Carrs Wood

We are privileged to have this wonderful open woodland on our doorstep, however, some residents think it is acceptable to throw their rubbish over the fences and make it someone else’s problem.  

This rubbish not only ruins our woodland, but is harmful to the various wildlife that call this area their home,

We have asked the Council to clear all the rubbish and erect higher fencing to help protect this valuable woodland, it is not somewhere to dump household or private garden waste.

Pennyquick playing fields and Carrs Woodland

We are pleased that the council have listened to our demands for new and improved play equipment for our playing fields.

A paper for the release of funds for a new set of swings and Pennyquick Playing fields and the replacement of the goal posts is about to be agreed.

Carrs woodland will also benefit from a capital grant of £5,000 for entrance improvements.

This money for these projects comes from previously released developer contributions from building sites in the area.

Further monies are due to be released later this year and we are pressing for them to be spent on new and improved cycle track facilities and Pennyquick Playing fields, and improvements at Innox Park to play equipment and park infrastructure.

Collapsing wall in Carrs woodland

Councillor Gerry Curran has taken up the issue of a wall that is giving way in Carrs woodland on a footpath that runs from Pennyquick View through the woodland area.

The use of the footpath by cattle has caused the wall to become weak and we are looking to keep the cattle away from this area with several styles that allow pedestrian access but keep the cows away.

The wall should then last for quite a few more years with only minor Maintainance.

Litter Pick & Childrens play area

Cllr Gerry Curran joined children from St Michael's Junior School on a litter pick in Carr's Woodland off of Walwyn Close Twerton on Monday 18th March.

Gerry Said: "The area was full of litter and it was great to have the children along to help us adults clear up, It is a shame that people can not take their litter home with them instead of dropping it where they are stood".

There was also a lot of fly tipping that had taken place in the woodland area that has been removed with help of the councils waste department.

After an hour of litter picking the Children went onto a new woodland play area created by the councils parks department, in which the natural elements are put to good use such as fallen trees and tree stumps.

"We hope that the Children have as much fun using the new play areas as we had looking around them".



The areas above and to the left hand side are the new play area's created for children from natural materials.

The play area can be accessed from Walwyn close by entering the woodland trail and following it 300 yards, It can also be accessed from the Woodland trail from Pennyquick View with a slightly shorter walk.



By Councillor Tim Ball

Helping children to enjoy the benefits of playful risk

Children are being encouraged to enjoy and learn from challenging play opportunities with a “Risk Benefit Toolkit” launched by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The Council has adopted a Risk Benefit approach to children’s play. This toolkit will help Council staff and other organisations working with children to weigh up benefits as well as risks when making judgements about places to play or activities to do.

All of this supports the Council’s commitment to provide “challenging and stimulating” play opportunities which allow children to develop and grow, as outlined in the Council’s Play Policy and endorsed nationwide by the Health & Safety Executive.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is committed to offering children and young people opportunities for them to enjoy their childhood and prepare for adult life. These essential opportunities for exciting play enable children to develop and grow; and it’s through childhood play that we first learn to spot risk and deal with it appropriately.

It’s all about finding the balance between enabling children to get the benefits of challenging and exciting play without putting them at risk of serious injury. The Risk Benefit Assessment process helps to make a sensible, professional judgement on this and is now promoted by the Health & Safety Executive as the best approach.

To celebrate the launch of this approach, children from St Michael’s C of E Junior School will test out a newly created playful space at Carr’s Wood, Twerton, in Bath on Monday 18 March featuring fallen tree climbs, hilltop lookout, swing and balance/clamber logs – after “doing their bit” for the community and helping to clear litter from the woodland.

For more information on the Council’s Play Policy and where to find opportunities for challenging play, visit www.bathnes.gov.uk/playfulrisk.