This time last year I finished the Spring Newsletter with a message of hope. Hope that we were past the worst of Covid-19. Hope that the vaccine programme would provide the protection we all desired and that life would soon return to normal. Regrettably the virus still remains a significant feature in our lives, albeit in a less virulent form and we have learnt to live with Covid and despite depressingly high infection rates we are returning to something like normal life.
You will have noted from recent news bulletins and updates that the Downs Committee has been under some pressure to become more transparent in the way that the Downs are managed. This comes on the back of the court case brought successfully by the Downs for People group against the City Council and the Downs Committee. The concerted effort by Downs for People and others has prompted the Downs Committee to address the issues raised and have proposed to do so with a Strategic Review. Stakeholders including FOD+AG have had the opportunity to contribute to the early debate and remain optimistic that we will be able to do so in the future. As an organisa- tion your FOD+AG committee has confirmed by letter its continued support for the Downs Committee but also supporting calls to become more representative in the way that the Committee conducts its business.
I hope some of you have taken the opportunity to contribute to the survey offered by the outgoing Lord Mayor. The Downs Committee are keen to find out what you, Downs users, expect from the Committee and if changes are made what would you find acceptable. If you missed the survey and you have comments you would like passed on to the Downs Committee, feel free to contact me directly ([email protected]) and I can pass on your thoughts.
One of the issues we have regularly highlighted is continuity within the Downs Committee. Every year the chair in the shape of the Lord Mayor is replaced, likewise his deputy the Master of the Merchant Venturers and a third of the Committee are also rotated. This does not lend itself to good governance. At the very least FOD+AG has suggested that the outgoing Lord Mayor remains as a Committee member for a further year. To address issues of continuity and improved representation we would like to see the review recommend a citizen led panel that could sit alongside the Downs Committee in an advisory capacity. Openness and transparency should be a given with citizens able to put questions to the Committee and receive answers based on best practice for public office. Perhaps the biggest issue currently exercising the Downs Committee is funding. The City Council contributes to the upkeep but a significant sum is raised from the Downs major events. This summer sees the return of a full events programme to the Downs. There will be major events every month starting with Funderworld at Easter and ending in October with the Circus. {Please see Events Page for Full Listings} Not everybody welcomes the events. Residents living near Seawalls have threatened legal action if their lives are again blighted by a noisy concert. Others have raised concerns about overuse of the Downs with claims that events like Funderworld cause lasting harm to the Downs greensward.
So here is the conundrum. How is the Downs to be financed in the future? The reserve is gone, so nothing in the bank and income will be lost from car parking when the zoo decamps from Clifton. There is some income from concessions and from the Downs league football but it is only a relatively small sum.
It will be the responsibility of the Downs Committee to find a balanced approach that can deliver what we want from the Downs without destroying the very thing we want to protect and preserve. The City Council has some responsibility to underpin the Downs finances but Parks budgets are also under extreme pressure. Any income that the Downs can make will help relieve that pressure. We urge the Downs Committee to seek imaginative solutions and alternative ways forward. If members have ideas of their own on how the Downs can generate income, please let us know.
In the last edition of the Newsletter, you will have read about a letter FOD+AG intended to send to supermarkets etc. about the sale of disposable barbecues. We are pleased to report some success with the campaign to eliminate the use of these ubiquitous barbecues. Led by long serving member Timothy Dowling, letters condemning their use and the damage they cause were sent to local supermarkets, their head offices, local schools and universities. FOD+AG received a prompt response from the Henleaze branch of Waitrose informing us that they would no longer be stocking disposable units and that this would be rolled out nationally. Even better news came with the announcement that Aldi would also desist from supplying these units. Tesco and Co-op have also dropped supplies at some local high-risk sites. Wilco promised to pass on our request to their buying team for review. FOD+AG has followed up on our earlier action with a further letter to local outlets pointing out the initiative shown by Waitrose and Aldi and strongly suggesting that they might like to follow suit.
Robert Westlake Chair
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT JANUARY 2022
At long last we can look forward to the end of short days and dark nights. The binds of winter are slipping slowly away and the promise of spring is once again upon us. I remain optimistic that as the year unfolds, we will all find ourselves in a better place. Covid 19 and its variants will hopefully be, if not a thing of the past then something that we at least learn to live with. The pandemic has served to remind us about the fragility of life and to perhaps take a step back and re- evaluate what we previously considered so important. To cope with the restrictions posed by Covid FOD+AG has modified regular activities but continue to operate as best we can. Formal committee meetings indoors have for the moment been suspended but with the easing of restrictions we will now reconvene at the earliest possible moment. Volunteers have been out and about throughout the winter carrying out important work. Regular activities like dead hedge maintenance at Circular Road is complete, weekend goat monitoring continues and deep-seated litter operations have been undertaken throughout the winter. The committee thanks all the volunteers who turned out, often in difficult weather conditions.
You will have seen from the January news bulletin that FOD+AG have taken an interest in the proposed St. Christopher’s development. This is because there are concerns about height of buildings, loss of trees, density and increased traffic movements. As the property is a direct neighbour of the Downs FOD+AG is currently engaging with the site developer and working on a response to the Planning Authority. If you have thoughts of your own about the proposed development, please let us know. Members views are important to us.
You will also have seen from the regular bulletins that we are working with the Downs Commoners, the Downs supervisor and the Merchant Venturers to bring a sheep grazing event to the Downs. I am pleased to confirm that the event will go ahead. In May a small flock of sheep will be brought to the Downs and penned near St Monica’s. Invited guests and local schools will be in attendance and FOD+AG will be on hand with our display and to assist on the day. The tradition is carried out every five years and is a requirement to maintain the ‘right to graze’ held by the Downs Commoners. (See more on page 18.) FOD+AG member Tim Dowling is leading on a campaign to raise awareness of the blight caused by indiscriminate use of portable barbecues. This has long been a problem for the Downs and open spaces nationally. Do you have a view on whether portable barbecues should be removed from sale entirely? Do let us know.
On 24th January the Downs Committee met and items on the agenda included Public Forum statements to the Committee. Included were statements from Downs for People, and from Cllr. Christine Townsend (Green Party) both strongly condemning the Committee for its continued lack of transparency, not being representative in its composition and calling for the Merchant Venturers to be excluded from the Downs Committee. The Lord Mayor, from the chair, confirmed that the promised Strategic Review into how the Downs could be managed in the future would be published shortly. FOD+AG will await the outcome of the Review before agreeing a final position. Robert Westlake
Extract from Cllr. Townsend’s statement: “The Society of Merchant Venturers need to hand over the Downs and remove themselves from our governance structures, getting out of Bristol’s democracy – removed if necessary. Only those of us with a mandate to represent the people can be in position to make decisions over how our public spaces are managed and how much public money is spent on them. It is the people who have been paying for the upkeep and development of public space, not the Society of Merchant Venturers.” ________________________________ Conserve our natural resources. Avoid using toxic chemicals (inevitably present with fire accelerants included within the wrapped disposable barbecue), which are harmful to wildlife, flora and fauna (& humans!). Avoid burning fossil fuels, which are usually obtained from unsustainable sources. Avoid the emission of carbon monoxide, which can be fatally toxic if used in a confined area. Avoid the unnecessary use of landfill – although DBs are technically recyclable, any DBs that are left around end up in landfill. In practice it is unlikely that DBs are recycled at home because of the work that needs to be done to separate the burnt remains of the DB. There were just 9 million disposable barbecues sold in the UK in 1997. This increased to 130 million in 2015 and there is no sign that this number has stopped increasing in the last seven years. Avoid burning our grasses – most people might attempt to ensure that the disposable barbecue is properly raised above ground level, but unfortunately, as can be seen right across our city parks, many people do not take this simple and basic precaution. Whilst the visible scars of the burnt grass might disappear over a period of six to nine months, it can take the soil up to two years to recover fully from a destructive fire. Avoid the risk of fire – whilst this might not appear to be as severe a risk as on open moorland in areas such as the Moors of Devon and Yorkshire, Wareham Forest in Dorset and the New Forest, there have been damaging fires in our city parks in. Hot DBs are often left abandoned and are a hazard to children, dogs and wildlife. Plastic wrapping Paper instructions Carboard box Tinfoil container Charcoal Metal cooking grill, with remains of fat and cooked items Aluminium mini-stand
Report from the Chair Summer 2021 Dear members. Welcome to the summer edition of the Newsletter. I hope that you and all your families are well and in good spirits notwithstanding the trying times imposed by the Covid -19 Pandemic. Despite the depressingly high numbers of infections, it seems that the vaccination programme is beginning to take effect and appears to be breaking the link between infection and hospitalisation. Your FOD+AG committee met towards the end of May and we are planning to meet again very soon. Two important items from our agenda included agreeing a strategy to get all of our many events and activities up and running again and agreeing FOD+AG’s position and the possible implications regarding future actions related to the Downs for People legal action. {Please see separate item on Downs committee business} The Downs supervisor continues to report large numbers of visitors to the Downs and has raised concerns about [a} The vast amount of litter and rubbish left behind and the fact that it goes directly to landfill. A rethink on how Down’s waste is managed sustainably is urgently required. You will have seen from the monthly news bulletin that FOD+AG submitted a statement to the Downs committee. The statement as usual was noted without comment. However, during the course of the meeting, I was pleased to hear the Downs supervisor and several Downs committee members mention favourably the valuable contribution made by FOD+AG. Final paragraph of our statement submitted to Downs committee: FOD+AG are pleased that the dispute with the Downs for People group has finally been resolved but remain disappointed that it needed a costly court case to bring it about. Time will tell if the financial burden resulting from defending the action brought by Downs for People will impact negatively on the Downs. The Friends group would urge the Downs committee and the City Council to take a more holistic approach in the way that the Downs and Avon Gorge are managed going forward. Finance and income generation will be critical and it is our belief that the Downs and Gorge are eminently ‘marketable’ and perfectly able to sustain itself and even make a contribution to all our public open spaces. Large events are plainly a part of the strategy but alternative visionary initiatives should be considered. Much could be achieved without compromising the conservation status of the Downs and Gorge. I hope you are all finding the monthly bulletin useful. It’s a way of us keeping you updated between the quarterly Newsletters. In the coming months there may be much going on and around the Downs and it is important that you the members have as much current information as we can provide. If for some technical reason you are not receiving the e bulletin or would prefer not to receive it at all please let us know and we will do our best to rectify. I hope that the lifting of many of the Covid restrictions will allow us all to enjoy what remains of the summer. Stay Safe & Well Robert Westlake Chair
Report from the Chair Summer 2021 Dear members. Welcome to the summer edition of the Newsletter. I hope that you and all your families are well and in good spirits notwithstanding the trying times imposed by the Covid -19 Pandemic. Despite the depressingly high numbers of infections, it seems that the vaccination programme is beginning to take effect and appears to be breaking the link between infection and hospitalisation. Your FOD+AG committee met towards the end of May and we are planning to meet again very soon. Two important items from our agenda included agreeing a strategy to get all of our many events and activities up and running again and agreeing FOD+AG’s position and the possible implications regarding future actions related to the Downs for People legal action. {Please see separate item on Downs committee business} The Downs supervisor continues to report large numbers of visitors to the Downs and has raised concerns about [a} The vast amount of litter and rubbish left behind and the fact that it goes directly to landfill. A rethink on how Down’s waste is managed sustainably is urgently required. You will have seen from the monthly news bulletin that FOD+AG submitted a statement to the Downs committee. The statement as usual was noted without comment. However, during the course of the meeting, I was pleased to hear the Downs supervisor and several Downs committee members mention favourably the valuable contribution made by FOD+AG. Final paragraph of our statement submitted to Downs committee: FOD+AG are pleased that the dispute with the Downs for People group has finally been resolved but remain disappointed that it needed a costly court case to bring it about. Time will tell if the financial burden resulting from defending the action brought by Downs for People will impact negatively on the Downs. The Friends group would urge the Downs committee and the City Council to take a more holistic approach in the way that the Downs and Avon Gorge are managed going forward. Finance and income generation will be critical and it is our belief that the Downs and Gorge are eminently ‘marketable’ and perfectly able to sustain itself and even make a contribution to all our public open spaces. Large events are plainly a part of the strategy but alternative visionary initiatives should be considered. Much could be achieved without compromising the conservation status of the Downs and Gorge. I hope you are all finding the monthly bulletin useful. It’s a way of us keeping you updated between the quarterly Newsletters. In the coming months there may be much going on and around the Downs and it is important that you the members have as much current information as we can provide. If for some technical reason you are not receiving the e bulletin or would prefer not to receive it at all please let us know and we will do our best to rectify. I hope that the lifting of many of the Covid restrictions will allow us all to enjoy what remains of the summer. Stay Safe & Well Robert Westlake Chair
Chair’s Report Spring 2021 Welcome to the spring edition of the Newsletter. Hopefully we can now look forward to a spring and summer with a bit more optimism. The roll out of the vaccine offers promise of freedom from the tedium of successive lock downs. Cases still remain obstinately high but everything seems to be on track for a return to enjoying long anticipated social activities with family and friends. Spring has sprung and although winter has its devotees there’s something to be said for spring with its new life and warmer weather. It has been a long and hard-fought battle to bring the Covid-19 pandemic under control and the Downs has played its part in helping us all get through it. Citizens have been able to enjoy regular exercise, fresh air and relief from the mental strain of coping with the virus. Never have our public open spaces been more important to the physical and mental wellbeing of our citizens. Numbers of winter visitors have never been so high with estimates suggesting an increase of 50% and on some fine days as high as 75%. This as you would expect has had an impact on the Downs. The Downs team have battled throughout the winter to stay on top of increased litter and rubbish left behind by inconsiderate visitors. In addition, FOD+AG volunteers have throughout the winter months removed unprecedented amounts of rubbish from some of the less accessible areas of the Downs. In normal winters the Downs has had a chance to recover from the impact of busy summer months. The popularity of the Downs and major events do have a bearing on ground conditions. If you have walked around Circular Road recently you can’t fail to notice that the jogging trails or desire lines have become wider and wider as runners and walkers look to avoid the muddy areas and maintain safe distancing from gasping harriers. The good news is that the Downs are resilient, most damaged areas will recover naturally, other parts will need a little TLC from the Downs team. In March FOD+AG held its first Zoom talk. Dr. Yealand Kalfayan presented to an invited audience of 95 a fascinating talk on the subject of Butterflies. The presentation was warmly received by those attending as Yealand described Butterflies both local and from farther afield and how to set about finding and photographing these appealing insects. FOD+AG Newsletter 2 Spring 2021 We were hoping to roll out remote meetings to the full membership but for the moment due to technical reasons we are unable to do so. Hopefully as the burden of lock-down is eased we will be able to meet again in person. My own view is that although remote meetings have allowed us to stay in contact with loved ones and for business to continue the process does little for social interaction and meetings can become stilted and somewhat subdued. One of the key drivers from the FOD+AG Action Plan was to increase our membership. In particular to reach out to a wider audience and to a more diverse demographic. I am delighted to report that FOD+AG has been steadily growing over the past couple of years, but there is one section of the population that we are failing to attract and that is our younger citizens. If we are to grow as an organisation it is imperative that we look to redress this imbalance. It is important that the legacy of the Downs is protected and for those who follow us to recognise the part they might play in ensuring that legacy is safeguarded. The trick is what do we need to do to make us as an organisation more appealing to a younger audience. The obvious route is social media and we are working to update and refresh all our media platforms. One thing we could consider is creating a youth wing to bring fresh ideas and to get involved. We know young people are keen volunteers so there is a resource to tap into. We just have to find the way. If members have ideas of their own or wish to comment on the proposal please feel free to get back to us. The first phase of Bristol Zoos redevelopment of the Clifton site will be a planning application for the West Cark Park located in College Road. The application will include a proposal to develop the West Car Park with a 4.5 storey apartment block and 2 storey mews houses on the western part of the site, 65 dwellings in all. There will be only 45 car parking spaces but ‘plentiful cycle parking’. Whilst this proposal is not directly a concern to FOD+AG architecturally there are other obvious implications; particularly in respect of the allocated car parking provision. FOD+AG Newsletter 3 Spring 2021 65 dwellings with only 45 parking spaces suggests there could be a problem. It is understood that the College Road site will not be eligible for the Residents Parking Scheme so where would any additional vehicles be accommodated? The obvious answer is to look to securing additional spaces near-by and that can only lead you to one conclusion, the North Car Park and this is where we would have an interest. Members will be aware that the North Car Park falls within the remit of the Downs committee who may well be encouraged to consider another lease arrangement. Any release of land for car parking will also impact on the next phase of the development, the main zoo site. FOD+AG remains opposed to any part of the Downs being used to provide permanent car parking spaces. You can read more about the proposal at https://bristolzoo.org.uk/latest- zoo-news/bzs-opens-consultation-on-development-of-its-west-car-park If you have been out and about around the top of the Whiteladies Road area recently then you may well have noticed the splendid display of spring bulbs. These were the bulbs planted late last year by FOD+AG volunteers. The display ensures all year-round interest as we look forward to the summer months when the herbaceous planting scheme will be in full flower. The Downs Committee met on March 22nd The main items from the agenda were Finance where it was reported that loss of events income due to Covid-19 has had a serious impact but the shortfall would be met from previous underspends. Next year would be critical in terms of income generation. {Please see separate item} The Downs supervisor reported vastly increased visitor numbers this winter with all the attendant problems previously described. Significant scrub clearance had been undertaken to contain encroachment and maintain open grassland habitat. The supervi- sor explained that some areas of previously mown grassland would be left unmown to improve biodiversity. The new wildflower beds at Christchurch Green would not be seeded until the Autumn. Downs football would restart for approximately six weeks without dressing room provision. Events officer reported schedule of events for 2021. {See separate item} FOD+AG Newsletter 4 Spring 2021 Your FOD+AG committee are pleased to have been able to return to hard copy for this Newsletter, but a member has asked the question. “Why not continue with the electronic version and save the cost of printing” This is a pertinent question that needs consideration. What do you the members of FOD+AG feel about discontinuing printed versions of the Newsletter and distributing just an electronic version? Your feedback is important and will be considered by the committee. If you would like to comment and feel that we should retain the printed version of the Newsletter or you would prefer an electronic version then please respond directly to the chair at [email protected] I will finish much where I started with a message of hope, hope that we will all have come through this most difficult of times relatively unscathed. Hope that we will soon have had our vaccines and can enjoy all that we hold dear. Hope that just maybe, Covid will give us all a chance to reboot and remind us of the fragility of life and the need to spend our precious time more carefully. Stay Safe & Well Robert Westlake CHAIRMAN’S REPORT JANUARY 2024 I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas break and are looking forward to a bright and fabulous New Year. Many things abroad and domestically remain uncertain and closer to home the City Council will soon be managed by a series of committees rather than an elected Mayor. However, the new system, managed directly by councilors, will face the same financial pressures as the mayor's office as they struggle to balance the books and provide all the vital services required to run a major city. Last year you would have seen that Birmingham and Nottingham ran into financial difficulties and will be run by Government commissioners. These major cities are not the only ones facing difficulties and the sad outcome is that the commissioners will strictly control council budgets and provide only the services that they are legally obliged to do. We can only hope that somehow Bristol can present a balanced budget and avoid the same fate. The Downs, although managed uniquely by the Downs Committee, is still part of the Parks department and as a non-statutory service may well face real cuts to budgets. The Downs Committee have accepted that further income from the Council is unlikely and are considering ways that the Downs might generate its own income. The Committee are in the process of recruiting a Downs commercial manager. When in post it is anticipated that FOD+AG and the Downs Advisory Panel will be able to contribute to that process. FOD+AG, in principle supports this initiative as long as suggestions to be considered are sensitive to the Downs iconic status and due regard for Downs neighbours and users is considered. At the end of 2023 FOD+AG held its AGM. 34 hardy souls braved the weather and gathered at Redland Bowls Club to listen to the Chair’s review of 2023 and some of our plans for the coming year. The Hon. Treasurer presented a financial report and proposed a review of our membership charges. We were also delighted to welcome three members of Avon & Somerset Police Force as guest speakers. This was a chance for members to ask questions about how the Downs are Policed. One of my duties at the AGM is to oversee the election of the FOD+AG committee. As there were no new nominations for the coming year and as all of last years committee agreed to stand again the committee for 2024 was elected unopposed. They are Robert Westlake {Chair} Robin Haward {vice chair} Bob Bell {Hon. Treasurer} Andrea Langfield {Hon sec} {co-opted} Joan Gubbin {Membership Sec.} Martin Collins, Derek Catterall, Terry Hannan, Dyl- an Aplin, Luke Hudson, Dave Jones and Barry Horton {co-opted} Robert Westlake [email protected] Update: At the January FOD+AG committee meeting Robin Haward stepped down from the position of Vice-Chair while remaining on the committee. A Vice Chair will be appointed at the next committee meeting. The committee would welcome any FOD+AG member who would like to join the committee to contact the Chair, Robert Westlake _____________________________________________________________ CHAIRMAN’S REPORT OCTOBER 2023 2023 has been an important year for FOD+AG, much has taken place; perhaps the most important being the decision by the Downs Committee to invite FOD+AG to form the Downs Advisory Panel (DAP). The reasoning behind such an historic decision was that an alternative body would be able to sit alongside the Downs Committee and drawing on a wide range of skills and experiences offer advice to the Committee and contribute positively to the good governance of the Downs. The Panel acts as a sounding board for the Committee and is easily accessible to a wide range of Downs users. The Panel have debated issues that have come from FOD+AG members, local groups and individuals and from these discussions recommendations have been formulated and presented to the Downs Committee for further debate and informed decisions. The Downs Committee as the Act dictates still have the final say on governance, the DAP‘s role is to advise and recommend. There is still the right for anyone to present their own Public Forum Statement directly to the Downs Committee but the advantage of using the DAP as a conduit to the Committee is that issues can be fully and openly discussed, questions asked with the opportunity to follow up on matters of concern. DAP will have met three times by the time you read this. You will have seen already from our e-news bulletins and from local media reports that DAP recommended charging a fee to military style fitness trainers who operate as commercial businesses across the Downs. We also advised that the out of hours security patrols be reinstated and suggested some additional measures to assist with preventing illegal parking on and around the Downs. It’s interesting that after DAP’s recommendation to charge commercial organisations for the use of Downs facilities that Bristol’s Head of Parks, Jon James, announced that the Parks Department will be considering a range of initiatives to generate additional income from across our financially beleaguered parks and open spaces. Back in the summer FOD+AG representatives met with the Master of the Merchant Venturers, the Downs supervisor and our local Police team. The outcome of that meeting is that I now feel we have a much improved relationship with the Police and a greater understanding of each other’s expectations. We have met with the Police team at the Downs café and recently supported a national bike marking scheme. I feel that getting things done is about building relationships and, from that, trust. Our local PC is James Alford and he is keen that we build on the good work already done. PC Alford is keen to stress the importance of reporting incidents and later in this publication you will find details of the best way to report crimes and incidents. FOD+AG’s AGM is on the 6th December, 7pm at Redland Bowls Club. I have invited PC Alford to join us. If you have a question about policing the Downs why not come along. As FOD+AG and the DAP evolves It is ever more important that we accurately reflect the views of Downs users and our membership and that we take a balanced approach to the issues of the day. Increased involvement in Downs business means an increase in responsibility, that’s why we need your feedback. Please let us know what you’re thinking. Its easy to get in touch and you can be ensured of a prompt response. Help us to help the Downs. The closure of Bristol Zoo and Gardens will see the main north car park revert to the control of the Downs Committee, yes, the car park is part of the Downs. The conundrum is, just what can you do with it. The Downs Committee’s current thinking is that essentially it will remain as a car park for a potential variety of users. Possibly as a pay and display for Downs users, maybe an arrangement with Clifton College or even as a temporary holding site for the developers when the building work within the Zoo site gets underway. FOD+AG’s current position is that we would like to see the car park landscaped and revert to proper Downs land. To gauge public opinion, we have been in talks with Downs for People, {DfP} Bristol Tree Forum {BTF} and Clifton and Hotwells Improvement Society. {CHIS} and all have expressed concerns about the proposal including possible damage to some fine specimen trees and even the legality of such a scheme. FOD+AG as our constitution dictates will continue to support the Downs Committee but fervently hope that some middle ground can be found. We are of course mindful that the Downs Committee have a responsibility to try and recoup the income that has been lost from the previous zoo parking arrangement. What do you think the car park could be used for? Could it be ‘rewilded’ and still accommodate some sort of commercial activity. If you have idea’s we really want to hear about them. The Downs Committee are in the process of recruiting a part-time commercial manager. A critical part of this new post will be to consider how the Downs might be marketed without compromising the very thing we all most appreciate about the Downs. FOD+AG and the DAP hope to work closely with the postholder and offer ideas of our own. Once again you can play a part in this. Do you have a vision? How do you see the role benefiting the Downs? For the moment I will sign off with a final reminder that you can have your say at the AGM. Redland Bowls Club, 7pm on 6th December. Robert Westlake [email protected] _____________________________________________________________ CHAIRMAN’S REPORT APRIL 2023 At last winter loosens its frosty grip on the landscape of the Downs and we can once again get out and about as spring takes her first tentative steps. Thank you to the members who turned up at the end of March for the Downs stakeholders meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to consider an innovative proposal from the Downs Committee to offer FOD+AG a partnering arrangement that will permit a much greater say in the future management of the Downs. This is the first time since the Downs Act was signed in 1862 that the Downs Committee has considered the possibility of a partnership arrangement. Also attending were a range of organisations, stakeholders and individuals with a shared passion for the Downs. It was enlightening to hear so many views and opinions about the proposed partnering arrangement with the Down Committee. The FOD+AG committee working group are close to finalising the details of the proposal and at the last meeting of the Downs Com-mittee, I was able to inform members that FOD+AG had agreed a Memo of Understanding (MoU) with our opposite numbers on the Downs Committee. Members voted unanimously to accept the MoU. There have been subsequent meetings between both sides to consider the details of how such a provision might work and I expect a recommendation to accept the proposal in full will go to the Downs Committee at their next meeting. The arrangement will see the establishment of a FOD+AG led Advisory Panel that can sit alongside the Downs Committee, offer suggestions, contribute to future policies and provide easier access to the Committee. FOD+AG volunteers have been busy during the winter months. Members have tackled the dead hedge renewal, removed deep seated litter, repainted the White tree, assisted with the goat monitoring, tidied the flower beds at the Thomas Memorial, attended a variety of meetings and continued with numerous walks and talks. For some years now the Downs have been somewhat blighted by the presence of dozens of campervans and caravans. You will read later in the magazine an article highlighting the problem. FOD+AG has until now taken a relatively generous stance to the van dwellers and of course we have sympathy for people who are genuinely homeless or struggling to meet exorbitant rent demands. However, we believe we have reached a point where the situation has become untenable. FOD+AG are working with the City Council and the Downs Committee to try and bring about a satisfactory resolution. I am able to report that notices have been served on unoccupied caravans and some have been removed. In the Winter edition of the Magazine, you would have read about a FOD+AG initiative to enlist members to monitor specific areas of the Downs and report anything of particular interest or of concern. I am pleased to report that Downs Ambassadors have been appointed and the scheme, led by FOD+AG committee member Dave Jones, supported by Joan Gubbin is currently up and running. A report about the Ambassador Scheme can be found later in the magazine. Members may have read in the local press that plans to replace the old Seawalls toilet block with a new facility and a café are currently at an impasse. This may please many but without the income that the café would have provided the long-term future of the toilets is in doubt. Despite receiving planning consent last summer, it would seem somewhat ironic that the Downs Act itself has become a barrier to the development of the site. Downs Committee representatives met with Government officials and were ‘strongly advised’ that such an application would be unlikely to succeed without changes to the Act itself. This would come at a likely estimated cost of around half a million pounds. Finally, let’s all look forward to a fine summer and a chance to enjoy all that the Downs has to offer. Robert Westlake Chair [email protected] _____________________________________________________________ CHAIRMAN’S REPORT January 2023 It seems hard to believe that twelve months have passed since I last penned my report for Winter 2022. Another Christmas come and gone and a whole new year virtually untouched. We have had some really cold days that have tested the resolve when it comes to managing the household thermostat but that said there is still some- thing special about living in a country with clearly defined seasons. Little can compare with the pleasure of a brisk walk across the Downs on a bright frosty day. Heavy coats, sturdy boots, a woolly hat and home for a hot drink. The days are already extending and before we know it, we will have Spring knocking at the door and the first of our new bulbs breaking the surface at the Thomas Memorial. This time last year I wrote about the Downs Committee being under sustained pressure from several sources about the way they were managing the Downs. I reported the comments of Cllr. Christine Townsend including a call for the Merchant Venturers to be excluded from the Downs Committee and that only those with a mandate to represent the people should make decisions on how the Downs are managed. The Downs Committee heeded the criticism and in response agreed to review its governance procedures and commissioned a wide - ranging public consultation. The consultation concluded that there was no real appetite to change the remit of the Downs Committee or to amend the Downs Act, but there were calls for changes to be made. In the Autumn issue of the Magazine, I reported that in November the Downs Committee had accepted a proposal to explore the possibility of forming a partnering arrangement with a suitable organisation and you will be aware from recent updates that FOD+AG is that preferred partner. We are now in regular talks with Downs Committee representatives as we seek to agree a way forward that will work for both parties and more importantly work for the Downs. Later in the Magazine you will see an extract from a City Council budget report. The report paints an alarming picture of yet more cuts to the already depleted Parks service. Cuts that may well impact directly upon the day-to-day activities of the Downs. This is why the partnering arrangement is so important to the Downs. It will permit us to seek charitable status and explore income generating opportunities not available to the Downs Committee or the City Council. Early in December it was something of a coup to welcome the Lord Mayor, Cllr. Paula O’Rourke, to our AGM as our guest speaker. This is the first time that the chair of the Downs Committee has attended an AGM. Over forty members attended on a very cold night at Redland Bowls Club and listened to Cllr. O’Rourke speak very favourably about the work of FOD+AG and described with great enthusiasm the new proposed partnering arrangement. As Chair I was able to update members on our current activities, talk about future plans and to thank the many individuals and groups that have helped us throughout the year. The AGM provided an opportunity for Committee member Dave Jones to present to the assembled members a revised work plan and a scheme to appoint Downs Ambassadors or monitors. The Ambassadors will have informal responsibilities for specific areas of the Downs and report observations or concerns to a central point. At the AGM the FOD+AG committee, as required by our constitution, stood down, but reassuringly all expressed a wish to stand for a further year. As no further nominations were received a vote was not required and all were reconfirmed for the coming year. The officers of the FOD+AG committee were confirmed as Robin Haward -Hon. Vice chair, Bob Bell Hon. Treasurer and I have the honour of serving as your Chair for a further year. We are hoping to appoint a committee secretary in the near future. To conclude members, 2023 may well prove to be a pivotal year for FOD+AG, the Downs and for all our Parks and Open Spaces. The Downs is in some measure more fortunate in that it is in a position to have some control over its evolution. As we advance into a brand- new year it is the intention of your committee to achieve the best possible outcomes and to wish you all a Happy New Year. Robert Westlake Chair [email protected] _________________________________________________________ CHAIRMAN’S REPORT October 2022 Summer has drawn to a close and to quote John Keats we can now enjoy the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.’ Not quite so enjoyable for us all is the fuel crisis, the soaring cost of living, industrial action and foreign wars. Added to this many of our public institutions appear broken as beleaguered local authorities struggle to provide more and more services with ever dwindling budgets. Bristol of course is not immune and face even greater financial pressures as central government seeks to impose further austerity cuts. It is a sad fact that Parks are not a statutory service and will always be at the back of the queue when the oft mentioned Government pie is divided up. This means that it is even more important that Friends Groups like ours let Councillors know how important our Parks and Green Spaces are and argue the case strongly against further budget cuts to the Parks Service. Everybody agrees how important good public open spaces are but nobody wants to pay. Currently resources are stretched to breaking and it is incumbent on us all to ensure that the Downs remains well cared for; for us and for future generations and that dear members is what your continued support for FODAG helps to achieve. You may have seen from the monthly email newsletter that the Downs Committee are looking to amend the way that the Downs are managed. This follows a series of public and stakeholders’ engagement exercises to consider governance of the Downs in the future. The Downs Committee are seeking to work closely with a partner organisation within the context of the Downs Act and that organisation is FOD+AG. Discussions are still at an early stage but for FOD+AG this could be an important milestone in our evolution. Below are two statements taken directly from a paper entitled Downs Vision that the Downs Committee have been asked to approve. ‘Friends of the Downs and Avon Gorge (FOD+AG) has a long history of working constructively with the Downs Committee and BCC, they have connections with similar groups and have provided services to the Downs in respect of conservation and education.’... and ... ‘Should the Committee decide to agree to Recommendation 1 it is recommended that the Governance Task and Finish Group {GTFG} begin discussions with FOD+AG as a partner organisation to the Downs Committee.’ (A full copy of the paper presented to Downs Committee can be found at downsfinal gtfg) Should some type of partnership be agreed it will among other things allow alternative funding streams to be explored, be it a charitable trust, sponsorship or a more imaginative approach to income generation. It will require all parties to demonstrate determination, creativity and ingenuity if we are to avoid falling into a slow spiral of decline. Your FOD+AG committee have debated the merits of the ‘Downs Vision’ and are minded to provisionally engage with the Downs Committee and offer our support for the proposals. In September we said farewell to our near neighbour Bristol Zoo and Gardens. FOD+AG has enjoyed a long association with the Zoo and its staff. We have worked closely with Mandy Leivers,Mandy’s role as the Avon Gorge & Downs Biodiversity Education Manager and champion of the Downs meant we got to share many interesting projects. Sadly, by now many of you will be aware that Mandy has left her current role and has taken a position with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. We wish her well. There was a reminder in the monthly email of our forthcoming AGM. Covid restrictions meant we were unable to hold our last two AGM’s but everything is in place for this year’s event to go ahead. We shall be back at our regular home at the Redland Bowling Club on the 7th December, starting at 7.00pm. You may also have noticed from the monthly Newsletters that the chair of the Downs Committee and Lord Mayor Cllr. Paula O’Rourke will be our guest speaker. Do come and enjoy a couple of hours with your FODAG committee, join in the debate, and meet with fellow members, The bar will be open and refreshments served. I will close for this quarter with an appeal to all FOD+AG members. Please think about giving a little something back and consider becoming a FODAG committee member. There will be important decisions to be made about the future governance of the Downs in the coming months and you could be part of that process.
Contact me directly for further information by email on [email protected] Robert Westlake Chair _____________________________________________________________ CHAIRMAN’S REPORT August 2022 You may recall from the Spring Newsletter that the Downs Committee was under sustained pressure to become more transparent in the way it conducted its business. Following the damaging court case brought by Downs for People and others the Committee commissioned a survey to explore possible alternative governance models that might be appropriate for the Downs. The conclusion of the survey indicated that there was no real appetite for major change but the way the Downs Committee conducted its affairs should be reviewed. The good news is that there seems to be a new spirit of determination within the Committee to bring about change. Documents like financial reports are now available in greater detail and in future the public will have greater access to the Committee and have an opportunity to place questions. One of FOD+AG’s key issues has been about continuity within the Committee with key positions currently changing every year so we are pleased to see that concern addressed at least for this year with previous Committee member and current Lord Mayor, Paula O’Rourke, now taking the chair and Councillor Steve Smith, the previous chair, remaining on the Committee. This could provide a platform for policies and procedures to be put in place and eventually brought to fruition. I am cautiously optimistic that there is a new and encouraging willingness within the Downs Committee to engage with others to bring about the one thing we all want, a well managed and welcoming public open space.
The long awaited decision to permit the development of a new cafe and toilet block at Seawalls has finally happened. FOD+AG, after much deliberation, took the view that supporting the proposal was the pragmatic option given that the net benefit of new toilets, an education hub and cafeteria outweighed the alternative of having the current toilets closed down anyway. The previously mentioned court case has seriously dented the Downs finances. The Bristol Post in an article published at the end of June reported that last year’s legal costs meant that the Committee’s budget was seriously overspent by a staggering £207,295 and that this sum would need to be underwritten by city taxpayers. This is a serious situation and in the current climate will require some creativity to bring about financial stability.
At the last meeting of the Downs Committee, I presented a statement that included a report of dangerous driving on the Downs picked up from Facebook and below is a message from a regular Downs user. Unfortunately, it highlights the disregard some people have for nature, the environment and community spaces. Downs Committee member Cllr. Steve Smith has promised to raise the matter with Avon & Somerset Crime Commissioner. ‘So disappointed to see the grass totally shredded and littering every- where this morning, plus at least one totally destroyed picnic bench. As a local resident I could hear cars tearing around last night for a couple of hours and did try and get hold of non-urgent police to report it, but without any luck. Such a shame. As a dog walker - I’m here at least once a day most days and it’s sad to see a minority ruining this special place for the majority.’
The story was picked up by Alex Seabrook (Bristol Post) who after further research reported that the car meet was held on June 12th which saw drivers showing off souped-up cars drifting on the grassed areas of the Downs. Apparently this is the third time this has happened. FOD+AG understands that after further inquiries the police have issued seventeen Notices of Prosecution for driving on the Downs. BCCMUK [Beyond City Car Meets UK], understood to be the organisers of the meet, appear to arrange similar events across the region on a regular basis with locations withheld until the last minute. Social media posts after June 12th, and referring to BCCMUK, show cars driven dangerously across the Downs, with hundreds of spectators looking on. Robert Westlake Chair CHAIRMAN’S REPORT APRIL 2022 This time last year I finished the Spring Newsletter with a message of hope. Hope that we were past the worst of Covid-19. Hope that the vaccine programme would provide the protection we all desired and that life would soon return to normal. Regrettably the virus still remains a significant feature in our lives, albeit in a less virulent form and we have learnt to live with Covid and despite depressingly high infection rates we are returning to something like normal life.
You will have noted from recent news bulletins and updates that the Downs Committee has been under some pressure to become more transparent in the way that the Downs are managed. This comes on the back of the court case brought successfully by the Downs for People group against the City Council and the Downs Committee. The concerted effort by Downs for People and others has prompted the Downs Committee to address the issues raised and have proposed to do so with a Strategic Review. Stakeholders including FOD+AG have had the opportunity to contribute to the early debate and remain optimistic that we will be able to do so in the future. As an organisa- tion your FOD+AG committee has confirmed by letter its continued support for the Downs Committee but also supporting calls to become more representative in the way that the Committee conducts its business.
I hope some of you have taken the opportunity to contribute to the survey offered by the outgoing Lord Mayor. The Downs Committee are keen to find out what you, Downs users, expect from the Committee and if changes are made what would you find acceptable. If you missed the survey and you have comments you would like passed on to the Downs Committee, feel free to contact me directly ([email protected]) and I can pass on your thoughts.
One of the issues we have regularly highlighted is continuity within the Downs Committee. Every year the chair in the shape of the Lord Mayor is replaced, likewise his deputy the Master of the Merchant Venturers and a third of the Committee are also rotated. This does not lend itself to good governance. At the very least FOD+AG has suggested that the outgoing Lord Mayor remains as a Committee member for a further year. To address issues of continuity and improved representation we would like to see the review recommend a citizen led panel that could sit alongside the Downs Committee in an advisory capacity. Openness and transparency should be a given with citizens able to put questions to the Committee and receive answers based on best practice for public office. Perhaps the biggest issue currently exercising the Downs Committee is funding. The City Council contributes to the upkeep but a significant sum is raised from the Downs major events. This summer sees the return of a full events programme to the Downs. There will be major events every month starting with Funderworld at Easter and ending in October with the Circus. {Please see Events Page for Full Listings} Not everybody welcomes the events. Residents living near Seawalls have threatened legal action if their lives are again blighted by a noisy concert. Others have raised concerns about overuse of the Downs with claims that events like Funderworld cause lasting harm to the Downs greensward.
So here is the conundrum. How is the Downs to be financed in the future? The reserve is gone, so nothing in the bank and income will be lost from car parking when the zoo decamps from Clifton. There is some income from concessions and from the Downs league football but it is only a relatively small sum.
It will be the responsibility of the Downs Committee to find a balanced approach that can deliver what we want from the Downs without destroying the very thing we want to protect and preserve. The City Council has some responsibility to underpin the Downs finances but Parks budgets are also under extreme pressure. Any income that the Downs can make will help relieve that pressure. We urge the Downs Committee to seek imaginative solutions and alternative ways forward. If members have ideas of their own on how the Downs can generate income, please let us know.
In the last edition of the Newsletter, you will have read about a letter FOD+AG intended to send to supermarkets etc. about the sale of disposable barbecues. We are pleased to report some success with the campaign to eliminate the use of these ubiquitous barbecues. Led by long serving member Timothy Dowling, letters condemning their use and the damage they cause were sent to local supermarkets, their head offices, local schools and universities. FOD+AG received a prompt response from the Henleaze branch of Waitrose informing us that they would no longer be stocking disposable units and that this would be rolled out nationally. Even better news came with the announcement that Aldi would also desist from supplying these units. Tesco and Co-op have also dropped supplies at some local high-risk sites. Wilco promised to pass on our request to their buying team for review. FOD+AG has followed up on our earlier action with a further letter to local outlets pointing out the initiative shown by Waitrose and Aldi and strongly suggesting that they might like to follow suit.
Robert Westlake Chair
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT JANUARY 2022 At long last we can look forward to the end of short days and dark nights. The binds of winter are slipping slowly away and the promise of spring is once again upon us. I remain optimistic that as the year unfolds, we will all find ourselves in a better place. Covid 19 and its variants will hopefully be, if not a thing of the past then something that we at least learn to live with. The pandemic has served to remind us about the fragility of life and to perhaps take a step back and re- evaluate what we previously considered so important. To cope with the restrictions posed by Covid FOD+AG has modified regular activities but continue to operate as best we can. Formal committee meetings indoors have for the moment been suspended but with the easing of restrictions we will now reconvene at the earliest possible moment. Volunteers have been out and about throughout the winter carrying out important work. Regular activities like dead hedge maintenance at Circular Road is complete, weekend goat monitoring continues and deep-seated litter operations have been undertaken throughout the winter. The committee thanks all the volunteers who turned out, often in difficult weather conditions.
You will have seen from the January news bulletin that FOD+AG have taken an interest in the proposed St. Christopher’s development. This is because there are concerns about height of buildings, loss of trees, density and increased traffic movements. As the property is a direct neighbour of the Downs FOD+AG is currently engaging with the site developer and working on a response to the Planning Authority. If you have thoughts of your own about the proposed development, please let us know. Members views are important to us.
You will also have seen from the regular bulletins that we are working with the Downs Commoners, the Downs supervisor and the Merchant Venturers to bring a sheep grazing event to the Downs. I am pleased to confirm that the event will go ahead. In May a small flock of sheep will be brought to the Downs and penned near St Monica’s. Invited guests and local schools will be in attendance and FOD+AG will be on hand with our display and to assist on the day. The tradition is carried out every five years and is a requirement to maintain the ‘right to graze’ held by the Downs Commoners. (See more on page 18.) FOD+AG member Tim Dowling is leading on a campaign to raise awareness of the blight caused by indiscriminate use of portable barbecues. This has long been a problem for the Downs and open spaces nationally. Do you have a view on whether portable barbecues should be removed from sale entirely? Do let us know.
On 24th January the Downs Committee met and items on the agenda included Public Forum statements to the Committee. Included were statements from Downs for People, and from Cllr. Christine Townsend (Green Party) both strongly condemning the Committee for its continued lack of transparency, not being representative in its composition and calling for the Merchant Venturers to be excluded from the Downs Committee. The Lord Mayor, from the chair, confirmed that the promised Strategic Review into how the Downs could be managed in the future would be published shortly. FOD+AG will await the outcome of the Review before agreeing a final position. Robert Westlake
Extract from Cllr. Townsend’s statement: “The Society of Merchant Venturers need to hand over the Downs and remove themselves from our governance structures, getting out of Bristol’s democracy – removed if necessary. Only those of us with a mandate to represent the people can be in position to make decisions over how our public spaces are managed and how much public money is spent on them. It is the people who have been paying for the upkeep and development of public space, not the Society of Merchant Venturers.” ________________________________ Conserve our natural resources. Avoid using toxic chemicals (inevitably present with fire accelerants included within the wrapped disposable barbecue), which are harmful to wildlife, flora and fauna (& humans!). Avoid burning fossil fuels, which are usually obtained from unsustainable sources. Avoid the emission of carbon monoxide, which can be fatally toxic if used in a confined area. Avoid the unnecessary use of landfill – although DBs are technically recyclable, any DBs that are left around end up in landfill. In practice it is unlikely that DBs are recycled at home because of the work that needs to be done to separate the burnt remains of the DB. There were just 9 million disposable barbecues sold in the UK in 1997. This increased to 130 million in 2015 and there is no sign that this number has stopped increasing in the last seven years. Avoid burning our grasses – most people might attempt to ensure that the disposable barbecue is properly raised above ground level, but unfortunately, as can be seen right across our city parks, many people do not take this simple and basic precaution. Whilst the visible scars of the burnt grass might disappear over a period of six to nine months, it can take the soil up to two years to recover fully from a destructive fire. Avoid the risk of fire – whilst this might not appear to be as severe a risk as on open moorland in areas such as the Moors of Devon and Yorkshire, Wareham Forest in Dorset and the New Forest, there have been damaging fires in our city parks in. Hot DBs are often left abandoned and are a hazard to children, dogs and wildlife. Plastic wrapping Paper instructions Carboard box Tinfoil container Charcoal Metal cooking grill, with remains of fat and cooked items Aluminium mini-stand
Report from the Chair Summer 2021 Dear members. Welcome to the summer edition of the Newsletter. I hope that you and all your families are well and in good spirits notwithstanding the trying times imposed by the Covid -19 Pandemic. Despite the depressingly high numbers of infections, it seems that the vaccination programme is beginning to take effect and appears to be breaking the link between infection and hospitalisation. Your FOD+AG committee met towards the end of May and we are planning to meet again very soon. Two important items from our agenda included agreeing a strategy to get all of our many events and activities up and running again and agreeing FOD+AG’s position and the possible implications regarding future actions related to the Downs for People legal action. {Please see separate item on Downs committee business} The Downs supervisor continues to report large numbers of visitors to the Downs and has raised concerns about [a} The vast amount of litter and rubbish left behind and the fact that it goes directly to landfill. A rethink on how Down’s waste is managed sustainably is urgently required. You will have seen from the monthly news bulletin that FOD+AG submitted a statement to the Downs committee. The statement as usual was noted without comment. However, during the course of the meeting, I was pleased to hear the Downs supervisor and several Downs committee members mention favourably the valuable contribution made by FOD+AG. Final paragraph of our statement submitted to Downs committee: FOD+AG are pleased that the dispute with the Downs for People group has finally been resolved but remain disappointed that it needed a costly court case to bring it about. Time will tell if the financial burden resulting from defending the action brought by Downs for People will impact negatively on the Downs. The Friends group would urge the Downs committee and the City Council to take a more holistic approach in the way that the Downs and Avon Gorge are managed going forward. Finance and income generation will be critical and it is our belief that the Downs and Gorge are eminently ‘marketable’ and perfectly able to sustain itself and even make a contribution to all our public open spaces. Large events are plainly a part of the strategy but alternative visionary initiatives should be considered. Much could be achieved without compromising the conservation status of the Downs and Gorge. I hope you are all finding the monthly bulletin useful. It’s a way of us keeping you updated between the quarterly Newsletters. In the coming months there may be much going on and around the Downs and it is important that you the members have as much current information as we can provide. If for some technical reason you are not receiving the e bulletin or would prefer not to receive it at all please let us know and we will do our best to rectify. I hope that the lifting of many of the Covid restrictions will allow us all to enjoy what remains of the summer. Stay Safe & Well Robert Westlake Chair Report from the Chair Summer 2021 Dear members. Welcome to the summer edition of the Newsletter. I hope that you and all your families are well and in good spirits notwithstanding the trying times imposed by the Covid -19 Pandemic. Despite the depressingly high numbers of infections, it seems that the vaccination programme is beginning to take effect and appears to be breaking the link between infection and hospitalisation. Your FOD+AG committee met towards the end of May and we are planning to meet again very soon. Two important items from our agenda included agreeing a strategy to get all of our many events and activities up and running again and agreeing FOD+AG’s position and the possible implications regarding future actions related to the Downs for People legal action. {Please see separate item on Downs committee business} The Downs supervisor continues to report large numbers of visitors to the Downs and has raised concerns about [a} The vast amount of litter and rubbish left behind and the fact that it goes directly to landfill. A rethink on how Down’s waste is managed sustainably is urgently required. You will have seen from the monthly news bulletin that FOD+AG submitted a statement to the Downs committee. The statement as usual was noted without comment. However, during the course of the meeting, I was pleased to hear the Downs supervisor and several Downs committee members mention favourably the valuable contribution made by FOD+AG. Final paragraph of our statement submitted to Downs committee: FOD+AG are pleased that the dispute with the Downs for People group has finally been resolved but remain disappointed that it needed a costly court case to bring it about. Time will tell if the financial burden resulting from defending the action brought by Downs for People will impact negatively on the Downs. The Friends group would urge the Downs committee and the City Council to take a more holistic approach in the way that the Downs and Avon Gorge are managed going forward. Finance and income generation will be critical and it is our belief that the Downs and Gorge are eminently ‘marketable’ and perfectly able to sustain itself and even make a contribution to all our public open spaces. Large events are plainly a part of the strategy but alternative visionary initiatives should be considered. Much could be achieved without compromising the conservation status of the Downs and Gorge. I hope you are all finding the monthly bulletin useful. It’s a way of us keeping you updated between the quarterly Newsletters. In the coming months there may be much going on and around the Downs and it is important that you the members have as much current information as we can provide. If for some technical reason you are not receiving the e bulletin or would prefer not to receive it at all please let us know and we will do our best to rectify. I hope that the lifting of many of the Covid restrictions will allow us all to enjoy what remains of the summer. Stay Safe & Well Robert Westlake Chair
Chair’s Report Spring 2021 Welcome to the spring edition of the Newsletter. Hopefully we can now look forward to a spring and summer with a bit more optimism. The roll out of the vaccine offers promise of freedom from the tedium of successive lock downs. Cases still remain obstinately high but everything seems to be on track for a return to enjoying long anticipated social activities with family and friends. Spring has sprung and although winter has its devotees there’s something to be said for spring with its new life and warmer weather. It has been a long and hard-fought battle to bring the Covid-19 pandemic under control and the Downs has played its part in helping us all get through it. Citizens have been able to enjoy regular exercise, fresh air and relief from the mental strain of coping with the virus. Never have our public open spaces been more important to the physical and mental wellbeing of our citizens. Numbers of winter visitors have never been so high with estimates suggesting an increase of 50% and on some fine days as high as 75%. This as you would expect has had an impact on the Downs. The Downs team have battled throughout the winter to stay on top of increased litter and rubbish left behind by inconsiderate visitors. In addition, FOD+AG volunteers have throughout the winter months removed unprecedented amounts of rubbish from some of the less accessible areas of the Downs. In normal winters the Downs has had a chance to recover from the impact of busy summer months. The popularity of the Downs and major events do have a bearing on ground conditions. If you have walked around Circular Road recently you can’t fail to notice that the jogging trails or desire lines have become wider and wider as runners and walkers look to avoid the muddy areas and maintain safe distancing from gasping harriers. The good news is that the Downs are resilient, most damaged areas will recover naturally, other parts will need a little TLC from the Downs team. In March FOD+AG held its first Zoom talk. Dr. Yealand Kalfayan presented to an invited audience of 95 a fascinating talk on the subject of Butterflies. The presentation was warmly received by those attending as Yealand described Butterflies both local and from farther afield and how to set about finding and photographing these appealing insects. FOD+AG Newsletter 2 Spring 2021 We were hoping to roll out remote meetings to the full membership but for the moment due to technical reasons we are unable to do so. Hopefully as the burden of lock-down is eased we will be able to meet again in person. My own view is that although remote meetings have allowed us to stay in contact with loved ones and for business to continue the process does little for social interaction and meetings can become stilted and somewhat subdued. One of the key drivers from the FOD+AG Action Plan was to increase our membership. In particular to reach out to a wider audience and to a more diverse demographic. I am delighted to report that FOD+AG has been steadily growing over the past couple of years, but there is one section of the population that we are failing to attract and that is our younger citizens. If we are to grow as an organisation it is imperative that we look to redress this imbalance. It is important that the legacy of the Downs is protected and for those who follow us to recognise the part they might play in ensuring that legacy is safeguarded. The trick is what do we need to do to make us as an organisation more appealing to a younger audience. The obvious route is social media and we are working to update and refresh all our media platforms. One thing we could consider is creating a youth wing to bring fresh ideas and to get involved. We know young people are keen volunteers so there is a resource to tap into. We just have to find the way. If members have ideas of their own or wish to comment on the proposal please feel free to get back to us. The first phase of Bristol Zoos redevelopment of the Clifton site will be a planning application for the West Cark Park located in College Road. The application will include a proposal to develop the West Car Park with a 4.5 storey apartment block and 2 storey mews houses on the western part of the site, 65 dwellings in all. There will be only 45 car parking spaces but ‘plentiful cycle parking’. Whilst this proposal is not directly a concern to FOD+AG architecturally there are other obvious implications; particularly in respect of the allocated car parking provision. FOD+AG Newsletter 3 Spring 2021 65 dwellings with only 45 parking spaces suggests there could be a problem. It is understood that the College Road site will not be eligible for the Residents Parking Scheme so where would any additional vehicles be accommodated? The obvious answer is to look to securing additional spaces near-by and that can only lead you to one conclusion, the North Car Park and this is where we would have an interest. Members will be aware that the North Car Park falls within the remit of the Downs committee who may well be encouraged to consider another lease arrangement. Any release of land for car parking will also impact on the next phase of the development, the main zoo site. FOD+AG remains opposed to any part of the Downs being used to provide permanent car parking spaces. You can read more about the proposal at https://bristolzoo.org.uk/latest- zoo-news/bzs-opens-consultation-on-development-of-its-west-car-park If you have been out and about around the top of the Whiteladies Road area recently then you may well have noticed the splendid display of spring bulbs. These were the bulbs planted late last year by FOD+AG volunteers. The display ensures all year-round interest as we look forward to the summer months when the herbaceous planting scheme will be in full flower. The Downs Committee met on March 22nd The main items from the agenda were Finance where it was reported that loss of events income due to Covid-19 has had a serious impact but the shortfall would be met from previous underspends. Next year would be critical in terms of income generation. {Please see separate item} The Downs supervisor reported vastly increased visitor numbers this winter with all the attendant problems previously described. Significant scrub clearance had been undertaken to contain encroachment and maintain open grassland habitat. The supervi- sor explained that some areas of previously mown grassland would be left unmown to improve biodiversity. The new wildflower beds at Christchurch Green would not be seeded until the Autumn. Downs football would restart for approximately six weeks without dressing room provision. Events officer reported schedule of events for 2021. {See separate item} FOD+AG Newsletter 4 Spring 2021 Your FOD+AG committee are pleased to have been able to return to hard copy for this Newsletter, but a member has asked the question. “Why not continue with the electronic version and save the cost of printing” This is a pertinent question that needs consideration. What do you the members of FOD+AG feel about discontinuing printed versions of the Newsletter and distributing just an electronic version? Your feedback is important and will be considered by the committee. If you would like to comment and feel that we should retain the printed version of the Newsletter or you would prefer an electronic version then please respond directly to the chair at [email protected] I will finish much where I started with a message of hope, hope that we will all have come through this most difficult of times relatively unscathed. Hope that we will soon have had our vaccines and can enjoy all that we hold dear. Hope that just maybe, Covid will give us all a chance to reboot and remind us of the fragility of life and the need to spend our precious time more carefully. Stay Safe & Well Robert Westlake