Bridge Farm Shines on Successful Open Day

Saturday 1st August saw some 350 people attend an Open Day at Bridge Farm, which was an amazing turnout in the current circumstances - even with the COVID-19 precautions in place. Lots of love and support for the project was shown throughout the day. It was a warm, colourful, joyful event, greatly enjoyed by attendees, who were able to explore the site for the first time - some of whom have fond memories of the pigs and horses that used to live on Bridge Farm when Farmer Jack Withers had a working farm here, some recalling memories from before the M32 was built.

Bridge Farm is a developing community-led housing project on Glenfrome Road. The purpose of the event was to display the current proposals to the local and wider community and to gather feedback.  The plans focus on safeguarding the heritage of the farm, while balancing the desire for local food growing, the importance of wildlife space, with the need for more affordable homes with a focus on creativity and sustainability. Displays were presented outside along the cobbled road using the old barns doors as exhibition walls. This enabled visitors to maintain social distancing while studying the designs for the site.   

A dedicated 20+ team of volunteers as well as the architects and the landscape architects were on hand to chat with visitors, answer their questions and show them around the site.  Comedian Farmer Bridges turned up presenting a historical overview of various relics found in some of the barns to the amusement of those watching.  The commitment and enthusiasm of the whole team brought the day to life, enhanced by the encouragement and positive reactions of the neighbours who visited.   

“What a great turnout, we were busy all day! It was lovely to hear so many positive views of the proposals, and to have so many visitors interested in becoming more involved here at Bridge Farm. We’ll listen to all the feedback and alter our plans accordingly. Hopefully we’ll be able to submit our planning application by the end of September” said Maggie Coles, one of the organisers. 

The community group behind Bridge Farm is the Ashley Vale Action Group (AVAG), who successfully delivered the self-build project beside the St Werburghs City Farm. They know the benefits that strong community and shared spaces can bring to both residents and local people using the site. The Bridge Farm approach is very different to conventional housing development. At its heart is community involvement, sustainability, affordability, self-build, and lots of green space.  

For those who could not attend and would like to comment, there is a web page where you can see the plans and tell us what you think. https://bridgefarmbristol.co.uk/