People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Toby Sandmann
Toby Sandmann has worked as a mammal keeper for Bristol Zoological Society for 15 years, both at Bristol Zoo and Wild Place Project.
He is currently looking after some of Bristol Zoo’s mammals, which include the animals in Twilight World, as well as the red panda, the lions, the Livingstone’s fruit bats and the zoo’s newest arrival, a baby sloth.
Toby has lived in Bristol his whole life and now lives in Brentry.
is needed now More than ever
Here are Toby’s top-five Bristol favourites:
Purple Patch
Vegetable picking at Purple Patch – photo: Purple Patch
“Purple Patch is situated on both sides of the footpath that runs from Muller Road down to St Werburgh’s, and is run by Jona and Mary who produce veg boxes for the local community. Their freshly-picked salads are the best! I also keep cattle in the sheds there over winter before they go to graze Stoke Park in the summer, so do say hi if you’re passing!”
The Farm
Live music at the Farm – photo: Patrick Raimondi-Taylor
“The Farm is a perfect little pub tucked away behind St Werburgh’s City Farm, serving amazing food and great ciders. Make sure you get there early on a Sunday before their roast dinners sell out! The Farm pub used to be called the South West Railway Tavern, and was renamed due to the local smallholders turning it into their local watering hole.”
Canford Park
“This park in Westbury-on-Trym reminds me of the late 1980s, when my mum and I used to go there after playgroup to see the fish in the pond. Not a lot has changed there, and if I need a little thinking space, I will often go and sit by the ponds with a coffee, reminiscing of simpler times.”
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Banksy’s Devolved Parliament returned to Bristol Museum ten years after first going on display – photo by Martin Booth
“What’s not to like about Bristol Museum? (Except that they no longer sell sweets in the main entrance? I always used to buy a bag of alphabet letters there as a kid!) I always make a beeline for the natural history section, often pinching myself that I have worked with okapi at Bristol Zoo Gardens that are related to the baby which takes pride of place in one of the display cases.”
Thekla
On board the good ship Thekla – photo: Mike Evans
“I have really missed live music this year, a bit like everyone! I always listen to music wherever I am. Thekla is a great venue, not too big and not too small, with a great atmosphere. I have seen my favourite band, Therapy?, there twice.”
Main photo: Bristol Zoo
Read more: Bristol Zoo reveal more details of what will happen to Clifton site
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