have mentioned these important issues in their literature setting out why they should have our votes, but how will they achieve changes when there has, so far, been no response to constant requests locally for these essential facilities?
The South Gloucestershire website ‘By-elections 6 May 2021‘ lists the four candidates nominated for the Frenchay and Downend ward. Some candidates have posted leaflets through doors, but many areas in Frenchay have had fewer or no leaflets so far.
The website for the Mayoral election for the West of England combined authority states that a mayoral booklet listing information about the election and a statement from each candidate will be delivered to all electors in mid-April. Information about virtual online hustings in April is also available online.
Web-editor's note: These comments concerning the progress of the election campaigns where clearly written several weeks ago and consequently are no longer accurate at the time of publication (1st May).
Grow Wilder Project – Avon Wildlife Trust
This project is situated on the former ‘Feed Bristol’ site and the bottom of Stoke Lane beside the new Metrobus stops and link road to the M32.
FRA is keen to involve our residents. We know that allotment holders in Frenchay work closely with the project, including the provision of surplus fresh produce for local food banks. There is also an extensive list of planned events on the Grow Wilder web site.
We have recently had a request to consider a village ‘seed bank’ exchange and other co-operative ventures between keen growers and gardeners. Please channel any such activities through Grow Wilder and support their activities. Their web site can be found at: avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/grow-wilder
Becks Pool Update
Thank you for responses to our request for drawings and suggested plans for the stone plinth information display planned for the pond bank in the near future. We still welcome ideas, it is not too late to contribute. Tony Joiner would be pleased to hear your thoughts.
Neighbourhood Watch
FRA would welcome resident’s thoughts and feedback on Neighbourhood Watch provision at present. We are aware that social media pages for specific streets in Frenchay makes communication and security issues easier to deal with and our own FRA Facebook page aims to keep residents informed on local issues and events requiring everyone’s attention.
At present some of this is just as effective as the NW street warden system, but we also recognise that some NW support is very much in place with active patrols.
As part of ‘working together’ for everyone’s benefit we would welcome your thoughts please on what works well for you and your street, recognising that some form of cohesive and well-structured system is a necessity to help everyone feel protected.
Please provide your feedback, ideas and availability to assist on the ground to any of the FRA committee or Email [email protected] Many thanks for your help.
Please remember that for you and anyone you know who might need assistance, the FRA task force is available to help those needing to stay safe in isolation.
Stay safe and well everyone, thank you for your continuing support.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
Report No. 77 April 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbours,
Spring is in the air and the very efficient ‘roll out’ of vaccinations plus a ‘roadmap’ to some semblance of normality begins to suggest that, like the weather and light evenings, some positive progress is on the way.
Thank you for your responses to our surge testing request through our resident updates, the staff at SGC have been holding evening online conferences with local representatives to help support residents. They are all working very hard to help combat and overcome the Covid virus and the dangerous variants from Brazil, South Africa and Kent. Working together in this way means that we can all overcome this menace together and FRA will do everything that it can to help with this process for our residents.
Local Planning and Redevelopment
There is no doubt that the recent granting of planning permission on Bristol road for a small bungalow to be demolished and a three storey block of modern flats built to replace it, has surprised many of us, especially the residents that live so close to this and who will be overshadowed by the new build.
We had good support from our Councillor Ben Burton in presenting this recent case, but at the actual planning meeting, our arguments about the impact on neighbouring properties were hardly considered as relevant compared to a ‘brilliant’ new sustainable building that ticked many green credential boxes and would help SGC achieve its housing targets.
The link to local reporting on the planning committee meeting is provided here in case you want the details: www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/plans-brilliant-three-storey-block-5033258
Much of the FRA Committee’s time and effort has been to help combat the unwanted side effects of new development even though we accept that SGC has stringent and probably ever increasing numbers of new houses to provide.
We also live in a conservation area, which feels at present like an idyllic tropical island surrounded by a tide of over development and some unwanted progress?
So now we really do need to focus on combatting this massive amount of change on our doorstep. We have to come up with ways to consider future redevelopment sites like this and find ways of defending those that seem entirely inappropriate.
Meanwhile, we have received many reports and queries about a number of abandoned cars in the Museum car park. There are plans for this area to be handed over to Winterbourne Parish Council (WPC) but due to Covid etc., things have been on hold and the legal transfer from the Health Authority has stalled. As a result, it is has become a bit of 'no-man’s land' and before South Glos. Street Care can get involved, it needs the permission of the current land owner. The Frenchay members on WPC have now brought the matter to the attention of both parties and it is hoped that this more extreme example of 'fly tipping' will be dealt with before Easter.
Frenchay Community Health and Social Care Provision
Three years ago, there were plans to provide health, and social care, facilities on the old Frenchay Hospital site for which 6 acres of land have been allocated next to Tanners Court. The plans included a hospital, particularly intended as a ‘Care Down’ facility for patients discharged from Southmead Hospital, but not well enough to go home, as well as other Care beds. In February 2018, responding to a letter from South Gloucesteshire MPs, Andrea Young, CEO of North Bristol NHS Trust said ‘I would like to reassure you that NBT remains committed to supporting our partners to deliver additional out-of-acute-hospital services for the South Gloucestershire population and we will continue to support the CCG to achieve this’. Furthermore, long term plans were reported to include a 70-80 bed nursing home on the site of the former Frenchay Hospital.
Here is the article concerned: www.gazetteseries.co.uk/news/15925293.future-thornbury-frenchay-hospital-plans-secure-say-nhs-bosses
At present, there does not seem to be any further information about such possible developments. We are aware that facilities both in Thornbury and Frenchay were very publicly supported back in February 2018, recently Thornbury got the go ahead with considerable coverage and fanfares by SGC. We urge residents to get in touch with our two local SGC Councillors, Ben Burton and James Griffiths, to determine that these promises and commitments made will actually be fulfilled for Frenchay.
Beckspool Pond Update
As soon as we are allowed to do so, there will be a call to volunteers to once more start work on the duck pond. One of the willow trees that has died off is to be felled as soon as we have permission from SGC to remove it, some to a safe height will be left as habitat as the lower trunk is hollow.
Tony Joiner is also looking for a willing volunteer to help design the stone structure that is planned to provide a public information facility next to the pond. We have in mind something with a concrete base and a block structure clad with stone to match the wall. Is there a resident who is able to draw up such a structure that can be submitted for planning permission?
Frenchay Moor National Trust Management plan
We mentioned in the March FCN magazine that we have permission from the National Trust to share this detailed plan and have provided it to the Frenchay Community web site to publish for everyone. We will also circulate it with one of our FRA e-mail updates at the next opportunity.
A gentle reminder to enjoy Frenchay safely
The early taster of spring-like weather at the end of February encouraged a surge of outdoor exercise and activities around our village areas. Hopefully there will be more good weather over Easter when this report is being read. So, with Covid restrictions continuing for a while longer, please be aware of the concerns which have been expressed about the obvious difficulties of maintaining appropriate social distancing, particularly at 'pinch points' such as narrow paths, gateways and road crossings etc. Also, there has been a noticeable increase in the use of the new Play Area near the museum, ball games on the former hospital field (soon to become a 'Village Green'), visits to the nature reserve and of course, the Common.
Whilst all of these facilities are part of the attraction of living in, or visiting Frenchay, please exercise your common sense as well as your legs! In particular, if you are out and about with your children as a parent or grandparent, please be aware of all the hazards associated with such temptations as using a rope swing casually set-up by someone else or getting over-enthusiastic with a bit of den-building.
(As granny used to say, all harmless fun but on your head be it.)
Please remember that for you and anyone you know who might need assistance, the FRA task force is available to help those needing to stay safe in isolation.
Stay safe and well during this difficult time everyone, thank you for your continuing support.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
Spring is in the air and the very efficient ‘roll out’ of vaccinations plus a ‘roadmap’ to some semblance of normality begins to suggest that, like the weather and light evenings, some positive progress is on the way.
Thank you for your responses to our surge testing request through our resident updates, the staff at SGC have been holding evening online conferences with local representatives to help support residents. They are all working very hard to help combat and overcome the Covid virus and the dangerous variants from Brazil, South Africa and Kent. Working together in this way means that we can all overcome this menace together and FRA will do everything that it can to help with this process for our residents.
Local Planning and Redevelopment
There is no doubt that the recent granting of planning permission on Bristol road for a small bungalow to be demolished and a three storey block of modern flats built to replace it, has surprised many of us, especially the residents that live so close to this and who will be overshadowed by the new build.
We had good support from our Councillor Ben Burton in presenting this recent case, but at the actual planning meeting, our arguments about the impact on neighbouring properties were hardly considered as relevant compared to a ‘brilliant’ new sustainable building that ticked many green credential boxes and would help SGC achieve its housing targets.
The link to local reporting on the planning committee meeting is provided here in case you want the details: www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/plans-brilliant-three-storey-block-5033258
Much of the FRA Committee’s time and effort has been to help combat the unwanted side effects of new development even though we accept that SGC has stringent and probably ever increasing numbers of new houses to provide.
We also live in a conservation area, which feels at present like an idyllic tropical island surrounded by a tide of over development and some unwanted progress?
So now we really do need to focus on combatting this massive amount of change on our doorstep. We have to come up with ways to consider future redevelopment sites like this and find ways of defending those that seem entirely inappropriate.
Meanwhile, we have received many reports and queries about a number of abandoned cars in the Museum car park. There are plans for this area to be handed over to Winterbourne Parish Council (WPC) but due to Covid etc., things have been on hold and the legal transfer from the Health Authority has stalled. As a result, it is has become a bit of 'no-man’s land' and before South Glos. Street Care can get involved, it needs the permission of the current land owner. The Frenchay members on WPC have now brought the matter to the attention of both parties and it is hoped that this more extreme example of 'fly tipping' will be dealt with before Easter.
Frenchay Community Health and Social Care Provision
Three years ago, there were plans to provide health, and social care, facilities on the old Frenchay Hospital site for which 6 acres of land have been allocated next to Tanners Court. The plans included a hospital, particularly intended as a ‘Care Down’ facility for patients discharged from Southmead Hospital, but not well enough to go home, as well as other Care beds. In February 2018, responding to a letter from South Gloucesteshire MPs, Andrea Young, CEO of North Bristol NHS Trust said ‘I would like to reassure you that NBT remains committed to supporting our partners to deliver additional out-of-acute-hospital services for the South Gloucestershire population and we will continue to support the CCG to achieve this’. Furthermore, long term plans were reported to include a 70-80 bed nursing home on the site of the former Frenchay Hospital.
Here is the article concerned: www.gazetteseries.co.uk/news/15925293.future-thornbury-frenchay-hospital-plans-secure-say-nhs-bosses
At present, there does not seem to be any further information about such possible developments. We are aware that facilities both in Thornbury and Frenchay were very publicly supported back in February 2018, recently Thornbury got the go ahead with considerable coverage and fanfares by SGC. We urge residents to get in touch with our two local SGC Councillors, Ben Burton and James Griffiths, to determine that these promises and commitments made will actually be fulfilled for Frenchay.
Beckspool Pond Update
As soon as we are allowed to do so, there will be a call to volunteers to once more start work on the duck pond. One of the willow trees that has died off is to be felled as soon as we have permission from SGC to remove it, some to a safe height will be left as habitat as the lower trunk is hollow.
Tony Joiner is also looking for a willing volunteer to help design the stone structure that is planned to provide a public information facility next to the pond. We have in mind something with a concrete base and a block structure clad with stone to match the wall. Is there a resident who is able to draw up such a structure that can be submitted for planning permission?
Frenchay Moor National Trust Management plan
We mentioned in the March FCN magazine that we have permission from the National Trust to share this detailed plan and have provided it to the Frenchay Community web site to publish for everyone. We will also circulate it with one of our FRA e-mail updates at the next opportunity.
A gentle reminder to enjoy Frenchay safely
The early taster of spring-like weather at the end of February encouraged a surge of outdoor exercise and activities around our village areas. Hopefully there will be more good weather over Easter when this report is being read. So, with Covid restrictions continuing for a while longer, please be aware of the concerns which have been expressed about the obvious difficulties of maintaining appropriate social distancing, particularly at 'pinch points' such as narrow paths, gateways and road crossings etc. Also, there has been a noticeable increase in the use of the new Play Area near the museum, ball games on the former hospital field (soon to become a 'Village Green'), visits to the nature reserve and of course, the Common.
Whilst all of these facilities are part of the attraction of living in, or visiting Frenchay, please exercise your common sense as well as your legs! In particular, if you are out and about with your children as a parent or grandparent, please be aware of all the hazards associated with such temptations as using a rope swing casually set-up by someone else or getting over-enthusiastic with a bit of den-building.
(As granny used to say, all harmless fun but on your head be it.)
Please remember that for you and anyone you know who might need assistance, the FRA task force is available to help those needing to stay safe in isolation.
Stay safe and well during this difficult time everyone, thank you for your continuing support.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
Report No. 76 March 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbours,
We continue to dig in and endeavour to get through what seems to have been a dark, wet and dismal start to 2021. The Sunday in January that started with a blanket of snow really seemed to lift people’s spirits. As I did my daily walk early that Sunday morning I was amazed to see just how many ‘grown up’ children were making snowmen and sculptures or having snowball fights with their own children.
How nice to have a day of rest with some serious socially distanced fresh air enjoyment.
Looking at the muddy tracks around much of Frenchay’s green space, it is obvious that many residents are enjoying their local walks,. The carpets of colourful spring bulbs that are just emerging hopefully cheer everyone up as indications of brighter and warmer weather to come.
Thank you to the team quietly planting extra bulbs over this last year for us all to enjoy now.
New Year’s Resolution - Litter Picks
Thank you to everyone who has responded by sending me accounts of their litter-picking activities following our request to collect litter once a week on your walks to keep our surroundings tidy.
I know of many residents who do this frequently already, but some of you have sent us messages that show just how much people do on a regular basis. Already it is noticeable since FCN magazine was distributed last month that there is less litter lying around,. Thank you all so much and keep up the good work.
If you spot larger ‘dumps’ of rubbish, especially in the borders of the car parks and nature reserve, please let us know quickly so that we can take steps to deal with this and stop the anti-social behaviour that is so damaging to the environment. Two major previous dumping incidents by CLIC Cottage will now lead to prosecutions against the offenders following detailed evidence submitted to SGC .
New Play Area by the Tennis Courts
We had a very disturbing incident where broken glass had been left or deliberately put into the base of one of the play equipment tunnels. The parent who discovered it immediately informed the police and SGC.
SGC acted swiftly to inform NHBT and Redrow ,as they are still responsible for that area until it comes to the Parish. Thank you to the Redrow employees who made the area safe immediately.
It is horrible to think these things happen, so please stay vigilant and also remember to observe social distancing in and around the new play area, as it does get very busy, especially at weekends.
Frenchay Moor National Trust Management Plan
As part of his remit to form the FRA flora and fauna action team, our very own eco-warrior Neil Falango has got from the National Trust their site management plan for Frenchay Moor next to Tuckett field. This is to help educate us all on how to manage the area and learn best practices. With SGC’s declared ‘climate emergency’ and many grants and types of assistance available to concentrate on local environmental issues, plans like this one will be invaluable to the Parish as local environmental plans are drawn up to reflect the SGC initiative.
There is no doubt that a massive amount needs to change in our own conventional thought processes when considering matters such as how necessary it is to mow every blade of grass frequently. Just leaving some areas to grow naturally and encourage back wild flowers and pollinating insects, not only improves the environment but can save significant maintenance costs which can be spent on complementary environmental projects.
There is also a great educational value to these ideas. Today many children are much more aware, and better informed than adults on how we should be thinking. So the educational benefits will work both ways to young and old alike : it is our children’s and grandchildren’s legacy to be passed on responsibly.
We have permission from the National Trust to share this detailed plan and will find a way of loading this onto a local website so that it can be shared by everyone. We will also circulate it with one of our FRA e-mail updates.
Build-Outs on Beckspool Road / Frenchay Common
Thank you to everyone who responded to this consultation . Some of the feedback from those who did their best to tackle the ‘crystal maze’ of the questionnaire thanked FRA for sending out guidance notes and clues to the puzzle! We have Mary Ryan from our team to thank for suggesting we offered more help, which included every member of the FRA committee doing the online survey to discover what needed to be communicated to residents. SGC are committed to replacing the build-outs. However, it is disturbing to think how many respondents may have been excluded by offering an online survey which was not easy to get right first time, especially if any of you had suggestions to add to the text within the relatively short ‘time out’ window. It is almost as if we were being discouraged from responding!
Please remember that, for you and anyone you know who might need assistance, the FRA task force is available to help those needing to stay safe in isolation.
Stay safe and well during this difficult time everyone, thank you for your continuing support.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
We continue to dig in and endeavour to get through what seems to have been a dark, wet and dismal start to 2021. The Sunday in January that started with a blanket of snow really seemed to lift people’s spirits. As I did my daily walk early that Sunday morning I was amazed to see just how many ‘grown up’ children were making snowmen and sculptures or having snowball fights with their own children.
How nice to have a day of rest with some serious socially distanced fresh air enjoyment.
Looking at the muddy tracks around much of Frenchay’s green space, it is obvious that many residents are enjoying their local walks,. The carpets of colourful spring bulbs that are just emerging hopefully cheer everyone up as indications of brighter and warmer weather to come.
Thank you to the team quietly planting extra bulbs over this last year for us all to enjoy now.
New Year’s Resolution - Litter Picks
Thank you to everyone who has responded by sending me accounts of their litter-picking activities following our request to collect litter once a week on your walks to keep our surroundings tidy.
I know of many residents who do this frequently already, but some of you have sent us messages that show just how much people do on a regular basis. Already it is noticeable since FCN magazine was distributed last month that there is less litter lying around,. Thank you all so much and keep up the good work.
If you spot larger ‘dumps’ of rubbish, especially in the borders of the car parks and nature reserve, please let us know quickly so that we can take steps to deal with this and stop the anti-social behaviour that is so damaging to the environment. Two major previous dumping incidents by CLIC Cottage will now lead to prosecutions against the offenders following detailed evidence submitted to SGC .
New Play Area by the Tennis Courts
We had a very disturbing incident where broken glass had been left or deliberately put into the base of one of the play equipment tunnels. The parent who discovered it immediately informed the police and SGC.
SGC acted swiftly to inform NHBT and Redrow ,as they are still responsible for that area until it comes to the Parish. Thank you to the Redrow employees who made the area safe immediately.
It is horrible to think these things happen, so please stay vigilant and also remember to observe social distancing in and around the new play area, as it does get very busy, especially at weekends.
Frenchay Moor National Trust Management Plan
As part of his remit to form the FRA flora and fauna action team, our very own eco-warrior Neil Falango has got from the National Trust their site management plan for Frenchay Moor next to Tuckett field. This is to help educate us all on how to manage the area and learn best practices. With SGC’s declared ‘climate emergency’ and many grants and types of assistance available to concentrate on local environmental issues, plans like this one will be invaluable to the Parish as local environmental plans are drawn up to reflect the SGC initiative.
There is no doubt that a massive amount needs to change in our own conventional thought processes when considering matters such as how necessary it is to mow every blade of grass frequently. Just leaving some areas to grow naturally and encourage back wild flowers and pollinating insects, not only improves the environment but can save significant maintenance costs which can be spent on complementary environmental projects.
There is also a great educational value to these ideas. Today many children are much more aware, and better informed than adults on how we should be thinking. So the educational benefits will work both ways to young and old alike : it is our children’s and grandchildren’s legacy to be passed on responsibly.
We have permission from the National Trust to share this detailed plan and will find a way of loading this onto a local website so that it can be shared by everyone. We will also circulate it with one of our FRA e-mail updates.
Build-Outs on Beckspool Road / Frenchay Common
Thank you to everyone who responded to this consultation . Some of the feedback from those who did their best to tackle the ‘crystal maze’ of the questionnaire thanked FRA for sending out guidance notes and clues to the puzzle! We have Mary Ryan from our team to thank for suggesting we offered more help, which included every member of the FRA committee doing the online survey to discover what needed to be communicated to residents. SGC are committed to replacing the build-outs. However, it is disturbing to think how many respondents may have been excluded by offering an online survey which was not easy to get right first time, especially if any of you had suggestions to add to the text within the relatively short ‘time out’ window. It is almost as if we were being discouraged from responding!
Please remember that, for you and anyone you know who might need assistance, the FRA task force is available to help those needing to stay safe in isolation.
Stay safe and well during this difficult time everyone, thank you for your continuing support.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
Report No. 75 February 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbours,
Welcome to 2021, which still feels very similar to where we were back in March and April 2020. I saw a quote recently that said “Stay at home now, so that we can all be together with no one missing when it is safe to meet again” which I think sums our current situation up quite nicely, so let’s look forward to all meeting up again later in the year.
Some of our FRA committee are frontline NHS key workers so we wish them, and everyone in our community who work on the frontline, all the very best as they support us through this extremely difficult time. If, as a community, we can help to support you in any way please contact FRA.
New Year’s Resolution
Between us all on the FRA committee, we had been thinking about the year ahead with a particular emphasis on our surroundings and environment. With many more residents out walking every day under lockdown, we have all benefited enormously from our beautiful surroundings and long may that continue.
We wanted to start the New Year off with a ‘litter picking’ campaign, which many residents are already doing as they are out walking, and we really appreciate everyone who contributes in this way. It is very easy to question why this is necessary, if no one dropped litter, there would not be a problem! But, as I am out and about walking, or running, there seems to always be drinks cans and fast food rubbish, particularly on the roadside verges.
At the moment long grass and foliage is flat and dying back with the cold and wet weather, which is now revealing longstanding rubbish that was hidden before. The area around the new village green nature reserve is a very good example and our ecology expert, Neil Falango, has started combing the area already.
So, although we would like to set up co-ordinated and safe group sessions to sweep areas clean, this will unfortunately not be an option for some time to come because of lockdown. As now, before the new spring growth, is such a good opportunity, please can we ask everyone to make a difference by doing this as a weekly task when out walking?
You will need a stout pair of gloves, (gardening gloves for example), a sturdy plastic bag and, if you have some, arm’s length ‘litter picker’ devices to save using fingers.
We are working on getting supplies of bags and litter pickers with help from a similar very active group of litter pickers in Winterbourne, which we will publicise when acquired for those willing to help us on a regular basis.
In the meantime, please help us to make a difference . We will publicise and praise your efforts on the FRA Facebook page if you e-mail photos or post directly. We will also come up with prizes for those who exceed our expectations. Any children looking for D of E community service credits, under parental supervision, can also be considered. Please contact us to co-ordinate that for you..
Thank you also to the many residents who are doing this now; please don’t stop unless our campaign means that no more litter can be found!
Becks Pool Community Interest Company
As you may be aware, when the pond was purchased, we established a Community Interest Company (CIC) to own the pond for the benefit of Frenchay residents, and at our AGM our treasurer, John Rawle presents the accounts for the CIC and the FRA. We are just in the process of filing our accounts for the year ending 31 March 2020 at which the CIC assets are valued at £29,685.
This is made up of the pool and the land around the perimeter, purchased for £29,700 and a reserve of £8,985 for maintenance / improvements. The reserve at 31 March 2019 was £9,061 with maintenance costs and insurance for the previous year just about covered by the Carols by the Pool (profits and collection) in December 2019 and our October 2019 FRA AGM Pool raffle. The CIC is registered as Company no. 11255888 at Companies House.
Build-Outs on Beckspool Road /Frenchay Common
It is exactly two years since FRA did its campaign to consult residents on this traffic calming scheme, the result of which was a massive majority for their removal. Eventually we were promised action to replace them and the recent public consultation vindicates our hard work and persistence. We hope that you have responded to the public consultation for replacing the current ‘build-outs’, details of which were circulated to all residents by FRA in early January, and letters/notices were issued by SGC.
Please remember that for you and anyone you know who might need assistance, the FRA task force is available to help those needing to stay safe in isolation.
Despite these challenging times, we wish everyone a much better year eventually in 2021 and look forward to having some normality back in our lives at some stage. Stay safe and well everyone, and thank you for your continuing support.
Adrian Collins
Chair, FRA
MUST-READ IMPORTANT NOTICES
It’s the perfect time to get more involved in your local community and learn new skills at the same time. Here are two great opportunities.
Helping with FCN magazine
For many years, Edna Cause has undertaken the role of editing and compiling Frenchay Community News (FCN) and has done a great job, for which we all have reason to be very grateful.
She is now stepping down from that role, and although we hope and expect that she will continue to help on the small FCN committee, we are looking for a person or persons to take on that role, most probably on a shared basis for reasons of flexibility for all concerned and to widen the involvement behind the magazine.
The demands on your time would primarily be contained within a couple of days around the 10th of each month (but ,by reason of the sharing of the role, not every month) and while there are some skills to be learned, you would likely pick them up easily and have time to do so. Please feel welcome to enquire further by speaking to the stand-in editor and compiler, Ed Allingham.
Frenchay's Community Website is a must see. It has the latest blogs and articles from the magazine plus previous ones if you need to catch up. Contact details for local clubs and societies are provided and local events are listed on the What's On page. Check it out here: www.frenchaycommunity.co.uk,
After about 7 years as website manager, Katherine would like to hand it over to someone else. The software is easy to use and no coding knowledge is required. It takes Katherine about 2-3 hours per month to update the site and respond to users who get in touch. Training on the software will be provided. If you are interested, please contact Katherine at [email protected]
Report No. 74 January 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbours,
Well I don’t know about you all, but I think 2020 is a year we will never forget. The challenges we faced were nowhere near evident when 2020 started, so let us hope in every respect that 2021 can see us starting to recover and be able to get back to slightly more normal times.
Despite all of the challenges, we have probably learned a lot from the last year’s experiences, thanks go to all of the FRA Committee for their dedication to the cause of ‘Frenchay’s Best Interests’.
Thank you also to the tireless team of volunteers who have worked alongside the FRA Committee to help look after our residents in so many ways during 2020. The goodwill and support from everyone has been so uplifting.
When I took over as FRA Chairman one of my first objectives was to have each and every group in the village working closely together for the benefit of all residents. Little did I know how vital that was going to become two years later, but undoubtedly this has enabled us to provide support for the village in so many ways. We will continue to build upon these very strong and positive foundations to benefit everyone.
Becks Pool Christmas Decorations
Tony Joiner and the pond team, together with residents from the adjacent flats, put together a fantastic display to cheer everyone up over Christmas. Thank you everyone, including the power supply donators from nearby residents. The lights helped to make up for the disappointment of not being able to hold any sort of outdoor carol service this Christmas. FRA have provided the lights that Tony needed which will be used for many years in the future to make a feature of our wonderful village pond. Hopefully for Christmas 2021 we can all gather round the pond to celebrate once again.
Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity Group
This will be a very strong theme for 2021 and will encompass the primary school and young families as we build upon the ideas and objectives put together by our dedicated team, under the leadership of our ecology expert Neil Falango.
There is so much opportunity to use this as an educational project for children of all ages and their families. I include the ‘grown ups’ in this education as we all have much to learn, and improve upon, to protect and make our unique environment sustainable.
With South Glos declaring a ‘climate emergency’ in 2020, now is the ideal time to rethink everything that we do and start to act accordingly. We have the perfect opportunity to provide examples of what can be achieved in the new village green space, and nature reserve, which hopefully will increase everyone’s awareness and desire to consider other areas for more sensitive management and encouragement of wild habitats and corridors. Exciting times indeed.
Speed
Ian Potter and his team will hopefully have been out and about starting to undertake community speed watch sessions by the time you read this, I am sure you will have spotted them!
There is no doubt that motorists of all ages need to be reminded of the speed limits around the village, especially those who commute through Frenchay. Many thanks to Ian and his team for their perseverance in getting this programme going for the safety of our residents.
There will be much more to update you all on as we get going into 2021, including some great community, and social, events we have planned once we know when we are able to socialise again.
Please remember that for you and anyone you know who might need assistance, the FRA task force is available to help those needing to stay safe in isolation.
Despite these very challenging times, we wish everyone a much better year in 2021 and look forward to having some normality back in our lives. Stay safe and well everyone, thank you for your continuing support.
Adrian Collins,
Chair, FRA