The ‘Hart’ in the ‘Cliffe

How do we judge a community? For years, areas of south Bristol have battled against a premeditated view held by those who have never visited the area, so I was disappointed to read the recent article published in Bristol24/7, 10 things you probably didn’t know about Hartcliffe. It was another predictable ill-informed swipe at a much maligned community.

So here are my own 10 things you didn’t know about Hartcliffe, the things you’ll encounter if you actually visit the area rather than just Google it:

1. Hartcliffe & Withywood Community Choir
An amazing choir made up of members of the two communities from all backgrounds who have sung all over the city, led by Lizzie and Andrew.

2. Room 13 Hareclive
This is an independent artists’ studio run by children working alongside adults, Over the years Room 13 has worked on many different important projects with organisations such as Spike Island, the Architecture Centre and Bristol Children’s Hospital. In 2007, Room 13’s purpose-built artists’ studio won a RIBA award (Royal Institute of British Architects).

3. Dundry View slopes
In two words, ‘THE VIEW’; one of the best views of our city you can experience. You can access it through many points in Hartcliffe and Room 13 recently won a Bristol Green Capital commission to produce a map for local children to see what the slopes had to offer.

4. The Roundhouse
This community resource at Bouchier Gardens has many activities including a woodland chair making workshop, Learning Partnership West forest schools, community picnics, Tea on the Terrace pop-up cafe, weekly gardening course, Santa’s Grotto and it goes on…

5. Hartcliffe Community Farm
Perhaps the lesser known of all Bristol’s community farms but still just as great to visit with your kids so they can get up close to the animals seven days a week! 

6. Crox Bottom
An incredible green space that  has been proposed as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest in the Bristol Local Plan. This greenway houses a huge range wildlife around the Pigeonholes stream that runs through it, a true oasis of calm in the city which is maintained by a dedicated group of local volunteers.

7. Hartcliffe Health and Environment Action Group (HHEAG)
Based at the Gatehouse Centre, the  is a hub for the Food For All Co-Op where you can buy fresh local produce, much of which is also grown at the HHEAG community gardens. There is also No.10 Kitchen which offers cookery lessons alongside nutritional advice and healthy eating workshops.

8. City of Bristol Gymnastic Centre
The centre offers a gymnastics training area including full competition apparatus, landing pit, sprung floor area, trampolines, dance studio and changing facilities for those in the Bristol and surrounding areas. It was also an Olympic training venue for the London 2012 gymnasts.

9. Everything else there isn’t time to mention
The amazing work done at the Hartcliffe & Withywood Community Partnership, the fishing and angling club, The Amblers walking group, Wilmot Park Bowls Club, and bee-keeper Dave ‘bee man’ Gillard who has kept bees in Hartcliffe for 35 years and whose honey you can buy at the Gatehouse Centre.

10. The people
Last on the list but perhaps the most important, whilst the rest of the UK bemoans the lack of community spirit across towns and cities, Hartcliffe’s community continues to thrive. Ask the local residents and they will all talk about the closeness between families and neighbours. Hartcliffe may lack in public money, resources and jobs and been largely neglected by the city council for many years but what they have built in terms of community strength is not to be dismissed.

Jess Wright is the founder of community space Zion in Bedminster Down, which in October is hosting a variety of events as part of Diversity Month. For more information, visit www.zionbristol.co.uk.

Photo of Bishport Flats by Ben Smith courtesy of www.dundryview.org.uk

Read more: Hartcliffe seamstress breaks down barriers