What do you get when you combine local food and decarbonised public transport with community art and physical activity? Answer: The Lakeside Family Fun Day!

Despite the threat of thunder and lightning, huge numbers travelling to Bristol for the Women’s Rugby Semi Finals and it being ‘return to uni’ weekend, we still gathered good numbers of people for this event on 20th September…and had a splendid day out. We had some great conversations about the value of growing and shopping locally and travelling by bus. Our particular highlights were:

• Seeing young children getting into the driver’s seat of the Big Lemon electric bus, beeping the horn with zeal and then going to help make and play inside its replica in hazel and willow.

• People enjoying the free chips from the Salt & Malt for completing the treasure trail.

• Seeing the beautiful ‘view from the bus’ seaglass pictures from Naturally Mindful and the delicately sewn bus patches from Weaving Change.

• Watching people take part in Lynne Joyner’s dancefit class and Sandy Vear’s 15minute personal training sessions.

We had speeches from Pam Turton, (head of bus operations in the West of England Combined Authority), Kim Brooks from The Community Farm (who also spoke about The Pony Farm Bus project and The Independent Market, Jackie Head from Chew Valley CIC Sustainable Transport Partnership and Sarah Warren (Deputy Leader for B&NES responsible for Sustainability), who also handed out prizes to winners of the RideAndShine ‘selfie on the bus’ competition.

The key message of the day: get on board the new look X91 and 99 buses for cheap, clean, convenient and friendly travel round the valley and into Bristol.

Keep an eye on our socials for our upcoming ‘Better by Bus’ campaign: your chance to win prizes for travelling on the X91 Chew Valley Sprint and the 99 Chew Valley Cat buses.