It’s been a bit of a stormy start to the year but if you’re keen to enjoy the beautiful Bathscape this February then do read on – we’ve got ideas for activities and walks to try, ways to share and enjoy your favourite spots, including via our podcast, and we’ve got some updates from our project friends.
Welcome to the team! Emma joins us as Volunteer Coordinator & Support Officer bringing enthusiasm and energy from recent roles with Somer Valley Rediscovered and Bathscape! Emma loves all things that celebrate nature and marvellous volunteers and looks forward to seeing you out and about in the Bathscape.
ReBalance Bath – Festival of Wellbeing 2025
Bath is currently hosting a three-week wellness festival. This is a celebration of feel-good activities, mindfulness and motivation, taster sessions and family fun. A fantastic range of wellbeing experiences are on offer until 16th February, including free guided walks from Bathscape and Bath Urban Treescape.
For full details see: https://www.welcometobath.co.uk/rebalance-bath-2025/
Do you have a favourite tree in your neighbourhood?
Our friends at the Bath Urban Treescape team would like to hear about your favourite trees, and stories about why they are special to you. Bath communities’ favourite trees will then be published in a map in 2026.
Fiona Bell, Urban Treescape team member said, “We have found many interesting trees which deserve people’s attention” and “we are asking for help from local residents to identify their favourite trees”
People can send their favourite tree nominations and stories in via email: favourites@bathurbantreescape.com
Over the last two years the team have published 10 popular tree trails in 8 locations. Thousands of the map leaflets have already been shared and enjoyed by a wide range of residents and visitors. You can access free paper maps at Bath Leisure Centre, the Urban Garden and Prior Park Garden Centre cafe.
All tree trails can be viewed online at: https://www.bathurbantreescape.com/
New faces at the Landscape City Project
We‘d like to introduce two new colleagues who are joining Bath & North East Somerset Council Green Infrastructure and Nature Recovery Team to deliver a variety of projects as part of the new Landscape City initiative.
Carol and Sandra are job-sharing the role of Landscape City Programme Officer and will be working with the Landscape City Programme Manager to develop and implement projects on key sites in the Bathscape landscape, building on the strong foundations established by Bathscape over the last 5 years.
Both Sandra and Carol are local to Bath and have been engaged in several land-based projects, most recently, Sandra as the Development Worker for More Trees BANES and Carol as the Nature and Community Officer with Your Park Bristol and Bath.
Carol says “Our approach is very much about engaging with local stakeholders about the future management of B&NES-owned woodlands and open spaces to develop and deliver plans that will bring benefits for people and wildlife.”
“We’ll be conducting site surveys and developing action plans, working with local people, seeking public engagement, and providing opportunities for people to get involved in site management, wildlife surveying, local Friends groups, pop-up events and training in eco-friendly techniques such as scything and coppicing.”
Over the coming months we “will see woodlands and grasslands being brought back into active management, with the help of local volunteers and contractors. We’re really looking forward to meeting people on the ground to develop proposals that reflect what people want from their local open spaces.”
The project will “aim to deliver on the targets set by West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and Bath and NE Somerset Council overarching targets to support nature recovery, improve health and wellbeing and promote climate resilience.”
For further information: carol_stone@bathnes.gov.uk or Sandra_tuck@bathnes.gov.uk
Volunteering at Charlcombe Community Nursery
An astonishing 97% of haymeadows have been lost in the UK since the 1930s and that is why it matters so much that we look to protect the grassland that we have at Charlcombe Community Nature Reserve (accessible via Charlcombe Way) in Bath.
The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) team have been running sessions throughout January and February to help with cutting and clearing some of the scrub and brambles to help protect the meadows and connect the islands of grass. Over time they’ll want to expand the grassland area and also create a mosaic of different habitats, including mixed scrub, that is good for nature.
Did you Know?
We’ve created a downloadable booklet of walks in and around Bath! All the walks in this book are less than four miles and have something for kids to do along the way.
We’ll also be giving out hard copies at community events in the Spring – come and say Hi to claim your copy!
Latest listening opportunity – Footprints Podcast
In February’s podcast we’re finding out more about fantastic follies of Bath. Join us from wherever you like to listen!
Find the latest episode or catch up on any you’ve missed or would like to revisit at: https://footprints.captivate.fm/ or search “Bathscape Footprints” wherever you normally get your podcasts.
Huge thanks as always to our podcast producer, Pommy Harmar.
