Over the past few months, we have been working hard to share the Really Wild Lockleaze story across Bristol and further afield. We’ve been shouting about what Lockleaze residents have achieved, and also gathering our learning. Really Wild Lockleaze is at the cutting edge of creating methods to wild our cities in a fair and sustainable way; we want other communities like ours to see what we have achieved and run with it.
Lessons from Lockleaze: Community-Led Urban Nature Recovery
On 10th June we held Lessons from Lockleaze: Community-Led Urban Nature Recovery, attended by 24 people from 14 organisations across the city. As well as Project Coordinator Eleanor Fairbraida and Community Ecologist Eric Swithinbank, we had the pleasure of hearing from Lockleaze resident Huma Shaikh, Avon Wildlife Trust Head of Communities and Engagement Julie Doherty, and Bristol City Council Horticultural Service Manager Richard Ennion.
It was excellent to share our key learnings and answer questions from such an engaged and knowledgeable crowd of professionals and volunteers in the sector. Attendees were taken on a tour of rewilded areas in Lockleaze including the ‘Field Stories’ bench and community-sown meadow at Gainsborough Square, and meadow, hedgerow and herb garden planted by the community at Thornycroft Close. An attendee said:
“Enjoyed my visit to Lockleaze this morning to learn even more about their urban nature recovery. A huge well done to the team for their approach!”
We also shared our Summary Report, two case studies and our ‘Wilding Your Streets’ Toolkit, all of which can be found on our resources page.
Walks and Talks
During Bristol Walkfest, we held a guided walk for individuals interested in rewilding, investigating rewilded areas and spotting a few bees and butterflies. Attendees of the monthly Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust Wellbeing Walk also enjoyed visiting the meadows and ponds that residents have created, as well as listening to the audio from the Field Stories art project. Ecologist Eric explained the importance of biodiversity in cities- an attendee said…
We learnt how to treat nature and how to look for different plants – things that I thought were weeds but in actual fact they attract different animal users
We were also pleased to share our work with sixteen academics from the European Urban Research Association Healthy and Sustainable Cities conference, to demonstrate the work Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust is doing to balance house-building with nature connection and rewilding, in the mobile workshop ‘Really Wild, Sustainably Housed Lockleaze!’
Fourteen attendees of the Lockleaze Sports Centre Bioblitz with the RSPB Bristol group were also treated to a tour of the grounds at Lockleaze Sports Centre, which has been rewilded with the support of residents volunteers from Bristol Bears HITZ programme, The Conservation Volunteers, the Ministry of Defence and more.
Representing Really Wild
From Eleanor and Eric popping up at a MyWildBedminster community meeting in March to LNT CEO Melissa Blackburn speaking on behalf of the project at a WECA Nature and Business Innovation evening, we never miss a chance to fly the flag for Lockleaze. Recently, Eleanor spoke at the Nurture the Land: Nature and Networking rewilding conference at Bridge Farm, to an audience of 65.
keep in touch
Keep an eye on our resources page over the coming months as we add more case studies and toolkits. You can also watch and share our film. We’ll also link to all of this in our monthly newsletter – subscribe here.