We’re blessed with many a green space in and around our city, but here’s news of an event which focuses on the future of one that has been rather overlooked, and it’s one that could have an amazing future.
Forest of Imagination returns to Entry Hill, Bath on Friday and Saturday, the 25th and 26th September with River of Dreams, a new kind of event that reimagines what a public gathering can be, focused on creative collaboration in a living design laboratory, a shared conversation and an open invitation to the whole community to help shape the future of one of Bath’s most extraordinary and most overlooked green spaces. River of Dreams is free and open to everyone.
A river through the landscape
River of Dreams imagines one continuous intervention flowing through Entry Hill, a meandering flow of workshops, installations and encounters unfolding through the central meadow at Entry Hill.
One experience will lead into the next, creating a river of activity that moves through the landscape and invites people to explore, make, eat, move, plant, question and imagine together.
Along its course will be eddies and pools: places for conversations, shared food, performances, workshops and new possibilities. Every contribution will become part of a shared landscape of imagination.
Together, participants will help document what emerges, and contribute to imagining a long-term vision for a permanent Arts, Nature and Community Park for Bath.
What is happening across the two days
In the week running up to the event, Bath Spa University students and Emerge graduates will be working on live projects at Entry Hill from 22–25 September alongside mentors, bringing fresh creative energy to the site before the public programme opens.
Western Forest partnership will also host listening workshops over the 2 days to consult the community about the future of the city’s green and blue spaces, nature connection, and the role of storytelling in building a movement for trees.
Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Sustainable Places & Regeneration Team will be hosting an imagination station on 25 and 26 September as part of the event. They will be at the event from 5 pm to 7 pm on Friday 25 September and from 10 am to 1 pm on Saturday 26 September.
Local residents and stakeholders will have an opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas on the future of the site. These ideas will contribute towards a future Masterplan for Entry Hill, in line with the future ambitions for the space set out in the council’s adopted Greener Places Plan.
The council is a partner in the Forest of Imagination and is supporting a series of events at Entry Hill in 2025-6 as part of our work to reimagine the green space for the future.
Friday 25 September
A school-in-residence will work with Forest of Imagination artists throughout the day. The new WatersMeet (Creativity, Health and Wellbeing) group will host a creative workshop for home-educated children.
4 pm: Guest scholar Dr David Kyuman Kim from Being Human will convene a reflective discussion with university students and graduates alongside mentors.
5 pm: A special book launch takes place for Future Flow: Imagine the Possibilities – a new publication from Bath Spa University Press in collaboration with Hawkwood Centre for Future Thinking. Tickets here.
6 pm: River of Dreams Forest Feast opens – a shared meal and a shared vision for Entry Hill, created by Bath Community Kitchen.
The Community Feast is a pay-what-you-can event. Whether you contribute £0 or £20, everyone is welcome at the table. We are hoping to welcome around 200 people, and every contribution – however large or small – helps fund the feast and keeps it free and open to all. Book your place here.
Rob Lewis, founder of Bath Community Kitchen, said: “This first Feast in the Forest will be a brilliant way to mark the start of September’s Forest of Imagination. It’s a chance to share delicious food, full of autumnal colours and flavours, while you explore the magical setting. What better way to spend a Friday night than celebrating the natural world and enjoying good food together!”
7 pm: Nocturne begins – an atmospheric evening experience with artists Briony Hartley and Madeleine Bell.
Saturday 26 September
Forest of Imagination’s Creative Learning Team will host a full day of 15 creative workshops for families. Artists include Oliver Wallace’s ‘Earth Field Station’, Matthew Leece, Morgane Shabane and Holly Le Var’s ‘Bring the Water Back: Wild Play’, Kilter Theatre’s ‘Meeting with More-than-Human Minds’ and Andrew Amondson’s ‘Collective Dreaming’, to name a few!
A global conversation
In advance of River of Dreams, Forest of Imagination is hosting an International Arts and Imagination Network online seminar with philosopher Dr Skye Cleary: The Freedom to Imagine. 4 pm on 24 September: booking details here.
The long-term vision – a permanent Arts, Nature and Community Park for Bath
River of Dreams is the latest chapter in a fourteen-year story. Since its founding, Forest of Imagination has evolved into a leading model of arts, nature and learning in public space, influencing practice locally and nationally, inspiring new UK-wide collaborations including Playful Green Planet with the RSA, Eden Project and HundrED.
Entry Hill – a former golf course on the edge of Bath’s World Heritage setting – has been transformed through Forest of Imagination into a living classroom, a testing ground for ecological design and a proof of concept for something more permanent. The vision is a world-leading Arts, Nature and Community Park: a place where creativity, ecology and community co-exist, shaping the city’s future for generations to come.
River of Dreams is the next step toward that future and asks the whole community of Bath to help co-design this open green space.
“River of Dreams is an invitation to imagine together in nature. Through creative making, conversation and shared experiences, the whole community is invited to explore new possibilities for Entry Hill and help shape a collective vision for Forest of Imagination as a permanent Art, Nature and Community Park.” Dr Penny Hay, Professor of Imagination, Bath Spa University, co-founder, Forest of Imagination
Bath Spa University is a founding partner of Forest of Imagination and a central collaborator in the River of Dreams programme, supporting the live projects week, the Future Flow book launch and the International Arts and Imagination Network event. Bath Spa University also provides annual funding for the research and public engagement programme.
“What could be better than visiting Forest of Imagination at Entry Hill to be inspired, to dream, to feast and to wander through this tranquil landscape.” Andrew Grant, Founding Director, Grant Associates, co-founder, Forest of Imagination
“Bath & North East Somerset Council is proud to be a part of the Forest of Imagination partnership, and we thank all of the local partners and volunteers for their creativity and energy to run a series of events at Entry Hill, to help reimagine the future of this space, and welcome residents of all ages to explore and enjoy the site – many thousands of people have visited as part of events over the last few years including hundreds of young people and children. This aligns with the Council’s future ambitions for Entry Hill as set out in the Greener Places Plan, and our commitments to tackling the climate and ecological emergencies. “
West of England Combined Authority and Bath & North East Somerset Council have contributed £5,150, plus in-kind support towards Forest of Imagination events in September 2026, as part of the Bath Landscape City grant-funded programme. “The River of Dreams is an inventive way for local people to imagine a long-term vision of a crossover between art and nature at Entry Hill. We’re pleased to help support this unique concept of engaging with the community, highlighting the opportunity of this green space to connect people with the natural world in new and original ways.” Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England.
The National Lottery Community Fund, Awards for All Environment Fund made this event possible with a £20,000 grant and match funding of £1500 from Western Forest, together with research funding from Bath Spa University and donations from local sponsors.
Forest of Imagination: River of Dreams
Entry Hill, Bath BA2 5NA
Friday 25 September: doors open from 5 pm
Future Flow book launch 5 pm: ticketsource.com/cccibathspa/future-flow-imagine-the-possibilities-special-book-launch/e-evrjqe
Community Feast 6 pm (pay what you can). Book here.
Nocturne 7 pm
Saturday 26 September – free family workshops, open all day 10 am–5 pm
Free and open to all
About Forest of Imagination
Forest of Imagination has been creating free, public art and nature events in Bath since 2013. Key partners include Grant Associates, Bath Spa University, House of Imagination, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Avon Wildlife Trust, Bath Preservation Trust, RSA Bath and Bath & North East Somerset Council.
It would be nice to have a spa there.
Even just a pool.
There could be access from the Wellsway or Entry Hill.
Its got glorious views and is so underutilised.
Any tips on getting the ball rolling? Happy to help