Best in the South West!

Best in the South West! RHS Its’s Your Neighbourhood Gordon Ford Trophy awarded to Golden Hill Community Gardens at the Britain in Bloom – Garden for Bristol Awards 2015 www.southwestinbloom.org.uk

October 1st 2015 South West in Bloom celebrated the Garden for Bristol Awards 2015 at the Bristol City grounds in which Golden Hill Community Gardens was awarded Best in the South West from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) It’s Your Neighbourhood Campaign. They were awarded best out of 600 participants in this category for their commitment to community projects and Green endeavours.

Golden Hill Community Gardens opened in 2012 and has become a hub for gardening activities for community groups, neighbourhood schemes and local schools. Garden co-ordinator, Lucy Mitchell, who attended the ceremony with volunteer gardeners, started that: “We are overjoyed to receive this award. We have gone from strength to strength and have been able to further our community work this year with thanks to the help of our hard working and committed volunteers”

Spring 2015 saw the opening of the Bishopston Bale House, a straw bale, eco building made with renewable materials and based on traditional building methods. This Bale House is used by charities, local organisations, schools and toddler groups and provides space for gardening talks, demonstrations and a place to shelter during the outdoor activities and fairs that take place on the site throughout the year.

The site’s eco credentials are further boosted by a solar powered water pump which draws water from an underground well to two rain water tanks at the top of the site. They can pump around 500 litres an hour to the community garden and allotments without the need for mains water and ensure sustainable and responsible use of water on site.

Golden Hill Community Gardens are open to the public every Wednesday 10am – 4pm and Saturday 11am – 2pm. Golden Hill Community Gardens, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8EN. www.thegoldenhillcommunitygarden.com