Hard to believe it was only a year ago that Greta Thunberg visited Bristol. A combination of large crowds and persistent rain led to the Green turning into a brown quagmire, and that in turn led to a crowdfunder to repair the damage.
Here is an update:
[...] Sunday 28th Feb [...] is exactly a year on from Greta Thunberg’s visit to Bristol and the launch of this crowd funder by Jon Usher. I am really pleased that after a difficult year, and lots of behind the scenes discussions, that we are now finally able to bring you news of how the funds that you donated will be spent.
Bristol and Bath Parks Foundation have been acting as custodians of the fund and co-ordinating an partnership between the Foundation, Bristol Cathedral (who own College Green), Bristol City Council (who manage the area), Bristol Youth Strike 4 Climate (who organised Greta's visit) and the Avon Wildlife Trust to begin re-visioning the space. With lawn repairs completed and the majority of the raised funds remaining, the next stage of the project will significantly enhance this green space for nature, providing a new habitat in the heart of the city.
Jon said at the time he set up this crowd funder that any excess funds would be used for wildflower planting, but we weren’t sure this would be possible in College Green, so it is fantastic news that the Foundation have been able to make this happen.
The meadows that will be created next to the Cathedral (hopefully this spring) will contain native species like strawberry clover, cowslip, white campion, and tufted vetch and will be complemented with bright, flowering species like common poppy, cornflower and yellow rattle. These are intended to attract pollinators including solitary bees, beetles, bumble bees, butterflies, hoverflies that will in turn support more insect feeding birds.
The existing wildflower meadow strip planted by Avon Wildlife Trust’s My Wild City project and supplemented by Buglife’s Urban Buzz project, will be incorporated into the new meadows through plug planting from the Avon Wildlife Trust’s wildflower nursery.
There is more detail at
https://www.bristolbathparksfoundation.org.uk/partnerships-2/ Keep an eye on the news [...]!