Last Thursday, Juliet and Ritchie from Avon Wildlife Trust conducted a nature survey on Roundhill. The purpose of the survey was to help the Friends of Roundhill group make sure that the hill has the best management plan for all the wildlife living there.

More and more wildflowers were discovered on every spot where a sample was taken. The list of species included plants like hedge bedstraw, fairy flax and black medick. The tall yellow flower which grows over the north side of the hill is called tall melilot. On the east side there is a plant called yellow rattle, which is a parasite of grasses.

Ritchie said that Roundhill is an amazing ecological island and that we should apply for the habitat to be given Higher Level Stewardship status. In the photo, from left to right is Juliet, Ritchie and Councillor Dine Romero. To see the species list click here.

Joe, 24/07/10

On Sunday there was quite a nice bit of community activity going on around Southdown and Whiteway, as several outdoor events fell on the same day.

At Roundhill a community picnic was organised by the Friends of Roundhill Group, as part of the nationwide Big Lunch initiative to get people across the country meeting with neighbours and sharing food. A similar picnic was held in Rosewarn Field at Whiteway.

Some of the Big Lunch on Roundhill

Over at Bath City Farm a fun day was attracting lots of visitors with its barbecue, music, stalls and car boot sale. The residents in the photo below live at Kelston View and have supported Bath City Farm since its early days.

Terrence, Marion and Sophie doing a car boot sale at Bath City Farm

There is still more to come. Next Sunday 25th July from 12 noon to 3pm, St Michael's Church in Twerton will be holding a free fun day. There will be a barbecue, music, games, a dance show and more. That will definitely be worth a visit. Find out more by clicking here.

Joe, 19/07/10

PACT meetings are held 4 times a year in Southdown and are a chance for residents to have their say. The latest meeting was held on 21st July. For a detailed report on the meeting click here.

The meeting began with an angry discussion of the Council's recommendation to close Culverhay School. There will be a demonstration against this recommendation outside the Guildhall, next Wednesday 21st July at 4pm. A public hearing will be held in the Guildhall at 5pm.

People can also protest (politely) by emailing their concerns to Councillor Chris Watt at: chriswatt@cognisantresearch.com

New priorities raised at the meeting were:

1) Anti-social behaviour by the flats at Haycombe Drive and to the rear of The Hollow; 2) The alleyway at Blagdon Park; 3) Lack of a warden at Blagdon Park; 4) The threatened closure of Culverhay School.

Joe, 16/07/10

Phone mast

Vodafone has applied to install a 12 metre phone mast on the grass verge at the junction of Mount Road and The Hollow. If you want to object to the application, you can do so by clicking here. Then click on "Submit comments" to add your views.

Lidl

If you want a lovely Lidl store, full of low cost groceries to help your budget stretch further, then you need to say so. Lidl has reapplied to build a store by The Golden Fleece Pub on the Lower Bristol Road. You can support the application by clicking here. Then click on "Submit comments" to tell the Council why you want a Lidl.

First Steps

First Steps Children's Centre in Woodhouse Road, Twerton, will be holding an open day on Saturday 17th July from 12 noon to 2pm. There will be face-painting, a bouncy castle, table top sales and a whole lot more.

Joe, 09/07/10