The Parish of Laverstock lies to the north east of Salisbury, separated from the City by the River Bourne, one of the five rivers that meet at Salisbury. The Parish ranges from rural communities to suburban conurbations. There will soon be outline planning consent for 1300 houses to be built on green field locations in the Parish over the next few decades.
The common elements that link the Parish are the chalk stream, watermeadows and down land. A lack of access to these remarkable landscapes led to the formation of the Laverstock and Ford Downland and Watermeadows Trust in 2006. The loss of social benefits from traditional farming has also led to the formation of the River Bourne Community Farm in in 2009 www.riverbournecommunityfarm.org.uk
The support for Nature of Art by the people of Laverstock is a reflection of our enthusiasm to celebrate our own natural green spaces through art. We believe quiet natural spaces and festive celebrations of nature provide us with social well-being – something that W H Hudson observed in the streets of Salisbury 100 years ago.
“The one great and chief pleasure, in which all participate, is just to be there, to be in the crowd – a joyful occasion which gives a festive look to every face…..Each one is present as it were in two places, since each has in his or her heart the constant image of home – the little peaceful village in the remote valley….”
WH Hudson describing market day in Salisbury in The Shepherd’s Life (1910)