Friends of Horfield Common is a volunteer-run group of people with a focus on the natural environment of Horfield Common. Originally formed in 2006 and rejuvenated in 2023, we work in collaboration with The Ardagh Community Trust (ACT) and Bristol Parks to maintain and improve Horfield Common for both people and wildlife. 

​Our aim is to keep Horfield Common a thriving green space that benefits both people and wildlife. We focus on protecting and enhancing the Common’s natural environment, encouraging the local community to get involved in caring for it, and supporting the wide variety of plants and animals that call it home. ​

​By working with other organisations, we are supporting biodiversity through a mosaic of wildlife-friendly habitats. Our projects range from pond creation and wildflower meadow planting to running nature-themed walks and talks that help people connect more closely with the Common.

We also promote the responsible and inclusive use of the Common, so that everyone can enjoy and appreciate this valuable shared space, while ensuring that everything we do keeps nature at the forefront.

​Check out the presentation from our initial 2023 meeting, in order to learn the how the FoHC operates and organises.
presentation_fohc_volunteer_meeting_july_2023.pdf
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History of the Friends of Horfield Common group

Friends of Horfield Common originally started in 2006, when a group of neighbours and interested residents formed a Parks group to works towards the continued access to, availability of, and improvement of Horfield Common for the local community.

When the future of the Common was threatened by development, FoHC came together to protect the site known as The Ardagh. To ensure the ongoing future of the site, the original FoHC group became renamed The Ardagh Community Trust, who now operate the café, tennis court, gardens and all other facilities there.

In 2023, the new Friends of Horfield Common group was set up once more, to bring people together who love the Common. What sets us apart from The Ardagh is that our focus is on the wildlife and mosaic of habitats that Horfield Common offers.
What have FoHC done?
Since being established in 2006, Friends of Horfield Common volunteers have helped to deliver a wide range of projects that have made a real difference to this much-loved green space. Over the years, the group has worked hard to improve local habitats, support biodiversity, organise community events and encourage people of all ages to enjoy and care for the Common.

​From tree planting and wildlife surveys to maintaining paths, signage and the Twelve Trees Trail, every project has been driven by local enthusiasm and teamwork. We are proud of what has been achieved so far, and we look forward to building on this success with more exciting projects planned as we move towards 2026 and beyond.

Please visit our blog page for information on what we've recently been doing
Current FoHC Projects - Ongoing
  • Regular litter picks -  last Saturday every month
  • Maintaining 2 small historic meadows started by Bristol University by cutting, raking and taking away hay once a year.
  • A new, and more wildlife friendly, mowing regime creating new and diverse habitats
  • Pond at the bottom of the site being maintained and deepened, and the site around cleared of brambles and other undergrowth
  • 12 trees Trail Leaflet produced and launched
  • Bat, tree and history walks
  • Digging three new trial plots to see the seed banks held below the grass by the Old Victorian Urinals will reveal themselves
  • New Quab pond, being dug out by Bristol City Council team shortly, together with FoHC team.  ​
  • Fund-raising for projects such as new bat boxes, a storage shed, new walks and talks programme and printing costs for the 12 Trees Trail guide.​
  • Volunteers receiving Bristol City Council Training
FoHC projects prior to 2023
  • Wellington Hill Playing Field Town Green Campaign - successful
  • Horfield Common Walking and Running Routes
  • Horfield Common Accessible Footpath Project
  • Project Ardagh
  • Horfield Common Junior Parkrun
  • Horfield Common Wildlife Plan
  • Horfield Common Tree Planting Plan
If this sounds of interest to you and you'd like to be involved with FoHC projects and activities or would like updates on the group, please do join us. Find links to our Facebook and email here.