VPAG News
Stuffed reopens!
Great news - the Council has given the go-ahead for Stuffed, the park's cafe-van, to reopen. Look out for the distinctive Orange Citroen van next to the Lodge building, and enjoy something from the menu of delicious refreshments, all while respecting social distancing of course! |
Statement on reports of planned "mass gathering"
We
have become aware of a poster circulating on social media calling for a “mass
gathering” in Victoria Park on Saturday. We wish to make absolutely clear that
this has nothing to do with Victoria Park Action Group, and that we do not
condone this. Whilst it is possible that it is some form of hoax, we feel duty
bound to take it seriously. Our primary concern is that the park remains open and accessible to local residents in accordance with the rules imposed as a response to the current COVID-19 Pandemic. We are therefore most concerned that any such gathering poses not only a risk to any participants, and the people they come in contact with, but also to those who use Victoria Park to maintain their physical and mental health. We have made both the Police and the Council aware and would urge people not to seek to attend such a gathering, or to interact with people engaging in this behaviour. If park users do see anything occurring on Saturday, they should contact the Police and let them handle things. We would also encourage you not to share the poster image, should you come across it. |
Coronavirus/COVID-19
As you may have seen, the Prime Minister made a statement on 23 March 2020 on the latest measures to combat Coronavirus/COVID-19. These were, in part, a response to reports that previous measures were not being adhered to in the way required. Although the facilities in parks - including ours - have now been closed, the parks themselves remain open. This means that the play parks and multi-use games areas are now out of bounds - even if not physically locked/closed off - the bowling and tennis clubs are shut, and the council have announced goal posts will be removed. When using the park, please observe social distancing, and stay at least two metres away from others. You can use the park in family groups (where you live in the same house) but other groups of more than 2 are now prohibited - and the Police are being granted powers to enforce this. The new rules allow you to take one form of exercise outdoors each day, and our park can be key to that for those close by. However, the government will be keeping the rules under review, and these could be tightened at any time. It is in all of our interests to adhere to adhere to these rules in the hope that a) they slow the spread of the virus and b) prevent further measures, such as shutting parks entirely, being required. There's a lot to get used to - and the next few weeks and months are going to be a challenge for us all. There are a number of local community action groups and other resources available to help. The following are links to some of them: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BS3Covid19/ - BS3 response group, on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/bs4communitycovid19/ BS4 response group, on Facebook (for those slightly further away from the park) https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus - Government information site https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ - NHS information site https://www.bristol.gov.uk/crime-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19-what-you-need-to-know - Bristol Council information site If you are aware of other local help, please let me know (andrewcbrownuk@gmail.com) and I'll try and share in the coming days. Andrew Brown Chair, Victoria Park Action Group |
Long grass
As part of their cost-saving measures, Bristol City Council has decided
to leave some areas of grass uncut in parks throughout the city this summer. Instead
of being cut 12 times a year, like the rest of the park, the long grass areas
will only be cut once, in the Autumn. The Council plans to review the success
of this policy at the end of August, and is inviting comments from members of
the public. If you have any thoughts or comments about the long grass in
Victoria Park, please pass these on to the park maintenance team before the end
of August by emailing parksmaintenance.review@bristol.gov.uk |
Roctagon Installation
Hi all We have a chance to purchase some climbing equipment for the park from Redpoint Climbing Centre. It is in the form of bouldering equipment that the centre no longer need so is half price. The proposed location is in the corner near the junction of St Luke's Road/Hill Avenue. The boulders can be installed on grass, however the council have insisted on matting underneath for maintenance and saftey purposes. The area affected would be approximately a 10m square area of park, of which approx. 60-70%% would need to be matting. I have agreed in principle with the council that this can be installed, provided the local residents have been fully consulted. Hence this consultation. Please see the attached for all the details and a means of making your opinion known. You can also find an online survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QN7DH7V If the consultation proves supportive, then I'll actively attempt to source the funds required. Please forward to any other groups that you think will be interested. I will also place some surveys as Mrs Browns and I will be delivering letters to the houses that look over the proposed site. Thanks Shaun |
| Attachments:
roctagan questionnaire1_Page_1.jpg
Dogs On Leads Zone Consultation
You may or may not be aware that VPAG is holding a consultation regarding a 'Dogs On Leads Zone' near the café and playground. Please see the attached for full details. You can return the attached to Mrs Browns Café or to My address: 66 Fraser St. BS3 4LY If you would like to fill in the questionnaire online instead, here is the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QMHHVLT If you would like a paper copy to fill out, Mrs Browns will have some more available soon. The document states that the consultation will close on the 13th April, however I will accept responses for a further week so anyone returning from Easter Holidays has time to organise a response. Please forward this document or publicise the link to whomever you think will want to participate in the consultation. |
Get Bristol Buzzing
The VPAG wildlife group and Victoria Park is involved in the Get Bristol Buzzing campaign, aimed at improving urban habitats for pollinator species by creating more nectar and pollen-rich flower areas. Victoria Park has already taken part in wildflower meadow creation via a University of Bristol research project, but there are now hopes to do even more. The Bristol Pollinators Summit was held today, hosted in @ Bristol. You
can read about it here: The Project partners would like feedback on the draft Strategy aimed at improving urban habitats for pollinators in Bristol. To find out more, or give your comments, visit here: (consultation deadline is Monday 15th Feb). Project info here: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-library/sites/biology/documents/GBristol_Pollinator_Strategy.pdf And here: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/biology/research/ecological/community/pollinators/pollinator-strategy/ Online survey is here: https://chem-bristol.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/pollinator-strategy   |
Wildlife areas for Victoria Park
VPAG wildlife group have sent the following article to BS3 magazine. Victoria Park is a large green space within a built up urban environment, and on the surface this may look good for wildlife. But with clean cut turf, no wetland area and a lack of pollinating flora, the park offers little in terms of food or shelter for non human users. Twenty years ago a Wildlife Group in Victoria Park established two small areas of woodland, created a pond and agreed large areas of meadow grass within the Council’s Park Plan. Then parks management went through a sadly neglected phase and the wildlife areas declined. Now, under the umbrella of the Victoria Park Action Group, a new wildlife group has been established. A public consultation exercise was carried out last year and a development plan drawn up. Negotiations were initiated with Bristol City Parks. The steeper grass slopes on the north side of the park are again under a ‘no-cut’ - actually to be cut once a year in autumn – regime, with visible temporary notices declaring ‘Wildlife Area, home to wildflowers, creepy-crawlies, bees, birds and bats’. Both the local primary schools, St Mary Redcliffe and Victoria Park, have expressed an interest in these areas as an educational resource. Meanwhile, the Wildlife Group is about to begin work preparing wildflower beds (the University of Bristol has already undertaken a trial area for a couple of years on the eastern slope) and hopes later to undertake some coppicing work in the woodlands. Anyone wishing to join the conservation volunteers should contact the Victoria Park Action Group via the web. |
Save Bristol's Skyline
You may or may not be aware of a development of St
Catherine's Place - an area between East St and Malago Rd.
This area has been in need of development for some time, but the proposed plans have caused some controversy amongst the community. VPAG itself is constitutionally bound to be neutral in matters beyond Victoria Park, however as views from the park will be affected, we feel it is appropriate to make sure the membership is aware of this development. Attached is an open letter from a group opposed to the development, however within the letter there is a link to the application website where you can find all the supporting documents for the development. If you have an opinion either supporting or opposing this development, the website also offers a means for you to share your thoughts to the planning officers. |
| Attachments:
Save Bristols Skyline A5smallpg2_Page_2.jpg
Wildlife Consultation
Have your say. Please take a look at the attached proposals to help wildlife in the park. The deadline for comments is 31st October. You can view the map on the VPAG stall on Saturday 14th September. |
| Attachments:
Viccy_Park_Map.jpg
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