Wondering the streets of Southville, Bristol

This particular Journal entry’s purpose is to shine a spotlight on some of the spots in the South West that I have enjoyed experiencing since moving to Bristol in the late spring. I like it when I'm surprised by how much I like being somewhere, especially when it comes to the food, people and the culture of a place. This is by no means an exhaustive list, merely a few spots that I have been fortunate enough to capture on film whilst moving through life’s rhythm.

Since making the move to the South Blessed (as my partner rightly calls it) I have been taken aback by this regions creativity, outspoken drive towards sustainability and advocacy for independency. Spending time exploring Bristol City Centre, as well as the surrounding countryside, I find myself constantly pushing the boundaries of what I understand to be possible for makers, creatives, and in turn, for Ubuntu Food.

Castle Park

A Park for The People

Castle Park offers city dwellers a green space along the river just off of Bristol’s main shopping district and the Floating Harbour. With its central location, Bristol’s Castle Park is one with history. Heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe in the Blitz during WW2 it hosts ruins of Bristol Castle and St Peters Church, and is home to a number of memorials including five silver birch trees which stand in the perfect sun spot near the river, each commemorating the five beaches of the Normandy D-Day Landings. This is a park that seems to recognise the importance of acknowledging the city’s history and has, in many ways, become a beating pulse for the Antiestablishment that exists in this vibrant city.

Living close by, it has been a go-to hangout for me in recent months. A place where I could take my journal and easily lose hours of the day (especially considering that St.Nicks Food Market is just round the corner) writing, people watching, and often interacting with locals who you tend to get to know when you spend time there. From watching people attempting to Slack Line and Capoeira, to hearing the rumble of a drums approach before being totally surrounded by protesters; Castle Park truly is a Park for The People.

Extinction Rebellion Bristol 5 day sit in

Doora (spelling may be incorrect), usually seen at the top of Castle Park, is genuinely one of the friendliest, and most energetic Big Issue Sellers around town. Always armed with a smile, he dances as you approach and will continue to do so even if… — Doora (spelling may be incorrect), usually seen at the top of Castle Park, is genuinely one of the friendliest, and most energetic Big Issue Sellers around town. Always armed with a smile, he dances as you approach and will continue to do so even if you walk by without stopping.

Left Handed Giant

Brewpub Bristol city centre

Visiting the Left Handed Giant (LHG) for the first time on a sunny summers day, I quickly realised why this neat little Brewpub, funded by 1500 crowd investors, has quickly become a favourite city watering hole for so many people since opening its doors in June this year. Based over the river from Castle Park, occupying a space with over 250 years of Brewing History seeped into its stone walls, LHG optimises authenticity and brings people into the heart of what they do.

Arriving early(ish) we were one of the lucky ones to steal a spot in the late afternoon sun. Long tables stretch across the vast terrace looking out into Castle Park, it is a space that becomes a buzzing beehive of energy as people clock out of their work life to enjoy a well deserved drink or two. Beyond the obvious draw of their own brewed beer, LHG boasts a delicious wood-fired pizza menu (Mission Pizza) 7 days a week. Opting for one of their specials - “Cheesus Loves You” which involved cream, black pepper, three types of cheese and honey - I understood (and fully support) their mission to ‘Revolt against the bland!’.

Unpretentious, on point and fairly priced in line with its quality; LHG has up there, with the Northern Monk Brewery in Leeds, as one of my favourite inner city breweries that I have come across.

Rare Butchers

North street, Southville

One of the first butchers I bought from in Bristol was Rare Butchers on North Street. From day one I have appreciated how friendly, helpful and knowledgeable the team have been and always love discussing how I am going to prep and cook the meat with whoever serves me. Their stock of produce is always excellent quality and full of flavour. I'm a firm believer in buying quality if you choose to eat meat as well as knowing where your produce comes. The promotion of their ethos "farm not factories" has a huge part to play in my admiration of this little independent gem. They source sustainably and offer transparency in their food chain, which is not something all butchers do.

An absolute must if you're a meat eater based in South Bristol!

Dartmoor

National Park, Devon

Hypnotised by natures alchemy, it came as no surprise that I forgot my camera in the car whilst wild camping in Dartmoor. Waking up surrounded by morning mist we decided to make the trek back to base and explore the tiny winding country roads, stopping along the way to admire the animals who wandered the Moors. The free roaming animals are an integral part of the moorland landscape and are a part of this area’s cultural heritage. Experiencing the wildness of Dartmoor I felt an undeniable connection to something ancient. It is a place which allows you to appreciate nature and fully come to terms with free range, ‘minimal intervention’ farming.

For over five thousand years farming has been the main land use of Dartmoor. Dartmoor is a living, working landscape, shaped by its inhabitants both past and present. As the largest open space in Southern England, you can expect to find a wide variety of habitats - blanket bog, mires, heather moorland and western heath in optimum condition. It was designated a National Park in 1951 and has since attracted thousands of visitors each year.

But with public visitors who may not understand the sacred history and ways of living in such a place, visitors can also tarnish the future of such a place. Prominent issues like public feeding and petting has led local Farmers to understandably threatening the removal of agriculture, such as their iconic ponies, who graze along the Moors. This is a problem that creates imbalance in their diets, draws them towards the roadside, and in turn effects the grazing and development of Dartmoor’s natural landscape.

Being in the countryside is like a therapy session for the soul. It does things to me that being in a city just doesn’t come close to. Spending an evening wild camping under the stars, cooking next to a river over a fire pit made from ancient stones - it is impossible to not feel a connection to something bigger than yourself. Moving away from your usual surroundings, and allowing your thoughts to flow with the breeze of the trees around you is something that I cannot reccommend enough to anyone. But! This must be done with careful consideration and appreciation no matter where you choose to venture.

We have a serious obligation to nature and wildlife to leave no trace. It is up to us to respect the local community and ensure that our relationship with places like this, is symbiotic and sustainable. If you are thinking of making a trip out to the countryside, or going wild camping, I would always advocate that you follow these principles.

Inspiration, growth and opportunity isn’t something that comes to us by chance. We have to go out there and find it, creating opportunities for it to come our way, and accepting it when it does. Ubuntu Food is founded on principles of connectedness and the understanding that we will only move forward through experiencing the world around us in the right way. Table Talk Journal celebrates the wonderment of our diversity and chooses to encourage the magic of who we are as a result of being more connected with ourselves, one another and nature. A philosophy that I am so proud to acknowledge prevailing in England’s intricate “South Blessed” pocket.

Write up: South Blessed