Although there is no charge to attend and no tickets are required, we do ask that you sign up for attendance tracking purposes. Each session is from 11am to 1pm.

Dates of sessions:

Sunday 11th June

Sunday 18th June

Sunday 25th June

Sunday 2nd July

Sunday 16th July

Please note:

Children must be accompanied at all times, and the parent or guardian will be responsible for the children during their visit to Trinity.

Tasks may include weeding, planting, watering, creating wildlife habitats, and basic orchard maintenance.

This will also be a nice opportunity to have a cup of tea, relax and enjoy our Green Space.

Sessions are held Fortnightly on Wednesdays - Time: 10.00 - 13.00

Sessions will be led by Trinity's Garden Team. You'll also be working alongside a small team of friendly volunteers.

No previous experience in gardening is required, as all training will be provided.

Tools, equipment and drinks will be provided, and you are welcome to bring your own lunch. Lunch and travel expenses may be claimed back once you are a regular Trinity Volunteer.

Sessions are for 18+ only.

How to take part:

- If you would like to volunteer then first you will need to register with Trinity as a 'Volunteer Gardener'.

- After registration, our Garden Manager will contact you to have a friendly chat within 14 working days.

- You may then be invited to a taster session to see if the sessions feel right for you.

- Please do get in touch as we will do our best to accommodate everyone's individual needs.

Volunteers help maintain the gardens at Trinity

Putting Down Roots is a horticultural therapy and training project, using gardening as a tool to help people in their recovery. Delivered by St Mungo’s, the project helps to build people’s self-esteem, confidence and sociability through connecting with nature.

“It is a pleasure to work in such a beautiful space and to be part of something so positive that so well serves the local community.” Putting Down Roots Participant

The group meet weekly and help maintain the gardens in Trinity’s historic grounds and work in teams to plant blubs, prune trees, weed and even to take part in crafts activities such as mud sculpture.

On average about ten people attend the weekly sessions at Trinity. The team delivering Putting Down Roots say that taking part can be an up and down journey, but it is proven to help people take positive next steps in their recovery.

One client, Miriam*, took part in Putting Down Roots for about a year and a half. She particularly enjoyed being in the garden and the St Mungo's team saw her benefit therapeutically through being able to get involved, for example, in pruning the trees or weeding an area enough to unwind and feel much better after a few hours than she did when she arrived. Miriam recently moved on to start a new role as a Forest School Assistant.

Clients who take part in Putting Down Roots are referred to the project through their key worker - they may live at the St Mungo's hostel or are recommended by a someone who has previously taken part.

If you would like to find out more about the project please visit the St Mungo's website.

*name changed to protect privacy

Forest School in Trinity's Community Garden

As part of our commitment to creating opportunities for children and families to connect with nature and learn through play we deliver regular free-to-access Forest School sessions in our Community Garden, funded by Children in Need.

“Thank you so much, we have loved coming here. We enjoy having a space to run around in as we do not have a garden at home. It is important for the children to have a space to run around in and spend time outside. They love digging and watering”. Parent of child attending Forest School

The sessions are aimed at children who attend local primary schools as well as families who are signposted through our partnerships with community organisations and outdoor play providers. The sessions provide a much-needed outdoor space for children, many of whom do not have access to outdoor spaces or gardens at home. So far 357 children, families and carers have taken part in the provision since Sep 2021.

Our work with children focuses on improving confidence and well-being through nature based-education. Children work in small groups, led by experienced facilitators, take part in activities such as campfire cooking, lighting fires and organic gardening.

Many children who come to the sessions may struggle to engage with mainstream education, due to the impact of Lockdown or an additional educational need. 97% of the children who have attended Forest School have shown increased confidence in outdoor spaces and many have shown significant progress in their confidence and team working skills. For example one child presented initially as disruptive and disengaged however, following regular attendance they became an active and engaged participant working successfully with peers.

Due to the success of the project we are able to extend Forest School sessions and will continue working with schools and partners to continue to offer this much-needed provision. This includes our free Summer Holiday provision.

Forest school workshops with local schools and artist Alice Cunningham

The Bird Bath is carved in Ancaster Weatherbed stone by artist Alice Cunningham

Trinity commissioned Bristol artist Alice Cunningham to create a bird bath sculpture as part of the recent improvements to the community garden.

"I liked exploring the garden and being able to build up trust with my team because before we started I did not have trust in them" Baraka, workshop participant, St Nicholas of Tolentine primary school.

Carved in Ancaster Weatherbed stone, the bird bath is in memory to Bunty Bax, following a legacy donation by her daughter Amelia. Amelia’s legacy gift donation contributed towards creating an accessible outdoor space including new pathways, raised planters and a sensory nature trail.

As part of the making of the bird bath, Bristol-based sculptor, Alice, also delivered workshops with 12 local children from Hannah More and St Nicholas of Tolentine Primary Schools who attend Forest School sessions at Trinity. The children explored different types of homes and nests in nature and then used clay to create their own sculptures.

We are really grateful to be able to complete this round of improvements to the garden creating an accessible inner-city garden for all to enjoy. The improvements have been funded by Power to Change, match funders and Amelia’s legacy gift donation.

It is that time of year! Spring has sprung, bulbs in the garden are popping up with bursts of new life, buds are on the apple trees - the community garden is springing into action.

Over the bank holiday weekend - come and see artist Amy-May-Ellis, who is collecting all our hopes and dreams as part of a community art installation, Mobilise (part of What I Want to Be What I Want to See). Take part by dropping by between 11am - 3pm Sat & Sun, social distancing rules apply

“I've really enjoyed coming here, it’s helped me enjoy life more. I stay at home a lot but I've been welcomed here. I’ve learnt about using herbs to drink as teas, nature and how to cook the food from the garden. I didn’t know many things about this before. I’ve really enjoyed it. Thanks so much!” Nabil, Garden participant

Family Garden Sessions will start again in the Easter Holidays, delivered in partnership with Eastside Community Trust. These sessions are an opportunity for families and children to gather and use fresh seasonal produce to create meals, take part in springtime gardening and, explore the garden through nature games. Weekly Forest School Clubs will be starting back up in the spring term with local schools including Hannah More and St Nicholas of Toletine primary.

#GetInvolved in the fortnightly Garden Volunteer Sessions 10-2pm. The sessions are welcome to any one 18+ with an interest in gardening, no experience necessary - just a willingness to take part in gardening. If you are interested in volunteering fill out this online form and one of the team will get back to you.

The garden has undergone a transformation - works have included new wheel chair friendly entrance, pathways and raised beds to make the garden a more accessible and engaging space for communities to enjoy. The old compost toilet will be removed to make way for an accessible tool shed.

A sensory trail has been planted around the around and include aromatic, medicinal, tactile, colourful and pollinator plants – making the garden a the perfect space for school groups, families and community groups to explore, have fun - and even some time to sit back and to relax! Alongside the trail artist Rosanna Morris wooden relief print display boards will highlight some of the native plants that grow in the garden.

More activity is planned throughout the year – if you want to get up-to-date sign up to our mailing list.

The Easter Holiday sessions have been supported through the Holiday Fund, a Bristol City Council initiative in partnership the Children's Scrapstore and Fairshare.

Hype's mission is to use dance and movement to help young people excel. The award winning urban dance company for 5yrs- young adult, runs weekly all year round (apart from the six-week summer) holiday and runs an open door policy so new dancers can join any time.

Class times:

• 6pm - 7pm 5yrs-11yrs (primary school age)
• 7pm - 8pm Teen/young Adults classes-(For 12+)

Cost:

• £8 pay as you go weekly. Classes can be paid on the door via card/contactless payment or exact cash each week .

Further information

• New starters can start on any Wednesday as its new routines each week at our open for all classes so there is no need for a trail class.
• First session is half price classes are 'closed classes' which means parents are unable to sit and watch as it is more comfortable for the students to progress and be themselves.

Follow Hype Dance Company

• Instagram
• Hypes Facebook
• Hypes Tiktok
• Email
  
  

Trinity has been working to create opportunities for children and young people in our local community of Old Market, The Dings and Lawrence Hill to access to arts and well-being activities during the COVID19 pandemic.

“Many families we support don't have gardens, computers or printers to benefit from online resources many organisations created. It is important to remember about this digital inequality and therefore packs like those prepared by Trinity Centre are particularly valuable. They contain colourful booklets with inspirational ideas ... to cheer up those who can only dream about their own gardens”.

Pat Pinkowska, Community Engagement Officer, Up Our Street

As part of this work we have created two activity packs full of creative ideas, ranging from make your-own Bird Feeders, to singing Lullabies to learning more about Resistance Movements in Bristol - all devised to do in the home.

Working with our community partners including local primary schools and Eastside Community Trust we have delivered over 900 activity packs to local children and young people.

Trinity's Summer and Winter Activity packs are also available as a free download . They have been devised by the Trinity team and designed by Group of 7.

The packs have been made possible thanks to grant funding from Children in Need, Power to Change and Quartet.

Local families took part in nature based activities

Families took part in 'bubbles'

Over the summer we welcomed local families back to our community garden.

Working in partnership with St Pauls Children Centre and Up Our Street, we invited local family 'bubbles' to take part in nature sessions aimed at learning, play and exploration.

In total, 45 people, aged 0–80, took part in activities that included sensory scavenger hunts, bug hunts and potting up fresh flowers. Trinity’s Associate Artist, Roxana Vilk, led lullaby workshops around a campfire whilst the children learnt how to whittle and toast marshmallows.

“We live on the 7th floor in our flat. I was scared to come as I don’t like bees but I love it here now, I can’t wait to come back!” Abdir, age 7

During lockdown, the garden team, with help from a small team of wonderful volunteers, created and distributed activity packs to local schools. With additional funding from Children In Need we were able to pack and send out an extra 121 ‘Nature To Your Door’ activity packs to our surrounding schools and community organisations; including working in partnership with organisations such as St Pauls Adventure, May Park Primary and Rosemary Nursery.

Our Summer Family Garden Days were made possible through funding from Children in Need.

These sessions are open to any family registered with a children's centre in the BS2 & BS5 area.

Registration is essential and can be made directly through St Pauls Nursery & Children Centre

To book a slot please call Michaela on 07917 517 800 or email on michaela.wilcox@bristol-schools.uk.

Available session times:

• 10:00 - 11:00
• 11:30 - 12:30
• 13:30 - 14:30
• 15:00 - 16:00

Please note, due to current Covid-19 restrictions, sessions will be 1 hour long and limited to 1 family per sessions. Two families may attend the same session if already in a support bubble - with a maximum of 10 individuals per session.

These sessions have been made possible by Children In Need.

These sessions are open to any family registered with a children's centre in the BS2 & BS5 area.

Registration is essential and can be made directly through St Pauls Nursery & Children Centre.

To book a slot please call or email Michaela on 07917 517 800 or michaela.wilcox@bristol-schools.uk.

Available session times:

• 10:00 - 11:00
• 11:30 - 12:30
• 13:30 - 14:30
• 15:00 - 16:00

Please note, due to current Covid-19 restrictions, sessions will be 1 hour long and limited to 1 family per sessions. Two families may attend the same session if already in a support bubble - with a maximum of 10 individuals per session.

These sessions have been made possible by Children In Need.

In the Summer the garden welcomed local children and families for activity days. Photo @Paul Blakemore

Local children, including Tate, received activity packs during Lockdown. Photo via Twitter courtesy of Tate's Mum

"@HannahMorePri huge thanks to you and @TrinityBristol for the fantastic kit for the windowsill grow challenge! Tate really enjoyed potting them. We will keep you posted on their growth" Charlene L. Twitter

Since the Covid-19 lockdown, we have been working closely with local primary schools and Up Our Street to find ways to reach out to young people in the community who can no longer access our community garden and may have limited access to green spaces during this time.

The first batch of activity packs, filled with simple DIY windowsill gardening ideas and craft activities for families, children and carers to get busy with at home, went out in May/June 2020. Activities include sowing seeds, making bird feeders, scavenger hunts and more. A digital version of the pack is downloadable from our website.

“I think the biggest benefit is that it gives children and families who might not be able to get outside, the chance to engage in nature-based activities. Being around nature and doing tasks like planting and looking after plants are great for mental health and well-being and get children engaged in the world around them!”

Natalie Barker, Deputy Head, St Nicholas of Toletine Primary, June 2020

The garden team are also creating videos on everything from handy gardening tips to fun activities you can do at home - keep up-to-date with these on our social media channels or catch up here.

You may have seen that we're giving away free "Nature To Your Door" packs, for young people who are currently unable to visit our garden due to lockdown.

These exciting activity packs are filled with DIY windowsill garden ideas and craft activities for you and your children to get busy with at home!

Find out more about the packs here.

This project response to Covid-19 has been made possible from our funders Children in Need, Power to Change & Awards For All.

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

Here is a step by step guide to making your very own birdfeeder at home. All you need is an empty toilet roll, string, some fat (lard, butter or margarine) and some birdfeed (or nuts or sugar free cereal.)

Make sure you send us pictures of the birds you see if you make your own!

Thank you BBC Children in Need for making Garden activities for children possible.

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.