Driving along the M32 towards Filton and Frenchay, it’s easy to be distracted by the large yellow building of Stoke Park, on the lefthand side of the motorway. However, to the right, there’s a growing nature hub, where people can get hands-on gardening experience for free.
Grow Wilder, in M16, is owned by the Avon Wildlife Trust. It is made up of a selection of fields and open spaces, including ponds and wildflower gardens. Chris Kaboutian, who works on the site, says their ponds range from large, to the size of a washing up bowl.
“We want to show people how easy it is to get in touch with nature,” he explains.
Before walking round the site, Chris has to quickly meet a customer wanting to buy a refurbished lawnmower from the team. The money made from the sale will go straight back into improving the site.
“Whatever we do here is rippled out,” Chris says, pointing out the variety of polytunnels and growing equipment on the site.
There’s a path that weaves throughout the fields, underneath willow trees and next to patches of growing wildflowers, including a single freshly bloomed daffodil; the first of the year. There are several places for the public to just sit and enjoy the space and, although the motorway is nearby, the sound is muffled through the trees.
Volunteers at Grow Wilder can get involved hands-on with looking after the site, from heavy lifting and land managing to planting flowers and shrubs. A range of local businesses also run out of the site, including a large woodworking lodge.
Grow Wilder also offers growing locations for local veg box businesses, which provide fresh vegetables for people throughout Bristol.
Chris, who showed me around the site, explained that he started working in Grow Wilder a few years ago, after a career change when deciding he wanted to spend more time in nature. He thinks this sentiment is growing with people in Bristol, despite growing digitisation of work.
He said: “I think Bristol is a real hotbed for people going back to the simple things, natural things, using their hands to do things, getting away from screens.
“Doing productive things for people and wildlife on land. That’s a big driver given all the development that’s happening around us.
“I think it’s them saying, or implying, ‘I wanna be part of a project, but I also want to do something great on land for people and wildlife’.”
Grow Wilder is holding a community open day today (March 1), where people can decide the future of a 5 acre brownfield site nearby. The site is being looked after and restored by a group of 13-18 year olds who are supporting Avon Wildlife Trust’s project and delivery.
Throughout the day, people will be invited to take part in guided nature walks, learn about the site’s history, meet the young people creating a new nature site and meet the local goats.