Wapley Woods survey for Ash Dieback - public event - Wednesday 14 August

Ash Dieback Disease is geeting closer to our area. Although we're already planting large numbers of replacement trees in Wapley Woods, we want to know whether we already have any traces of the disease in the woods, and to learn how to recognise it.

Please come along on our Ash Dieback Tree Survey walk with Chris Wright of Silverback Arboricultural Consultancy. Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the Nature Reserve, south Yate, BS37 8US at 10.00am.

Very good Wapley work morning on 14th July

Twelve volunteers came along to our work morning, and we really got a lot done in the fine weather. The greenery has been growing at a rate of knots, so we needed to clear the brambles from round the young pear trees in the hedge at the bottom of the Lower meadow. We also trimmed back the edges of some of the main paths and did a "deep clean" litter pick in some of the less obvious places.

Our seasonal task was pruning the stoned fruit trees to ensure that they grow strong and straight. We also had to prop up an apple tree on the Common that had so much fruit on it that it was leaning over. It didn't help that the ground is cracking and so the original tree stake had become loose.

Despite all the hard work, we had time to admire the early stages of this season's apple crop.

Heritage variety apples in
the Orchard for the Future

We also paused to admire the many, many butterflies and flowers in the grasslands.

Meadow Brown butterfly
on Black Knapweed

Our next work morning will be on Sunday 8th September, meeting at 10 am at the Shire Way gate to the Nature Reserve. There will be something practical for everyone - please come along and meet our friendly group.

Wapley Bushes gains eighth Green Flag Community Award in a row

Members of Wapley Bushes Conservation Group showing off their eighth Green Flag Community Award at one of the Bug Hotels during their July work morning at the Local Nature Reserve.

Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve and the Orchard for the Future have been recognised as one of the UK’s very best green spaces. Today, a record number of parks and green spaces collect a Green Flag Award. 

This international award, now into its third decade, is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.

Wapley Bushes has won the Green Flag Community Award, a category for green spaces that are managed by voluntary and community groups. There are only eleven Community Awards in the whole of the South West. In fact there are only two Green Flag Awards of any kind in South Gloucestershire, the other one being Page Park in Staple Hill.

Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve is an area of meadows and woodlands which is very popular with local people of all ages. It is managed by the volunteers of the Wapley Bushes Conservation Group on behalf of site owners Dodington Parish Council.

Committee member Paul Hulbert said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Community Award for the eighth time”

“Our local green spaces really matter to residents and visitors. They make a major contribution to health and wellbeing”

“This award celebrates the dedication that goes into maintaining Wapley Bushes to such a high standard - the real credit goes to our hard-working volunteers, and to Dodington Parish Council for their unfailing practical and financial help”

"Our reserve is a mixture of flower-rich meadows, ancient woodland and younger plantations. We work closely with South Gloucestershire Council and the Southwold Group of the Wildlife Trust, who provide us with very valuable advice"

The next work morning on the Reserve will be Sunday 8 September, meeting at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, south Yate, BS37 8US, 10.00am. Extra volunteers would be very welcome – please contact Paul Hulbert on 01454 315851 for more details, or just turn up.


Photo

Members of Wapley Bushes Conservation Group showing off their eighth Green Flag Community Award at one of the Bug Hotels during their July work morning at the Local Nature Reserve.

Wapley Bushes Summer Fruit Tree Pruning - Sunday 14 July

Please help us look after the historic varieties of trees in the Orchard for the Future. As well as pruning stoned fruit trees such as plums and gages, we shall also be attending to odd jobs on the reserve such as litter picking, cutting back paths and other general maintenance. As usual there will be something for everybody!

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