Project M32
Exploring life and community along Bristol’s M32
The M32 is a 4.4-mile-long (7.1 km) motorway in South Gloucestershire and Bristol, England.
It provides a link from the M4, a major motorway linking London and South Wales, to Bristol city centre
Grow Wilder is a 6-acre urban nature hub and learning center in Bristol, operated by the Avon Wildlife Trust. It’s a mix of a nature reserve, sustainable farm, and community garden. Started in 2012 as Feed Bristol to improve food growing, it now encourages local communities, schools, and businesses to support nature’s recovery through wildlife-friendly gardening and conservation.
Stoke Park is a public open space of 108 hectares (270 acres) in Bristol, England.
It occupies a prominent position on the eastern flanks of Purdown, alongside the M32 motorway,
together with the landmark Dower House and Purdown transmitter.
The M32 Eastville Flyover (Viaduct) in Bristol is a heavily critiqued piece of infrastructure
historically accused of having “torn the city apart”
and splitting local communities. Currently,
the flyover is facing a massive
£450 million rehabilitation project set to begin in 2029 and last for six years.
A safety inspection revealed severe structural issues including
cracked concrete, blocked drainage systems, and corroded bearings
that require engineers to lift the entire bridge by half a centimetre to perform repairs.
The M32 Flea Market is a vibrant, community-focused outdoor market located
under the M32 motorway flyover in Eastville.
Known as “the people’s market”, it is celebrated for its highly eclectic,
creative, and community-driven atmosphere.
The M32 Skatepark is an iconic, DIY urban space located underneath the M32
motorway viaduct on Stapleton Rd, Eastville, Bristol.
Built and maintained directly by the local Bristol skate community,
it is highly celebrated for its raw, gritty, underground atmosphere, concrete ramps,
and evolving graffiti art installations
Parkway Methodist Church was built to replace two Methodist chapels
demolished during the construction of the M32 motorway.
The church continues to serve the local community
from a site close to the motorway corridor.
Fox Park is a small green space and community hub located just off Fox Road in Easton,
Bristol (BS5), adjacent to the M32 motorway.
Known for its welcoming atmosphere, the park is situated near a railway viaduct renowned for its vibrant street art and is home
to a number of community growing projects that bring local residents together.
Visitors can enjoy the park’s birdlife, whether by feeding the birds
or simply watching other people feed them .
A footbridge from the park provides a convenient pedestrian route to St Werburgh’s,
making Fox Park a pleasant stopping point for those exploring the area on foot.
Broad Plain Boxing Club is a long-established community boxing gym located near Bristol’s M32 motorway.
For decades, the club has provided boxing training, fitness programmes, and youth activities,
serving as an important community resource for local residents. Known for its inclusive approach,
the club has played a significant role in supporting young people and
fostering community connections in East Bristol.
The M32 is the main route into Bristol city centre, carrying traffic directly
to the city’s shopping and commercial districts. Opened in the 1970s, the motorway improved
access to the centre but also cut through established neighbourhoods, including parts of Easton and St Paul’s.
For many local people, the road remains both a vital transport link and a physical barrier
that has shaped the surrounding communities.
