Bristol: Churches, Clinics and Care Centres in Lawrence Weston

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.

[1]  This walk starts from the entrance gate of Laurence Weston Community Farm. With the gate behind you, walk straight ahead, towards and through the car-park, to the road (Saltmarsh Drive).

[2] Turn right and go along the pavement as the road curves to the left. In a short while you will pass the Dental Practice [A] on the corner of Crokeswood Walk. Continue along Saltmarsh Drive, (crossing to the left-hand pavement at some point) as it bends to the left and reaches the main road ahead.

[3] Cross the road (Long Cross) at the traffic island (be aware of the traffic as this is a busy road) and turn right to follow the pavement along the road as far as the roundabout ahead. (The Baptist Church [B] can be seen, diagonally across the other side of the roundabout.)

[4] At the roundabout, follow the pavement to the left into Kings Weston Lane. Continue past the bus shelter; (behind it is the chapel of Lawrence Weston Christian Fellowship [C].) Cross Broadlands Drive and continue as far as Tide Grove. A slightly shorter alternative is to turn left onto Broadlands Drive and walk up the left-hand side pavement.

[5] Turn left into Tide Grove; (Our Lady of the Rosary Roman Catholic Church [D] is just beyond the junction.) Follow the pavement as Tide Grove curves to the left, passing the Primary School on the right. At the end, turn right and continue along Broadlands Drive, (with the Primary School still on your right.) At some point, cross over to the left-hand pavement - if you need to avoid kerbs, cross by the far end of the school playground, then go on the diagonal path into Goldsbury Walk to cross that road and come back to Broadlands Drive. Continue along Broadlands Drive to the next road on the left (Ridingleaze.)

[6] Turn left into Ridingleaze and walk along the left-hand pavement; on the other side of the road you will pass in quick succession:

• [E] Five-ways bungalow (NHS Bristol Public Health); a meeting space and community resource for various groups, with the aim of improving well-being;
• [F] Avon Autistic Foundation (Ann Coleman Centre); a Day Centre and Residential Home for people with Asperger Syndrome or Autism;
• [G] The Ridingleaze Medical Centre (a GP surgery);
• [H] Lawrence Weston Clinic (NHS Bristol); various clinics are held here (including breast-feeding, continence, sexual health, young people’s health);
• [I] Ridingleaze Customer Service Point (Bristol City Council); access to various council services in person, by free phone or free computer terminal.

Cross Shortlands Road and continue along Ridingleaze. Opposite Costcutters take the path on your left towards a path runs to the left towards the bus shelters on Long Cross. (Further ahead, opposite the end of the shops, is St Peters (C. of E.) Church [J].)

[7] At the bus shelter cross the road using the two zebra crossings. Turn left. Walk along the pavement until the end of the small grassy area on your right.

[8] Turn right onto the path  running beside the grass and a tall hedge. Continue down along the path that runs between the houses. At the end of the path, you reach Saltmarsh Drive. Turn left and walk along until opposite the car-park for the Community Farm. An alternative route is to continue along the pavement in Long Cross until you reach Bury Court Close, where you turn right and walk down to Saltmarsh Drive opposite the Community Farm car-park.

[9] Cross over Saltmarsh Drive, and walk through the car-park and along the path to the Community Farm.

Safety Note: vehicles are frequently parked on pavements in Saltmarsh Drive and Crokeswood Walk, forcing walkers to use the road (particularly relevant for those with wheelchairs & pushchairs.)

Laurence Weston Community Farm     http://lwfarm.org.uk      Tel: 0117 938 1128

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 coup and three large paddocks.

The Community Farm is open all year round, Tuesday to Sunday (Closed on Mondays, but open for Bank Holiday Mondays); Summer hours 9.30 - 4.30, Winter hours 9.30 - 3.30

Dental Surgery 11 Crokeswood Walk, Bristol, BS11 0NA 0117 9822303 Open Monday - Thursday 9.00-13.00 & 14.00-17.00; Friday 9.00-13.00

E Five Ways bungalow (NHS Bristol Public Health) The name ‘Five-ways’ comes from the New Economics Foundation whose aim was to identify a set of evidence-based actions to improve well-being. The five ways to wellbeing are: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give. For further information, please contact Julie Hendry on: 0117 900 2549 or email julie.hendry@bristol.nhs.uk

F Avon Autistic Foundation (Ann Coleman Centre) http://www.avon-autistic.demon.co.uk Avon Autistic Foundation is a registered charity for people with Autism or Asperger Syndrome. It has three residential homes in Bristol, which offer residential placements to some twenty-two residents. The Ann Coleman Centre in Ridingleaze has both a Day Unit and a Residential Home.

The Ann Coleman Day Unit, opened in June 2002, provides very specialised day care for young people who have Autism or Asperger Syndrome. The Day Unit is open from Monday to Friday, 9.15 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. and offers a wide range of activities to suit individual needs.

G The Ridingleaze Medical Centre http://www.ridingleaze.nhs.uk/

“We are a large, friendly GP Practice in Lawrence Weston.  The Surgery was purpose-built in 1988.  We have 7000 registered patients of all ages.  Our list is open and we welcome new patients living in our area. Our reception is open 08.30 to 18.30 Monday to Friday (closed for lunch from 12.30 to 13.30.)"

The Customer Service Point at Ridingleaze is where you can access council services in person; you can pay council tax and rent bills , discuss tenancy issues, hand in documents that have been requested, report a noise complaint or antisocial behaviour, apply for concessionary travel card or blue badge and much more.

If you do not have your own computer, you can access a number of our key services online at a Self Service Point - a  computer kiosk connecting you to the council free of charge. You can make automated payments, applications and requests, and browse the council website. Free telephones connecting you to council services are also available. Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, 9am to 5pm; Friday 9am to 4.30pm; Wednesday closed.

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 (cafes, etc) available on the route, but there are several shops in Ridingleaze. There are seats along the paths between Ridingleaze and Long Cross.