Review of GB's 2024 - what we've been up to
Grow Batheaston could not have achieved its successes without the assistance and involvement of many local volunteers, groups and organisations. Thank you all. We are lucky to have this support.
For us, the highlights were the oversubscribed Beavers around Batheaston event and the 4th Annual Batheaston Art Trail both of which included creative workshops for children, young people and families.
Another standout was the Christmas Fair and Market in December, a fundraiser for GB in the new village hall. Despite the gales, the Fair was able to go ahead and more than a 170 people were welcomed by a very green Santa Claus! There were 19 local stallholders selling seasonal gifts and other items. A wreath making workshop, cafe and raffle all helped to swell our funds by several hundred pounds. Thanks to all those who provided cakes for the cafe and prizes for the raffle.
The 4th Annual Art Trail attracted several hundred visitors during the last weekend in September. More than 40 artists took part and the lunches and teas in the church proved very popular. For the first time there was an exciting range of free workshops in the New Village Hall and the Youth Club, these were provided by graffiti artist Nick Halahan, wire sculptor Celia Smith, wildlife film-maker Aleks Domanski, wildlife collage artist Marian Hill, and multi–crafter Rachel Kember. A grant from the Coop Local Community Fund helped to support the workshops.
In June there was a Batheaston Art Trail Curry and Quiz night. This was a great success with all tables booked and about 90 people attending. Thanks go to Piu Bose and a team of volunteers for organising this fundraising event.
Beavers around Batheaston festival
Over the first weekend in June, as part of the Festival of Nature, we celebrated the return of beavers to the River Avon. It is about four hundred years since beavers last lived in the Batheaston catchment area. On June 7th we put on an evening of talks, film and children’s art in the village hall to a sell-out audience of more than 130 people. The speakers were Bevis Watts, author of River Journey – Searching for Wild Beavers and Finding Freedom, Emma Fennell Hodson from Avon Wildlife Trust, Emily Bowen from the Beaver Trust, Dr Eva Perrin of Surfers against Sewage and Aleks Domanski an award winning wildlife film-maker. In addition to showing us his films of the beavers, Aleks worked at Batheaston Primary School in May alongside willow artist Julie Starks and insect collage artist Marian Hill. The school pupils learnt about beavers and the environment in which they live and Aleks, Julie and Marian helped them to produce their own nature-inspired art work.
On June 8th two free drop-in workshops took place by the riverside. Both featured willow, an amazing plant and a favourite food of beavers. Julie Starks ran a willow workshop creating insects and Susi Bancroft and Alison Harper provided a wind-catcher workshop using willow and fabrics.
Nature visit
Many thanks to ecologist Glen Maddison and Alex Preston from Avon Wildlife Trust for providing 12 Grow Batheaston members with an informative guided tour of the Bathampton Meadows reserve and its plants and animals.
GB WhatsApp groups
The GB WhatsApp groups for Wildlife and for the Growers Club have been particularly active during 2024. They provide forums for sharing information and advice as well as photos and news. The Wildlife group has over 30 members and the Growers group over 50 members. Please contact GB through the website if you want to take part.
Plant and seed swaps
In the spring there were three plant and seeds swaps in the Riverside Car Park. These proved to be the usual enjoyable social occasions, a chance to share information and advice as well as providing a source of income through donations.
The Forest Garden
The Forest Garden continues to draw appreciative visitors including small children who enjoy the den and mud kitchen area. The garden, originally a piece of ‘waste’ ground is planted with a diverse mix of fruit trees, fruit bushes, herbs, perennial and annual veg and other plants which are useful in some way. We let the nettles grow in certain areas as they are a great wildlife plant and very nutritious for humans too! Our ‘dead hedge’ continues to evolve, is great for wildlife and helps us to keep all plant matter on the site. A small pond was recently created from a redundant wheelbarrow lined with pond liner: this should help increase wildlife visitors too. There was a Forest Garden Open Day in June, part of the Festival of Nature.
Community spaces - Orchard slope
Relatively few wild flowers appeared on the Orchard Slope this year after autumn planting in 2023. So, in October GB spent a day working there with additional volunteers, employees from interior designers Interaction. We were guided by Avon Wildlife Trust in planting plug plants from Grow Wilder and sowing more wildflower seeds. We’ve planted many bulbs as well. Fingers crossed for 2025!
After fruiting, the fruit trees on the slope were pruned under the guidance of Janine Connor from Forest of Avon. There will be another free fruit tree care workshop on Monday 24th February 2025. Do get in touch if you’d like to join the group.
Batheaston Tree Trails
During 2024 the Tree trail group familiarised ourselves with the trees in Batheaston and the surrounding countryside. In December the group went out with Hugh Williamson (Bath Urban Treescapes) and Joanne Radway (Bathampton Meadows Warden, National Trust) to walk the route of our first proposed trail before finalising it. The trail should be available online in spring 2025. We hope out trails will be entertaining as well as informative for people of all ages who want to learn about our local trees.
Christmas Wreath making
In December GB collaborated with Alice Park Community Garden to provide a wreath making workshop at Alice Park.
Junior football
Grow Batheaston Junior Football had a very successful summer thanks to the support of Bath City FC and the coaches and parents that contributed. Many children in the village and surrounding areas have benefitted. Football will start up again on Saturday mornings in early spring at the Rhymes Pavilion playing field.
Walking football for the over 50s has had another successful year switching from the playing field to indoors at Batheaston Primary School during the winter.
Local Voices for People and Planet event
Grow Batheaston had a stand at the busy BANES Council event that was held on 7th October at Batheaston New Village Hall for residents of Batheaston, Bathampton and Bathford. It provided an opportunity to reflect on how we can help mitigate the impact of the climate and ecological emergency in our area. Although it is easy to for individuals to think that they cannot make a difference, it encouraged collaborative action on issues to do with wildlife, food, waste, energy and transport.
In 2024 GB collaborated with:
Alice Park Community Gardens - In December GB collaborated with Alice Park Community Garden to provide a wreath making workshop at Alice Park.
Avon Wildlife Trust
Bath City FC
Bath Fringe Festival
Bath Urban Treescape
Friends of Bathampton Meadows Riverside
Bathscape
Batheaston Leadership group
Batheaston Primary School
Batheaston Youth Club
Beaver Trust
Beavis Watts (Author)
Festival of Nature
Forest of Avon
National Trust
Surfers against Sewage
Stone King
Wild Colerne
GB received financial support from:
BANES
Batheaston Parish Council
Batheaston Ward Councillors
The Cooperative Community Fund
Friends of Bathampton Meadows Riverside
Individual Supporters
Contact
Website: www.growbatheaston.co.uk
Email:hello@growbatheaston.co.uk