SHE TALKED THE WALK Elizabeth Ellis on the Ecoshow walk in October

Through Ecoshow, I have been privileged to integrate my interests in community, natural environment, art and local history, to share how our urban and economic growth and has responded our landscape and plundered it’s resources. More importantly, Ecoshow has introduced me to many people with a vast range of skills and experience and real commitment to positive change in the city. The Ecoshow performances “Bridging Places” at St Stephens Church and at Queens Square for Bristol Regatta, were exciting and wonderful experiences and I look forward to enjoying more from our talented performers and filmmakers. We met on a beautiful moring at lovely Redland Green for our October Ecoshow walk, where we made our introductions as members of Ecoshow, Sustainable Redland, Bristol Hiking Group, Pride of Place, and Image Theatre. On route through Redland and Cotham, to Kingsdown; contributions and questions from fellow walkers enriched our understanding of natural landscape, growth and change including, near Redland Station, the culverting a stream in a natural valley to drive a railway through it. It was great that everyone went along with the no talking section chosen as a Sense Walk, thus absorbing the sights, sounds smells and textures of urban scene as it shifted down from elegant squares and parades, over concrete towers and ring roads, by the culverted Frome, to ancient lanes and courts on the hill at the very heart of Old City where we discussed, as David Mowat eloquently wrote with James Murray-White in their fabulous narrative for the summer performances; “So this place chose us”. Regrouping after a refreshment break at the heart of the Corn Exchange and St Nicholas Market, brought a new perspective on the 18C building now thriving again with good food stalls. We crossed Bristol Bridge to share the ancient and modern development on the south bank of Floating Harbour. So began our journey to connect with our Ecoshow Partners in South Bristol. As I’ve used Redcliff as a pleasant short cut into the city by foot for many years, it was wonderful to meet Sue and Robert on the Oct 2 Walk, to learn about the garden and Community and enjoy views of the city from on high and hear about artist Annie Davenport’s work with Redcliff people. It was also lovely to be joined by walkers for lunch the park of Somerset Square where Sue was waiting for us. Here we experienced some impromptu performance from Image Theatre members, introduced by David Fuller from Sustainable Redland; that focussed our attentions on the plights of walkers and drivers in how they relate to each other. Over the New Cut we went past the remains of Georgian town houses through a 1950’s industrial estate, then past Windmill Hill City Farm, to an overgrown and dilapidated section of the Malago that was used to drain industrial waste from Victorian Bedminster, By Bedminster Station Windmill Hill through the more cared for Malago Greenway. At Headley Park we left the Malago for the lovely Pigeon House Stream. Here Keith Way was waiting for us having enjoyed some wildlife whilst anticipating our arrival. He showed us the changes to the stream, and wildlife, and spoke of the industrial and commercial growth and decline, and changes to transport links and their affects on nature and the local community. He also explained the impact of over zealous park keeping on nature, and the struggle for local people to feel that their voice is heard. He provided documents on the encological surveys, old maps, and invited us to sign the petition against the building plans proposed next to the stream. Keith took us up the stream via Hengrove Way Dual Carriageway, and showed us a recreational area next to the stream under threat from housing development. Some good people in Hartcliffe also interested in saving green spaces, provided water for David Fuller’s excellent homemade cordial from Redland Elderberries. His cordial jar had been carried to Hartcliffe in relay by walkers from Redland. We continued beyond the edge of the Hartcliffe homes but within the city boundary to a more naturalised part of the stream sadly still littered by food and drink packaging. Here we discussed how Keith could use his expertise on the natural world to share with other residents and especially children, in a less formal way than the standard school field trip. I look forward to joining Keith on his walk via streams and springs Dundry Slopes above South Bristol; and also to joining Daithi on his walk following the streams that flow into the River Frome in North and East Bristol. Also, I would like to arrange a walk with Ecoshow exploring urban green spaces and linking other communities in East and South Bristol, including the Avon Walkway and Brislington Brook. It would start from the transport hub at Temple Meads near the Floating Harbour and perhaps we could make together, from found objects on the walk, artworks to photograph about environmental issues. If anyone would like to contribute suggestions about walks, please email David Mowat, or make friends with me on Facebook, where you can see some of my photos and Ecoshow artwork of Bristol, and photos kindly taken by David Mowat, of the 2nd Oct walk. Feel free to comment and share any understanding of the natural, Environmental or historic aspects of the images or send me your own. Elizabeth Ellis 27 October 2010