Interested in starting a group? Contact the Bristol Parks Forum:
How do I find a park?
Map of all Parks & Green Spaces on Bristol City Council Website >> Bristol City Council managed parks & green spaces are marked like this: 
Or use www.bristol.gov.uk/my-neighbourhoods enter your address and use the 'My Nearest' tab. Parks & Green Spaces are listed under 'Leisure & culture'.
Management Plans
Management Plans set out how the space is managed now and plans for the future. Having a Park Management Plan in place will help your group in putting together applications for funding and will also ensure that any projects make allowance for other planned improvements.
We now have a webpage with information for Park Groups who want to get involved with Bristol Parks in putting together Management Plans for their green spaces. It includes links to existing plans.
We are also planning a workshop session for anyone interested in developing a plan for their own green space. Details will be here soon.
Monitoring
Our 'Monitoring' webpage provides information on how Park Groups can assist with monitoring the performannce of Bristol Parks contractors and in-house teams.
We have tried to make the process as simple as possible. We would like you to submit reports for your park or green space at least every three months.
You can report on the park overall, or on particular features, each feature is scored as good, fair or poor with a chance to add comments. Reports received will be passed to Bristol Parks each month.
Mayor of Bristol
The election of George Ferguson as City Mayor on 15th November marked a huge change in the way the Council is run.
Investing in Parks
On 4 July 2012, the Council Cabinet agreed that £3.5 million be made available to invest into
Parks and Green Spaces citywide. This investment will contribute towards
meeting the policies and aspirations of the Parks and Green Space Strategy. As
part of this funding stream we will see a further 24 additional Children’s play
areas being improved within our parks and green spaces.
In total, 47 projects across all Neighbourhood Partnership areas were put forward
to cabinet for approval. Some of these projects were funded wholly through the
Capital Stimulus funding, while others were required to be match funded from the
Neighbourhood Partnership devolved S106 funding.
Work is now in prgress to confirm S106 funding, finalise the designs of these projects and let contracts as necessary. The documents below which were prepared for the BPF give the latest updates.
Capital Investment in Parks, Update Jan 2013
Capital Investment in Parks, programme update Jan 2013
Capital Investment in Parks, Update Oct 2012
Capital Investment in Parks, programme Oct 2012
BPF Parks & Green Spaces Strategy page >>
Neighbourhood Engagement Team
Planning Policy
Knowle West Regeneration Framework
Bristol City Council is consulting on a Knowle West Regeneration Framework to guide the planned regeneration in Knowle West. This regeneration will impact on several parks and green spaces in the area.
More information at www.northern-slopes-initiative.co.uk
Knowle West Community Website - www.knowlewest.co.uk
Council's webpage for Knowle West Regeneration Framework
Proposed options for the Kingswear/Novers/Marksbury Road Masterplan
Presentation to BPF meeting 21 April 2012 by Len, NSI
Revised AGSP proposals for Knowle West
BPF Committee response on Knowle West 18 May 2012
Bristol's Trees
Trees are some of the most important features in our parks and open spaces and Bristol Parks Forum has always also had an interest in street trees.
The Bristol Tree Forum (formerly the Bristol Street Tree Forum) discusses issues relating to all trees in Bristol
Bristol Tree Forum Agenda, Minutes, Information >>
Planting a tree with the council’s TreeBristol campaign >>
Events in Parks
Bristol Parks Forum has formed a Working Group to work with Bristol Parks and the Events team to try and simplify the system for licensing events in parks and green spaces while ensuring that events can be held safely and without excessive impact on other park users. We are keen to see more community events held in Bristol's parks and we believe that events that are aimed at promoting the park or the park group should be lisensed by the Council without charge.
It is right that commercial events that use part of a park should pay charges for the 'hire' of the park. There also needs to be systems in place to ensure that all events are organised properly for the safety of those attending and other park users as well as making sure that the park is not damaged.
If you would like to join the Working Group please email
Rules for event licensing
All events in Bristol's parks where more than 50 people are expected to be on site at the same time need to be licensed through the City Council Events Licensing team (note, this does not include guided walks or volunteer work parties / task days - see below).
For small events with 50 to 200 people on site at one time you need to apply for a Park Permit. The cost is £30 per event (increased from £20 on 1st April 2011, but no increase April 2012). As well as the limit on numbers, there are restrictions on the type of event that can be covered by a park permit, eg events using bouncy castles, marquees, or stage are not covered - you will need a site licence. Update: Park Permit applications do not need a formal risk assessment form to be completed, but you do need to provide a statement about how your event will be organised to show that you have considered possible risks.
For all events with more than 200 people attending or with extensive site set ups you need a Site Licence. This is the landowner's permission, licences for selling alcohol or for entertainment have to be applied for separately. For details see the Event Application Toolkit. Licence charges depend on the size of the event, see below, but for small community events the charge is the same as for a Park Permit.
You may be asked for a bond to be held to pay for any damage to the site. Update: Groups that are members of the BPF and some other established community groups will not be asked for a bond for small events and if the event is supported by Bristol Parks the Park Permit fee might be waived.
For all events you need Public Liability Insurance, for Community Groups holding events with less than 200 people this can be provided by Bristol City Council and included in the park permit / site licence fee.
Email Parks.events@bristol.gov.uk to get the forms or for more information.
Volunteer Work Parties / Task Days & Guided Walks:
There is a separate system that allows you to lead guided walks or to lead a group of volunteers carrying out work to improve your park while being covered by Bristol City Council Insurance. In order to do this you need to complete a short training session which will qualify you as a 'competent person'. Then having agreed the work with your Community Park Officer you need to complete some simple paper work for each event.
You can get more information and download the Health and Safety Pack and Forms from the Bristol City Council website at www.bristol.gov.uk/parksafety.
Letter to BCC Events Team from BPF Working group 4th March 2011
Town Green Applications
Bristol in Bloom
The Bristol in Bloom Community Association are members of the BPF. They work with Bristol City Council to run 'Bristol in Bloom' and Bristol's entries in 'Britain in Bloom' and in 2012 the international 'Entente Florale' - at which Bristol won a Gold Award.
Part of Britain in Bloom is the 'It's Your Neighbourhood' programme which gives support to community projects across the UK. Many of Bristol's Park Groups took part in this programme in 2012. If you would like to enter in 2013 visit the Bristol in Bloom website via the link below.
Bristol in Bloom website >>
Bristol It's Your Neighbourhood Awards 2012 >>
Report on 2012 Entente Florale, including judges comments >>
National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces
Bristol Parks Forum is a member of the National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces (NFPGS) which is the federation of area forums and networks of local Friends and User groups for Britain's green spaces. Roland represents the BPF at the NFPGS
NFPGS Website Home page - www.natfedparks.org.uk
Links to websites of other NFPGS Members
NFPGS leaflets
Bristol Parks Forum
Bristol Parks Forum officers (as elected 13 Oct 2012):
Chair - Nancy from Kingfisher Group & Windmill Hill Community Orchard
Vice Chair - Fraser from Friends of Brandon Hill
Other committee members:
Rob, Friends of Troopers Hill;
Roland, Mina Rd Park Group; Hugh, Mina Road Park Group; Mark, Snuff Mills Action Group; Derek, Friends of Stoke Lodge; Lesley, Friends of St George Park.
You can email the committee via .
Please note that we are all volunteers and most of us do paid jobs during the day, we will respond to emails as soon as we can but please do not expect an instant response during the day.
Bristol Parks
Bristol Parks or 'Parks and Estates' manage all parks and green spaces in the City of Bristol. If you would like more information about the parks or wish to report any problems or issues relating to your park please contact Bristol Parks directly. Email: or phone 0117 922 3719 - this is available Mon to Fri 8.30am - 5pm (4.30pm Fri). You can also visit the Bristol Parks website at www.bristol.gov.uk/parks.
See also the information about the 'Neighbourhood Engagement Team' in the news section above. The Neighbourhood Engagement Team should be the first point of contact for Park Groups.
Green spaces in Bristol are managed through four administration areas with the large 'Estates' being managed separately. Park maintenance in the North and East areas (and also Estates) is carried out directly by Bristol Parks. Parks in the South and Central areas are maintained by external contractors managed through a Contracts Manager.
The South Contract is run by Quadron and the Central area by English Landscapes. Our Listing of Parks and Park Groups shows which area each park is in.
Bristol Parks Structure and Contacts - does not include Estates
Maps of Administrative Areas
Quadron Structure for South Contract
English Landscapes Structure for Central Contract
Meetings
Email List
Between meetings we keep Park Groups informed of issues of interest via email. Please email if you would like to be added to our mailing list or use the link below.
Membership
Membership is open to all community park groups and similar organisations with an interest in protecting and enhancing green space in Bristol. New groups are always welcome to join us, membership is free but groups must comply with the criteria set out in the Bristol Parks Forum Terms of Reference.
The current list of groups that are official members of the BPF together with information about the groups can be seen via the link below.
List of Bristol Parks Forum Members >>
Groups wanting to become members of the BPF should complete our Membership Record Form. These can be downloaded from the links below in pdf or in Word format so that it can be filled in and emailed back to us. The form is also used to give us details to be published in the 'Bristol Parks Forum Directory'.
Membership Record Form in pdf format Membership Record Form in Word format
The 2010 version of the BPF Directory can be downloaded here: Bristol Parks Forum Directory 2010.
We also have a list of all Bristol's parks and park groups. The current list can be found here: Listing of Parks and Park Groups >>
The following information and links are provided as a resource for Park Groups but may also be useful to anyone who uses Bristol's parks.
Who to contact:
For general issues relating to your park or green space contact the Bristol Parks Neighbourhood Engagement Team.
You can also use the general Bristol Parks email address at or phone 0117 922 3719 Mon to Fri 8.30am - 5pm (4.30pm Fri). Alternatively you can contact Bristol Parks by text on 0771 039 6713.
For removal of drug and sex related litter call the rapid clean up hotline on 0117 922 2100 - this is available Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 6.00pm. You will need to tell them the location and the type of litter.
If you witness anti social behaviour in a park or green space in Bristol, please report it to either the 'It's Your Call' action line on 0117 922 2500 or the non-emergency police line on 101. Whilst a police response will not always be possible, these calls will help build up a picture of hotspots and issues in your area and are extremely valuable in helping reduce antisocial behaviour. More information on the Council's website.
In our experience Bristol Parks generally respond to queries promptly and try to help where they can, however, if you are not satisfied with the response you receive from Bristol Parks please contact us via and we will try to help resolve your problem.
You can also contact your local councillors and discuss local problems with them, many councillors attend meetings of local park groups.
What land does Bristol City Council own?
The mapping system on the Council's website will show you.
Go to www.bristol.gov.uk/explore-bristol-city and then tick 'Council managed land' in the panel on the left.
Redirectors (shortcuts) to Bristol City Council Web pages
These shortcuts allow you to reach individual sections of the Council's website without going through all the menus. They are also very useful for using in emails or publicity material to direct people to individual pages. Listing of website redirectors
Community Action Toolkit
Bristol Parks have produced this very informative document which is available for download from their website via the link below. The toolkit is mainly aimed at new groups but contains information that all groups will find helpful. Download Bristol Parks Community Action Toolkit
Parks Monitoring Forms
New system coming soon.
Word Versions of Health & Safety Forms
The links below take you to Word versions of the most commonly used forms in Bristol Parks Health & Safety Pack which you can download as a pdf from at www.bristol.gov.uk/parksafety. The Word versions allow you to complete the forms and submit them by email.
Attendance Sheet - AttendanceSheet.doc
Health and Safety Plan - HealthandSafetyPlan.doc
Site Risk Assessment Form - SiteRiskAssessment.doc
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