Your say / KNowle West
‘Knowle West’s green spaces are some of the best in the city’
“The only green space for a neighbourhood in south Bristol with high levels of deprivation, Knowle West, is an unmanaged stretch of land, sprawling and steep, that separates it from the city.”
This claim, made in an article which recently came to light on Twitter, is, of course, a load of crap. Not only does Knowle West have multiple green spaces – but they are some of the best in the city.
One of these is the Northern Slopes, a nature reserve where people and wildlife thrive. Managed by a group of local volunteers, the green space is a personal favourite of mine.
is needed now More than ever
The wild and beautiful area sits above Bedminster, which gives it a stunning view over Bristol, and makes me feel connected with the rest of the city
In her full article, Clare Wilks, an urban designer and master planner at LDA Design, claims green space in Knowle West is accessed by ”frightening” alleyways.
But below is the archway which takes you to part of the Northern Slopes. Far from frightening…
A frightening alleyway? I think not – photo: Charlie Watts
Wilks also claims in her article that Knowle West has no parks – again, a load of crap.
The Knowle West Health Park, which was designed by local people more than 20 years ago on the site of a former school, is one of the best kept green spaces in Knowle West.
Knowle West has no parks, you say? I think not – photo: Charlie Watts
There’s also Filwood Park – a green space I use daily to walk from Knowle West to Hengrove. And I’m sure the park would be thriving if a community building there was put to proper use.
Next to Filwood Park is Filwood Playing Fields. Protected by a trust, this green space will soon be getting floodlights, benefiting the local football teams that play there.
Filwood Park is another one of those parks in an area there’s claimed to be none – photo: Charlie Watts
I could also not write about green space in Knowle West without referring to the Western Slopes. This “vital wildlife corridor” on the border of the estate and Hartcliffe transports you from the city to countryside.
The main problem with green space in Knowle West is that it’s usually under threat. A private developer wants to build 157 homes on part of the Western Slopes, there are plans for 34 homes on part of the Northern Slopes and a youth centre is proposed on green space around the edge of Knowle West.
Campaigns to save green spaces in Knowle West like the Western Slopes have been well-documented – photo: Charlie Watts
So there are parks and green spaces in Knowle West – and they are not frightening. They are just undervalued, not by locals but mainly by developers who seek to profit from them.
In her article, Wilks says her local green space, Redland Green, is “livelier than ever with a busy cycle route, a choice of areas to relax in and close contact with nature.” But I think, if she bothered to explore Knowle West, she would find its green spaces are very much the same.
Charlie Watts is the Community Reporters Editor and Knowle West Reporter for Bristol24/7
Main photo: Charlie Watts
Read next:
- Council drops controversial housing plans for health park
- Council scales down housing plans for wildlife corridor
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