Volunteers needed to help our local environment!

Would you like to help nature conservation in our area? Wapley Bushes Conservation Group needs more volunteers for our practical sessions and for background activities.

You can find out more by coming to our next committee meeting at 7.30 pm this Wednesday, 27 August, in the Council Chamber at Dodington Parish Hall, Finch Road, Chipping Sodbury BS37 6JZ.

Alternatively you can email Paul Hulbert on paul.hulbert@gmail.com. 

The Conservation Group helps to look after several Nature Reserves in the area and also works with local youth organisations.

Please come and join us - we're an active, friendly group that really makes a difference to our local environment. 

Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve work morning - Saturday 5 July

 

On this workday we will aim to do a deep clean of the Reserve and cut back intruding vegetation along the woodland paths to get the reserve ready for our summer visitors. Please wear stout footwear, and bring your own gloves if you have them. Everyone welcome!

Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, south Yate, BS37 8US, 10.00am.

 

Summer bird walk at Wapley Bushes - Saturday 28 June

Come and join us on a guided Bird Walk led by local expert Alan Daniells. Explore the Nature Reserve and see what sights and sounds our local birdlife has to offer!

Meet at the Shire Way gate BS37 8US at 10.00 AM. Please wear suitable footwear.

 

A good tidy-up on11 May

Eight volunteers had a busy morning at Wapley. In the middle of the Orchard we cleared the persistent prickly bushes and the patch of stinging nettles under the interpretation board. We cut back some overgrowth on woodland paths and started repairing one of the name signs on the bug hotels.

We've also had an important visitor, the assessor for the Green Flag Community Award. We look forward to their comments - assessors often suggest improvements we haven't thought of. 

As you can see, the apple blossom is looking good in the Orchard For The Future.

Would you like to help us at Wapley Bushes and elsewhere? Please email paul.hulbert@gmail.com to find out more, or check out our website at https://wapleybushes.info

We've also got our AGM and committee meeting coming up on Wednesday 21 May - evetyone welcome. Please email Paul if you would like meeting details or papers.

Wapley Bushes Work Morning - Sunday 11 May

 

This workday will be a combination of a spring clean of the reserve and assorted vegetation management. Please wear stout footwear, and bring your own gloves if you can. Everyone is welcome, but young people under the age of 16 need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, south Yate, BS37 8US at 10.00 am.

 

Wapley hazel dormouse survey under way

 

You may see some of these tubes in trees and hedges around the Wapley property for the next few weeks. They are dormouse nesting tubes - a professional ecologist is carrying out a survey to see whether hazel dormice have moved into our area (previous surveys have had negative results)

The population of hazel dormice in the UK has dropped by 75% in less than 30 years. The species is currently classed as vulnerable, but there are thoughts that the status might be upgraded to endangered - see this BBC article

We'll let you know the outcome of the survey.

Excellent results from Bird Walk 13 April 2025

On a nice clear morning our local bird expert Alan Daniells led seven of us on a bird walk through Wapley Common, the woods and the meadows. Many of the group were also experienced bird spotters, and in total we identified 23 species.

We spotted double-figure numbers each of Chiffchaff, Blackcap, and Wren.

There was a wide range of other species too: Mallard, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, and Robin.

A date for your diaries - there will be a Summer Bird Walk on Saturday 28 June starting at the Shire Way gate BS37 8US at 10.00 AM. Please wear suitable footwear.