The Northern Slopes Initiative is a group of people seeking to maintain, conserve and enhance their local open space resource in South Bristol, known and grouped collectively as the Northern Slopes, or the Slopes.

Originally set up to protect the areas from housing development, the Group has expanded its work to encourage others to join with them to work for the benefit of the people and communities that live around the Slopes; and to conserve and enhance the environment and features that make the Slopes what they are.

Increasingly areas like the Slopes are getting difficult to find in Bristol as development pressure on green space increases.

This site has information about the sites, photographs, the latest news and a "blog" about what we do. There is also a downloadable leaflet about the Slopes below.

Download our leaflet:-

The Slopes are three areas of public open space situated 3 kilometres to the south of the centre of Bristol in England, United Kingdom.

The areas are used by local people for getting around, dog walking, exercise, cycling, informal play, watching wildlife, growing food, getting away from the stresses of everyday life and for admiring the spectacular views across Bristol. In addition to the human users - there are a wide range of habitats and species on the sites as the sites link together to form a pathway to and from other parts of South Bristol and beyond.

However, there are problems with keeping paths open, litter, fly tipping, fires, vandalism and general neglect.

The Slopes are shown on this map. From left to right (West to East) the areas are known as Novers Common, Kingswear, Glyn Vale and Wedmore Vale (The Bommie), although local people may use the other names included in the map below.

A map of the area


To find out more about the areas click on the linked names on the map. This will lead to pages for each area which will tell you something about them.

If you wish to make comments about problems such overgrown paths, litter, flytipping, fires, vandalism and anti-social behaviour • or even better say something nice about the Slopes... please contact Bristol City Council's parks department who own much of the Slopes. They can be contacted on 0117 9223719, or by email on bristolparks@bristol.gov.uk

We hope by looking at our website you will get some idea of why we think the Slopes are:

One of Bristol's brilliant green spaces for people and wildlife - now and in the future


Can you help?

If you would like to help maintain, conserve and enhance the Slopes we would welcome offers of help or donations, our contact details are on the Contact page click here