People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Jon Clark
Jon Clark is executive director of the Forest of Avon Trust. A recent survey carried out by volunteers recorded 600,000 trees growing in the city, with a net value of £280m.
The results quantify the many environmental services Bristol’s trees provide and will inform a citywide action plan with an ambitious target to double canopy cover by 2050.
Here are Jon’s top-five Bristol favourites:
Avon Gorge
“I moved to the Bristol area 13 years ago and one of the things I knew about the city was the Avon Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge. They did not disappoint: dramatic cliffs, ancient woodlands, rare trees, peregrine falcons and a marvel of engineering: a fantastic resource and gateway to the city.”
Heritage estates
“What an asset for the city: rolling countryside, sweeping views, networks of woodlands and high-quality formal landscapes, all accessible for people to enjoy. No guessing why so many people want to live, work, invest and innovate in Bristol.”
Local woodlands
“What continues to impress me about Bristol is the network of accessible woodlands and green spaces that run throughout the city. Every community has access to areas where they can take time out, keep fit and enjoy nature. These woods also deliver other services such as improving air quality at a local and citywide scale. Another great asset!”
Great trees
“Whether majestic London planes in city streets, high-reaching beech in Blaise Castle Estate or ancient oaks in the fields at Stoke Park, Bristol has some great trees. These and other trees contribute immensely to the environmental and landscape quality of the city, but also contribute greatly to general wellbeing and cultural identity.”
Bristol’s spirit
“There’s a great set of pubs down St George’s Road and up in Jacob’s Wells Road including the Bag of Nails, Three Tuns and Lime Kiln: friendly, off-beat, people getting on with it, all part of Bristol’s character. If this was not recommendation in itself, this sprit underpins a commitment to volunteering we see across the city.”
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