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Bristol: From the Community Farm to the Pumping Station

Difficulty Leisurely

Walking time 27 minutes

Length 1.5km / 0.9mi

Route developer: lisa daix

Route checker: Michael Broggio

Start location Lawrence Weston Community Farm
Route Summary A leisurely circular walk from the Community Farm to the Pumping Station, starting on a main drive and coming back through the common.
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

First Bus services 40 & 40A run to Long Cross Lay-by; Wessex services 501 & 502 stop near the roundabout with Kings Weston Lane (stops labelled Moor Grove, SW-bound or Broadlands Drive, SE-bound.)

The cycle path passing the Community Farm is on National Route 41, Regional Route 10.

There is a small amount of car parking at the Community Farm.

Description

[1] Starting from Laurence Weston Community Farm, turn right onto the cycle path (not through the barrier.) (If you are coming from the car park, walk towards the entrance of the Farm, and just before reaching it, turn left onto the cycle path.)

Very soon you will see a round sign on the Path “Walk for Health 200 metres”. Follow this cycle path along, checking on the “Walk for Health” markers.

[2] Shortly after the 400 metre marker, turn right onto a wide drive (which comes from a gate on the left with big boulders in front of it.) Follow the drive, which runs parallel to the main road for a while. This drive will bend round to the right and will start running alongside the motorway. You will see a high fence on your left and on your right a lot of blackberry bushes. (Safety note: there may be illegal off-road motorcycles using this drive - difficult to hear because of the traffic noise from the motorway.)

Keep walking along the drive until you reach the big Pumping Sewage Station building on your right.

[3] Half-way alongside the Pumping Station, the drive bears left towards the motorway but you continue straight ahead on the tarmac track. A few metres beyond the Pumping Station, the track becomes stony and narrower and goes slightly uphill.

[4] Just before the track levels off and  bears left, turn right onto a narrow path which goes back and upwards on your right. You can see a lattice metal tower on your right.

At the path junction level with the tower, keep going ahead on the level (ignoring the path going down on your left towards the football field and the school which you can see in the distance.)

[5] As you approach a line of trees, the path splits at a Y fork. Bear right towards the gate, and go through the gate. You are back in the Community Farm.

Keep straight ahead along the path and you will pass the Community Orchard on your left. Follow the path down a slope until you reach the cycle track with a barrier on your right. Turn right through the barrier; the Community Farm entrance is on your right and the path to the car park is on your left.

POI information

A. Laurence Weston Community farm

Lawrence Weston Community Farm is a community-managed project that aims to improve the quality of life for local people and its service-users.

The farm does this by working with members of the local community, and others, to provide a range of innovative and exciting, educational, social, environmental, economic and recreational activities.

As well as providing opportunities to experience the daily delights of community farming and gardening, the farm also:

Brings people and communities together - make new friends, volunteering and placement opportunities, activities for children and young people, a safe and secure public green space.

Delivers education and skill development - hands on enjoyable learning opportunities, short course, accredited training, school groups . 

Promotes environmental awareness - recycling, composting, wildlife, gardens, ponds, woodland.

Encourages healthy eating and exercise - wholesome food, exercise through gardening and practical work, cooking events.

Produces fresh, affordable local food - vegetables, meat, honey, eggs.

The farm is particularly interested in combating social exclusion and providing a safe and supportive environment in which people can flourish and contribute positively to their community.

The People's Building houses the office, toilets, classroom, kitchen and community room. The Animal House provides a home for all the large animals and most of the small animals. There is a small apiary where the bees make delicious honey, a secret garden complete with poly tunnel, Water Vole Woodland Walk, an outdoor soft play area for the summer months, picnic area, the animal village that is home to our small animals, the volunteer cabin, an orchard, duck pond, compost heaps, out door pig pen, chicken coop and three large paddocks. 

B. Cycle Path and " Walk for Health" measured route.

1) The cycle path passing the Community Farm is on National Route 41, Regional Route 10, going to Pill (3 miles) and Bristol (10 Miles.)

2) The " Walk for Health" at Henacre Open space is a 1900 metre measured route. You can use this route for walking, cycling and generally being active. This route is a flexible way to build towards your daily 30 minutes of activity. Distance markers have been drawn on the path on the path every 200 metres so that you can record the distance which you have walked.

  C. Sewage Pumping station  

 D. Tower

E. Laurence Weston Community Orchard

Lawrence Weston Community Orchard was opened in April 2012. It was created by volunteers from the Community Farm and local schoolchildren on what was an overgrown and unused section of the farm site. It is open to the public every day of the week to provide a place for relaxation, community activities, a home for wildlife and a space for more than 40 varieties of fruit trees.

 
Notes

Toilets are available in the Community Farm, when it is open: Tuesday to Sunday (Mondays only on Bank Holidays);

Summer hours 9.30 - 4.30, Winter 9.30 - 3.30

No refreshments available on the route

Acknowledgements No details available.
  • Wild flowers on the verge
    Wild flowers on the verge
    By - Lisa Daix
  • Wild flowers on the path
    Wild flowers on the path
    By - Lisa Daix
  • The tower near the pumping station
    The tower near the pumping station
    By - Lisa Daix
  • The path back home
    The path back home
    By - Lisa Daix
  • The cycle path at the start of the walk.
    The cycle path at the start of the walk.
    By - Michael Broggio
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