At first glance, Bristol: A Guide to Good Living is no more than a collection of almost 400 listings, from eco-homes on Spike Island to organic cafes in St Werburgh’s, plastic-bag free communities in Bishopston to cooperatives in Redfield. But delve deeper between the book’s cardboard dust jacket, explore the fold-out map and there is a treasure trove of information.
Dividing Bristol into seven areas, the guide first introduces walking or cycling tours between sites of particular interest, then has the listings section followed by page-length features on specific subjects.
These features include a chat with Angie Holland at her diner in Paintworks, the work of Sustainable Redland, and a look around the Blaise Castle Estate with estate manager Martin Harris and Pat Clarke from the Friends of Blaise.
It is quite a jumble of information, the guide leaping between disparate organisations and jumping miles between locations. That is not solely a joy of this book, however, but one of the joys of living in Bristol. The book is a reflection of discovering by yourself the plethora of new things our city has to offer.
There are thoughtful forwards by Bristol University lecturer and television presenter Dr Alice Roberts, and by publisher and green evangelist Alastair Sawday. The afterword is by Peter Madden of Forum for the Future.
They broadly agree with the theme of the 224-page book, to join the ever-growing green movement in Bristol and try to make a difference in your own way, however small or large that may be.
My only criticism of the guide is its index. For a book which is a jumbled muddle of information (not itself a criticism), the index needs to be extremely thorough and user-friendly. But there is no entry for Stokes Croft despite a page article on Coexist at Hamilton House. Bocabar is listed but not Paintworks. And most baffling of all, there is no separate entry for cycling despite numerous mentions throughout the book and indeed also on the cover (above).
I’m sure this can all be sorted out in future editions of what is otherwise an excellent guide, a joint venture between Alastair Sawday Publishing and the Bristol Green Capital Momentum Group with sponsorship from Bristol City Council.
Bristol: A Guide to Good Living is very well-researched and thought-out, with some great pieces of writing and simple but striking photography. It will without doubt provoke residents and visitors alike to find out more about Bristol’s creative, sustainable and community living which make it such a fantastic place to call home.
Bristol: A Guide to Good Living is published on November 18, priced £9.99. It will be available in all good Bristol book shops and retail outlets. For more information, visit www.goodliving.org.uk.
