Our Ashton Court Greenway was celebrated in style on Friday 22 April two years after we completed it.
In April 2020, as Covid was just beginning to have an impact on all our lives, Greenways and Cycleroutes completed the construction of the Ashton Court Greenway. A formal opening was not possible, so we simply took down the orange hazard tape and welcomed walkers to the path.
The path links the City of Bristol and the County of Somerset and two years we were delighted that the Lord-Lieutenant of Bristol, Mrs Peaches Golding OBE CStJ, and the Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, Mrs Annie Maw kindly agreed to celebrate the path with us on the morning of Friday 22 April 2022 – Earth Day.
The one-kilometre cycle route through Ashton Court and the connection to the Festival Way from Long Ashton to Bristol makes it possible for people to walk or cycle into Bristol from Nailsea and Long Ashton without having to take in any main roads. The route connects the gate to Ashton Court near the Park and Ride with the UWE site at Kennel Lodge Road, avoiding the busy and hilly Ashton Court Estate road up to the house.
Greenways volunteers undertook vegetation clearance to open up views of the historic landscape, tree protection, fence construction, tree and hedge planting and ecological works.
The route was constructed by local contractors Safety Green Ltd, with funding from Veolia Environmental Trust, Sustrans and North Somerset Council, and support from Historic England and from UWE and Bristol City Council who own the land. North Somerset Council and Sustrans have since added to the project with a signal controlled Toucan crossing across Clarken Coombe which was completed last year. The crossing provides a safe place for all path users to cross the busy B3128.
John Grimshaw, founder and engineer of Greenways and Cycleroutes, said at the opening: Humphry Repton designed Ashton Park 200 years ago. We know the path would have pleased him. It has been a privilege to work in such a landscape and to create a path which is already so much appreciated. Watching people enjoying the route is our reward for five years’ negotiation.
Greenways and Cycleroutes 