Friends of Troopers Hill
Troopers Hill is one of two sites in Bristol to win a prestigious Green Flag Award in 2007/08. Green Flags are a means of recognising and rewarding the best green spaces in the country. We caught up with the Friends of Troopers Hill to find out more about their recent success and what else they’ve been getting up to.
Why and when did you start up?
The friends group started in November 2003. Our aim was to care for the Hill; get Bristol City Council to take their responsibility for the hill seriously; and to encourage public ownership of the space. Sally Oldfield - Bristol Parks' Local Nature Reserves Officer was very supportive and helped us set the group up.
What do you do and what services do you offer?
Troopers Hill Local Nature Reserve is owned by Bristol City Council and managed by Bristol Parks in partnership with The Friends of Troopers Hill – we provide a friendly community focus for people who care about Troopers Hill.
Discussions at Friends of Troopers Hill meetings, work parties and social events are always generating ideas.
We hold regular work parties - on the 1st Saturday of each month. 10am to mid-day, and anyone can come along. Our work parties on Troopers Hill are a fun way of helping maintain the environment of the site for everyone’s benefit. Work parties finish with a chat over a cold drink, coffee or tea and biscuits. We supply gloves and tools but please wear long sleeves and suitable footwear.
What is your group up to at the moment?
We’re running a photo competition at the moment. You can send your photographs either as an electronic image to friends@troopers-hill.org.uk, or as print or slide by post to Susan at 3 Corkers Hill, Bristol, BS5 8DT. All entries need to be received by 1st December 2007.
If people are in need of inspiration then just go for a walk on the hill - it is a great place to take photos, the colours and shadows are always changing. There will be three categories: under 12 years old, 12—16 years old and over 16. The winners will be announced at our AGM on 11 December, when we hope to show as many entries as we can.
What have been your recent successes?
Winning the Green Flag Award has been a great team effort with everyone working together to bring real improvements to the hill and the way it is managed. The management plan that the group drew up was recognised as being a good plan by the Council and so they suggested that Troopers Hill be put forward for the Green Flag. It took a lot of work to apply for the award. Strong involvement of the local community is a major factor in the assessment of Green Flag sites so everyone involved with Friends of Troopers Hill has played their part and should be proud of this achievement.
Do you belong to any partnerships, and what do those partnerships do?
The Friends of Troopers Hill are members of the Parks Forum along with many other community groups throughout the City who have an interest in parks and green spaces. The Forum has been particularly involved with the Parks and Green Space Strategy and has recently written (with the support of the Friends of Troopers Hill) to object to the planned development on part of Castle Park.
How can people get involved with Friends of Troopers Hill?
We hold meetings every six weeks or so to discuss ideas for events and works to be done on the hill and to pass on any news or information. Although we have an agenda and our Chair tries to keep some sort of order the meetings are very informal and light hearted.
We would be very pleased to see anyone who has an interest in the hill, its history or its wildlife. The next meetings are on Thursday 15 November and Tuesday 11 December (AGM). Meetings are 7.15- 9.00pm at Wesley Memorial Church Hall, Bryants Hill, Bristol. For more information, dates and directions to our meetings visit www.troopers-hill.org.uk
What do you get out of being a member of Voscur?
We’ve found looking at the events that are publicised through Voscur have helped us find things we’ve been able use for our own events. I attended one event that Voscur had publicised and was met a storyteller who then took part in a Troopers Hill event.
How can people get in contact you?
Email: friends@troopers-hill.org.uk
Phone: Susan on 0117 947 5037
Write to: Friends of Troopers Hill, 3 Corkers Hill, St George, Bristol, BS5 8DT
www.troopers-hill.org.uk
www.flickr.com/groups/troopers-hill
