What a way to welcome autumn! Huge thanks to everyone who joined us this September for the Bathscape Walking Festival, and for our conference ‘Bathscape reflections: Shaping a Landscape City‘. We hope you’ll enjoy highlights of our autumn so far alongside news of some upcoming activities and events as we start to enjoy some magnificent autumn colour in the Bathscape.
Thank you for joining us at Bathscape conference
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Bathscape Reflections: Shaping a Landscape City conference on Tuesday 23rd September. What a great afternoon, with residents, partners, researchers, practitioners and brilliant local organisations, all gathering to reflect on the impact and achievements of the Bathscape Partnership.
Wonderful to see so many local people who are working together across Bath’s communities to deliver inspiring projects that are helping to shape the future of Bath’s landscape. We hope the insights shared and networking conversations on the day will encourage individual action and will support continued partnerships and collaborations!
As well as meeting so many marvellous people, we were pleased to share copies of our four Journey to Impact documents. These independently produced reports show the impact that Bathscape is having on the landscape and the people who we’ve helped access the countryside. The individual Impact Reports are also available on our website.
Photo credit: Ric Rawlins
Bathscape Walking Festival
Bathscape Walking Festival – thank you!
A huge thank you to everyone who supported us and attended walks during this year’s Walking Festival. Between 6th and 21st September 2025 we met close to 500 people, in all weathers! New this year were a walk celebrating Bath’s Twinning association, a National Trust walk from the Assembly Rooms to Snow Hill and two deaf led historic walking tours guided by BSL walk leaders.
We really enjoyed meeting local people, returning walkers, people from further afield and those who joined us for the first time!
If you were not able to join us during the Walking Festival this year but are looking for ways to explore Bathscape then why not check out our online walking festival tools instead? From wherever you are, and whenever you are ready, you can access our self guided trails, nature trails, heritage and audio trails and even the Circuit of Bath Whole Hiking Route!
Click on the link to check out our Virtual Walking Festival resources.
Forest of Imagination
Together with colleagues and volunteers, visitors from local communities and local schools we took part in Forest of Imagination ‘Imagining the Future of the Forgotten Land’ between 23rd September and into early October.
This was a creative transformation of the former golf course at Entry Hill and was visited by several thousand people. 16 schools visited and engaged with different creative and nature inspired activities to connect with and reimagine the space. We really enjoyed attending the launch event – enjoying this green space by moonlight – and were delighted to see people enjoying the outdoor classroom which we helped make possible. As part of ‘reclaiming the green’ Dan and Lucy also enjoyed meeting the children from 4 different classes from 3 local schools and led sessions sowing wonderful wildflowers (and dancing!). Look out for a butterfly shaped motif, including oxeye daisies, growing in the new year!
During his visit – the very knowledgeable Mike Williams from Bath Natural History Society also spotted lots of interesting nature and a unique Slime mould!
Big BaNES 100k – total!
Big BaNES 100k – super steps to success this September!
This year’s Big BaNES 100k! has been a great success and raised £3,233 for two brilliant local youth charities: Mentoring Plus and Off the Record Bath & NES
Thank you to everyone who has supported Big BaNES 100K over the last few months. We hope you have enjoyed taking part and exploring your local countryside.
It has been wonderful to see the combined efforts of our marvellous partners making such a difference for young people through this challenge, and other wellbeing walking activities, and for this collaboration to be recognised by winning ‘Best Collaboration’ at the Radio Bath Charity Awards. Thank you from all of us at Bathscape, Mentoring Plus, Off The Record, The Bath 5k Map, and Walk Bath.
Upcoming events
Bath and North East Somerset Climate and Nature Network (CANN) event
On the afternoon of Tuesday 18th November this event will bring together businesses, community groups, and local stakeholders to explore ways to collectively work towards a resilient, low-carbon and nature-positive B&NES.
There will be workshops, practical advice, and opportunities for networking and collaboration to support climate and nature in local communities.
To find out more and register your interest in booking your place to attend please visit the Eventbrite listing. If you have any questions about the event, you can contact Sustainability@BATHNES.GOV.UK
On Thursday 20th November, the Friends of Charlcombe Community Nature Reserve are launching an exciting new plan for the reserve and are inviting local people to join them for a discussion about how local communities are delivering nature recovery. The event takes place in St Stephen’s Centre, Lansdown, starting at 7.30pm.
The 16 acre site in Charlcombe Valley consists of wildflower rich grassland, a hedgerow that is medieval in origin and fragments of ancient woodland, bordered by brooks fed by local springs and criss-crossed by a network of footpaths. The new plan for the reserve will set out a vision for the next five years and how this special place can help deliver nature recovery and connect local people with the natural world.
You can find out more about the event, speakers and venue, and can book your place via this eventbrite link.
If you can’t attend but are interested in finding out more about Charlcombe Community Nature Reserve and activities so far – you can check out the Friends of Charlcombe Nature reserve blog
Want a wonderful walking workout? Why not join the fantastic Cotswolds Wardens and walk the whole 20.5 miles of the Circuit of Bath over one weekend?
You can join in on 22nd and 23rd November and can do one day, either day or both days. On each day you’ll be guided by experienced Voluntary Warden walk leaders. You’ll need to wear appropriate footwear and bring snacks and a packed lunch.
There is lots more information about start time, meeting point, routes and a link to book your place available here.
Assistance dogs (only) are welcome on these walks. There are trained guides available to assist people with visual impairments – please get in touch to discuss ahead of the day.
You can find out more on our website or can contact us via email- info@bathscape.co.uk or call 01225 477265
Bath Natural History Society are running some fascinating events during November, December and into the new year. Check out their events page for more details of what is on and how to become a member!
Latest listening opportunities
In August, Bathscape’s Dan Merrett gave a talk on ‘urban meadows’ at the National Meadows Conference. If you’d like to remember warmer days, and hear and see Dan’s insights you can watch his talk which is now available online.
Our October podcast is here – you can listen now! Join us in enjoying highlights from the Bathscape Reflections: Shaping a Landscape City conference. If you couldn’t join us on the day or want to revisit your favourite bits – you can listen in to hear more about the Bathscape Partnership and enjoy insights from Architecture students – Jazz and Marcus, and our fantastic keynotes and panel speakers.
Find the latest episode or catch up on any you’ve missed or would like to revisit at: https://footprints.captivate.fm/ or search “Bathscape Footprints” wherever you normally get your podcasts.
Huge thanks as always to our contributors and our podcast producer, Pommy Harmar.
Photo credit: Ric Rawlins
