Bristol Flashcards
Describe the location of Bristol.
Bristol is located in South West England, approximately 2km northwest of Bath.
It is located across the Bristol channel from Newport, Wales (northwest).
The nearest rivers are the Severn and the Avon.
The motorways M4 and M5 run through the city.
Give an overview of the distribution of the UK population.
The areas of the UK with the highest population density are located in the South and the South East.
Major cities such as London and Birmingham are the most densely populated, with more than 200 people per square kilometre.
The UK population is distributed unevenly, with some places homing many more people than others.
How is the UK population unevenly distributed?
82% of the UK’s population live in urban areas; the rest live in rural areas.
25% of people living in urban areas live in London and other areas of South East England. These people contribute to 80% of the UK’s GDP.
Highland areas of Scotland and Wales are sparsely populated.
Population density
How crowded or spread out people are within an area.
Give human reasons as to why urban centres have grown in the UK.
(distribution of major cities in the UK)
-Growth of industry (factories)
-Financial centres (e.g. London)
-Administrative (government) centres (e.g. London)
-Scientific centres (with scientific advancements)
-Capital cities
Give physical reasons as to why urban centres have grown in the UK.
(distribution of major cities in the UK)
-Located near natural resources like coal (e.g. Newcastle) and iron ore (e.g. Sheffield)
-Located near rivers (natural trade routes)
-Located on the coast e.g. Bristol (so ports for travel and trade routes)
-Located in a central location e.g. Birmingham so accessible
What makes Bristol a major UK city?
It is the largest city in the south west of England, with a population of approximately 500,000 (predicted to reach this number by 2029).
It is one of the UK’s ten ‘core cities’ and is of regional, national, and international importance.
Social importance of Bristol - Education.
There are two universities in Bristol.
Due to the educational opportunities this provides, this means that the city is of importance both nationally and globally.
For example, Bristol University attracts students from all over the world, providing graduates for professional, managerial, and knowledge- based jobs.
Social importance of Bristol - Religion.
Bristol has two cathedrals - Bristol (Anglican) and Clifton (Roman Catholic).
This is regionally important because it helps Christians from different denominations feel welcomed in the City, making it attractive to stay.
Social importance of Bristol - Tourism
Bristol homes a number of museums, music venues and live gigs, a vast quantity of street art, a zoo, and theatres (including the famous Bristol Old Vic theatre and the Bristol Hippodrome).
It’s also the birthplace of the internationally renowned street artist Banksy.
It was named the most artistic city in the UK by a survey from Premier Inn.
This means that it is a very popular tourist destination both nationally and internationally (it’s the UK’s 8th most popular city for foreign visitors).
Additionally, the famous Clifton suspension bridge (designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel) is located here - a major landmark.
Social importance of Bristol - Connections
Bristol holds a strategic position on the M4 corridor, with good road and rail links.
This means easy access to London from the city, which increases the likelihood of people staying there.
Furthermore, there are ferry services to Europe from Bristol’s port, and Bristol airport links the city to major European centres and the USA.
This means that the city is important nationally and internationally, allowing people from the area to travel abroad and vice versa.
Environmental importance of Bristol
Bristol was named the UK’s first cycling city (despite its steep roads).
This means that many people who live here, particularly students at the Universities, cycle as their main form of transport which reduces the emission of polluting gases from cars (like CO₂).
It may well be for this reason that Bristol was awarded European Green Capital in 2015 and named the UK’s most environmentally friendly city in 2017.
This has placed Bristol on the global map as a leading city in terms of environmental sustainability.
Bristol is a fairtrade city, which sees it…
..trading fairly with nearly five million workers in 58 developing countries.
This makes the city of international importance by helping to improve the lives of workers in the developing countries, and also nationally through supporting the transport of ‘greener’ produce into the UK.
Economic importance of Bristol - Industry
Bristol has an important role in the global marketplace.
The city used to be dependent on traditional industry like tobacco and paper, but there has been a high level of inward investment.
This includes foreign direct investment in manufacturing, finance, and high-tech businesses.
This means that Bristol has now developed many global industries including in aerospace, media, and technology, alongside financial and business services.
For example, major companies such as Airbus, BMW and the BBC have significant bases in Bristol.
It also has the largest concentration of silicon chip manufacture outside of California.
Economic importance of Bristol - Trade
Bristol has two major docks (Avonmouth and Royal Portbury), alongside the UK’s most centrally - located deep sea container port.
This means that importing goods into the city is easy, which has led to it becoming an important centre for trade in the UK.
Around 7 million cars are imported each year from Japan, Germany, and Korea to Bristol’s docks.
The main exports from Bristol are batches of woollen cloth, sent to France, Spain, and Portugal.
Bristol is home to Aardman, who have made a name for the city internationally. Who are Aardman?
The animators who created Wallace and Gromit.
Where was Ribena invented?
Bristol
Social
To do with people, their lives, their society, and culture.
Environmental
To do with where people live (this can be natural or man-made).
Economic
To do with money and jobs.
National migration
The migration of people within a country.
International migration
The migration of people from one country to a different one.
Migration has both…
…positive and negative impacts on the city.
Why might people migrate to Bristol?
To take advantage of the opportunities the city provides
New housing estates have been built on the…
…rural-urban fringe for migrants coming from nearby towns and cities.
Name a region from outside of the UK that migrants left for Bristol.
The Caribbean.
Explain why people migrated to Bristol from the Caribbean.
In 1948, the Windrush brought many migrants over to the UK from the Caribbean to fill in job shortages following the war.
Bristol was a destination for many of these migrants.
Social opportunities - Bristol St Paul’s
St Paul’s, Bristol, is an area of the city famous for its black Caribbean culture.
The large African and Afro-Caribbean population have brought a range of food, festivals, and cultural experience.
For example, the St. Pauls carnival (a product of the Windrush generation) attracts arounds 40,000 people each year.
This has led the city to become more cosmopolitan; migration has therefore impacted the character of the city positively.
Furthermore, as people of different ethnicities and cultures are celebrated, this reduces racial tension in the city and makes it more cohesive.
Disadvantages of the St Pauls area
The large community of migrants here provides support, however they’ve been slightly separated from the rest of Bristol’s population.
Give two pieces of evidence to show that Bristol is an ethnically diverse city.
(a ‘mosaic of diversity’)
-People from more than 180 birth countries populate the city
-At least 90 distinct languages are spoken
Name a country inside of the UK that migrants left for Bristol.
Wales
Explain why people migrated to Bristol from Wales.
To work in the factories and dockyards due to the industrial revolution.
Bristol’s history
Bristol developed as a port in the middle ages and supported trade with other countries.
During the 18th century, the city expanded due to its integral role in the triangular trade route connecting West Africa and the West Indies.
Wealth generated from Bristol’s role in the slave trade significantly fuelled the city’s growth.
Positive impacts of migration into Bristol -economic growth.
Migrants work in various sectors, from health to construction to retail. A they are earning )(and spending) they have to pay tax to the government.
Hence, Bristol’s growing population has led to a significant boost in its economy.
This means that the government receive more money overall, which means that a higher amount can be invested in developing social services and facilities within the city such as hospitals and public toilets - improving people’s quality of life.
Positive impacts of migration into Bristol -cultural diversity.
Migration has made Bristol multicultural, with over 91 languages spoken.
This has led to cultural exchange and enrichment to the local culture, which has meant Bristol is now more cosmopolitan.
An awareness of different cultures has also helped to reduce racial tensions in the city.
Positive impacts of migration into Bristol -job market
Migrants have filled gaps in the labour market, particularly in roles requiring wither high or low skill.
They’re part of a hardworking and motivated workforce.
The diverse population has impacted education, with schools…
…adapting to multilingual/multicultural cohorts of students.
Positive impacts of migration into Bristol - innovation and entrepreneurship
Migrants often start their own businesses, leading to more job creation and innovation.
Negative impacts of migration into Bristol - urban development
Migration has led to a dramatic population increase. From 1851 to 1091, the city’s population doubled in size.
This means that there has been a substantial amount of urban development, which has had environmental implications such as an increase in waste generation and resource consumption.
Negative impacts of migration into Bristol - pressure on public services.
Migration can put pressure on public services like housing, health, and education, for example by creating shortages of medication and longer waiting times for public services.
This means that people might not get the help they need as quickly as desired, which can lead to more sickness and stressed workers.
Negative impacts of migration into Bristol - transportation
An increase in population can put pressure on public transport.
This means a likely increase in private vehicles on the road, which unfortunately means an increase in pollution levels.
Apart from the Caribbean, where do many of Bristol’s immigrants come from?
EU countries, notably Poland and Spain.
Bristol sees many migrants from these countries planning to establish permanent residency.
Migration has contributed to Bristol’s…
growth and character
Socio-economic opportunities in Bristol - integrated transport systems.
(due to its redevelopment)
Bristol has introduced an Integrated transport system which connects the different methods of transport in the city (train lines, bus lines, and ferries).
This has made travelling by public transport (e.g. Metrobus) easier, so more people will be inclined to use it.
This can reduce traffic congestion and pollution from car exhausts.
Socio-economic opportunities in Bristol - recreation
(due to its redevelopment)
Cabot’s circus is a major regenerated part of the city centre (costing £500 million) . The area contains many shops and leisure facilities, a hotel, and 250 apartments. This means that it is attractive to both residents and visitors, which brings money into the area increasing local revenue.
Socio-economic opportunities in Bristol - employment
Economic change has led to a boom in the tertiary industry since the closing of Bristol’s port.
For example…
This means an increase in employment opportunities within the tertiary sector which gives people the chance to make a stable income which means their quality of life can improve.
Furthermore, these jobs are taxed which goes to the government. This allows for investment in improving welfare, healthcare, defence, education etc.
As Bristol has been able to develop in many different fields, this provides the city with industrial stability.
How is Bristol changing?
The city is now regenerating - turning into a modern tourist destination and a centre for creative industries (tertiary sector).
This is due to migration and economic changes in the UK, for example the busy port and manufacturing industries are in decline and shutting down.
The population is growing due to national and international migration.
