Bristol peaceful protest to protect Dalsy Field

A peaceful protest will be held in Shirehampton in the ongoing fight to keep the Daisy Field free from development.

Caroline Penny, 46, and her husband Jim, 60, are organising the march along with a festival to show what the field could be used for if kept for the community.

Along with the Lamplighters open space next to the River Avon, the field, off Station Road, was designated as low value by Bristol City Council and as such liable to be sold off and developed.

Residents celebrated in December last year when a soil test deemed the Lamplighters unsuitable for building and saved for future generations. Now they are hoping for a similar result with the Daisy Field.

Mr Penny, who lives in Woodwell Road, said the heritage of the area will be lost forever if the sale is allowed to go through.

He said: "Back in the 1940s and 1950s, the field was used as a scrapyard and there were First and Second World War tanks parked up there that were stripped down for the metal. That all flowed into the field so I'm sure soil samples would deem that unsuitable, too.

"If this land was sold it would open the floodgates and all the heritage of our community would be lost."

Mrs Penny, a carer, said: "Jim has lived in Shirehampton all his life and I think it is the best place I have ever lived. The green spaces are lovely for dog walkers and children.

"I think there are so many things the field can be used for such as a May Day festival or spring event. I'm organising a wassail and morris dancing in the village. Everyone that comes can have free hot apple juice and cream and then we will have a peaceful procession march to the Daisy Field. Ideally we can raise some money to have an annual event with a live band.

"There are so many options to keep the field; orchards, bike or skatepark, allotments, or left as a field, but we need to keep it for the community. We'd like as many people as possible to be involved in the event on Sunday and anyone who would like to help or provide entertainment can call me on 07754 483045."

The event will start with morris dancing from 1.30pm in the centre of the village.