News / South Bristol

Permission granted for hot air balloons to take off from new location

By Charlie Watts  Tuesday May 16, 2023

An event that will see up to five hot air balloons take to the sky from a new location has been given the go-ahead by the council.

The community balloon launch in Redcatch Park will be the first of its kind to take place in the Knowle area of south Bristol.

The event on June 24 has been organised by Friends of Redcatch Park (FoRP), a group of volunteers who look after the park.

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Members of the Knowle community usually gather at Perret’s Park – one of the steepest in Bristol – to watch the Balloon Fiesta at Ashton Court from afar.

But FoRP wanted local people to be able to witness the inflation and launch of hot air balloons up close and personal.

They got in touch with balloonist Phil Hooper, from Sky High Ballooning, to see if he thought it was feasible to do a community launch at Redcatch Park.

Five hot air balloons are set to take off from Redcatch Park in Knowle for the first time – photo: FoRP

Sian Ellis-Thomas from FoRP said: “I found Phil and when I realised he was from Knowle, we arranged to meet in the park and a plan was hatched. Here we are, less than a year later and we’ve managed to get not just one, but up to five balloons to launch from our little park.”

Phil added: “I live in Knowle and use the park all the time to walk my dog and it’s a perfect space for launching a balloon. So, it was a no brainer. I’m very happy to be supporting their efforts in the park.”

The event will be free to attend, with the balloons set to take off at approximately 7pm, weather dependent. Redcatch Community Garden will also be open, serving food, cakes, coffee, cold drinks and ice cream.

There is also a raffle to win a balloon flight over Bristol. Tickets, which cost £1 each, are available online: https://fundraising.friendsofredcatchpark.com/raffle/1/redcatch-park-balloon-launch-raffle 

The Redcatch Park Balloon Launch takes place at Redcatch Park in Knowle on Saturday, June 24, from 3-9pm 

Main photo: Sian Ellis-Thomas 

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