Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve

Great January work morning!

2012-01-30T22:34:00.001Z

It was good to see so many people at the workday on Sunday 22 January - we had 18 volunteers, so we were able to tackle a wide variety of work. We planted 20 trees in the gaps in the laid hedge at the bottom of the lower meadow, cut back overhanging trees and brambles, and did a lot of tidying-up. As a bonus, one of our groups of volunteers saw two deer at fairly close range! Here are a few photos from the day:

Clearing overhanging branches from popular paths

Derek taking a swing at the undergrowth with a slasher

Malcolm cutting back brambles and dragging them away

Quiz Night Live! Friday 3 February

2012-01-20T09:30:00.001Z

This is your chance to have some fun and pick a team of Eggheads and bring them along to our general knowledge quiz. We have found this to be a very popular event and you are most welcome make up a team name and bring your own snacks and beverages. We will also be serving tea and coffee for you in the break.

Quiz teams are usually made up of four players at a cost of £2 each per person. Please contact Malcolm on 01454 310328 to book your team's place.

The Old Grammar School, High Street, Chipping Sodbury, 7.30pm.

Wapley Bushes Workday, Sunday 22 January 2012

2012-01-08T09:30:00.001Z

This is your chance to burn off some of those Christmas calories by joining us for our first workday of the new year. We shall be undertaking general management tasks that will help to enhance the biodiversity of this precious nature reserve. Please wear walking or wellington boots and bring some gloves.

Meet at the Shire Way entrance gate, South Yate, 10.00am.

Excellent Guardian article - Confusing year of weather for Britain's wildlife

2011-12-29T12:49:00.000Z

We thought our readers would be interested in this review of the year from a wildlife perspective. Apparently it's been a boom year for the grey seal, large blue butterfly and mining bee but bad news for frogs, toads and newts.

We know we've seen butterflies still active locally within the last month, but unlike the Guardian report, fungi at Wapley are doing well.

Season's greetings to all our readers

2011-12-19T20:28:00.000Z

Best wishes to all our readers from everyone in the Wapley Bushes Conservation Group.

Thank you for all your help this year that keeps the Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve thriving and such an asset for local wildlife.

Report from Wapley Work Morning 19 November

2011-12-18T20:25:00.000Z

Our November workday allowed us to tackle a range of planting. 14 volunteers took part, and we The group planted over 60 climbing plants of two types, ivy and wild clematis, on the reserve boundary. These plants will provide food, shelter and nesting material for birds when the climbers settle in and grow larger.

The group also planted 4 species of wildflowers on the woodland floor in the Western Wood including 50 native bluebell plug plants, 30 wild garlic bulbs, 30 wood anemone bulbs and 40 wild snowdrop bulbs. In addition to providing a spectacular display of flowers in the late winter and spring, these plants will also provide an early source of nectar and pollen for native insect species.

The Spectacular Westonbirt Enchanted Christmas 2011

2011-11-11T09:30:00.003Z

Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from 25 Nov - 18 Dec 2011

The Enchanted Christmas will return this year with a new illuminated trail route through the Old Arboretum and more exciting festive activities, foods and stalls onsite. The costs are adults £9, concessions £8, children £5.

You can book in advance online or call 03000 680400 (booking fee applies). You can also buy tickets onsite from the Forest Shop.

The hard paths are accessible for wheelchairs and electric scooters and these can be booked in advance by calling 01666 881218. Please note that dogs are not allowed on the trail.

On Fridays, Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum will receive a 50% discount on the full ticket price. Children (under 19s) accompanying parent/guardian members go free.

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening from 25 November - 18 December 2011 at Westonbirt Arboretum, A433, 3 miles south west of Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QS, 5.00pm to 8.30pm with the last entry at 7.15pm.

Click the links to find out more about Enchanted Christmas and the National Arboretum in general.

Wapley Bushes Workday, Saturday 19 November

2011-11-04T09:30:00.003Z

This workday will be a morning of planting bluebells and clematis in the Western Wood, plus some general maintenance work and tidying up the reserve prior to the winter season. Please wear walking or wellington boots and bring some gloves.

Meet at the Shire Way entrance gate, South Yate, 10.00am.

A lovely autumn day at Wapley Bushes

2011-10-16T22:24:00.002+01:00

Pears at bottom of Lower Meadow

What a lovely Sunday we had! It had all the signs of our mixed seasons - on a walk round the Nature Reserve I saw ripe pears and apples, as what must be the last butterfly of the year fluttered past.

And then, at the top of the woodland, I caught a brief glimpse of a deer, leaping away into the undergrowth. About chest-high on me, it was too big to be a muntjac. I was close enough to get a reasonable look, but it was too quick for me to photograph. Based on the size and colour of its coat, I think it was probably a roe deer.

Apples at top of Lower Meadow, near Chris's Bridge

Ridge Wood Owl Prowl, Thursday 27 October

2011-10-13T09:30:00.001+01:00

This popular family Owl Prowl event is back again in 2011 with bird of prey expert Ian McGuire who will guide us round the woods. Please wear warm clothes and bring a torch. Please do not bring any dogs to this event (even if on a lead).

Meet at the southern Quarry Road entrance to Ridge Wood, Quarry Road, Chipping Sodbury at 7.00pm.

Lower Woods Guided Autumn Colour Walk, Sunday 23 October

2011-10-09T09:30:00.001+01:00

A seasonal guided walk around Lower Woods nature reserve, taking in the different aspects, landscapes and wildlife of this huge, fascinating and diverse ancient woodland. The route will be about 2.5 miles long, and will follow the narrow and occasionally steep paths along the stream. The woods will be muddy and slippery in places so please wear suitable footwear.

Meet at Lower Woods Nature Reserve, Inglestone Common, east of Wickwar, South Gloucestershire (OS Grid Reference: ST 746881, postcode: GL9 1BY), 2.00pm - 4.00pm.

Kingsgate Park Ponds Workday, Saturday 8 October

2011-09-24T09:30:00.002+01:00

We shall undertaking maintenance of this important amphibian site including the cutting back of vegetation. Please wear gloves and wellington boots.

Meet at the Scott Way entrance to Kingsgate Park, Scott Way, Yate 10.00am.

The rooks are getting territorial again!

2011-09-22T20:47:00.000+01:00

Our local rooks tend to get very protective of their territory when it gets close to the nesting season, but they've started extra early this year.

Walking round Wapley this afternoon, I was out on the Common when I heard the rooks calling and saw the full squadron launch. I immediately thought "Buzzard alert!", and I was right - a few seconds later a pair of buzzards appeared above the wood, being mobbed by the rooks.

One buzzard fled immediately, but the other was inexperienced enough to try to stick around. It soon realised the error of its ways! A rook is very agile and can very nearly turn within the wingspan of a buzzard. An outnumbered buzzard is not going to be successful.

Actually this was slightly different from previous occasions - the rooks were using different tactics. I normally see the rooks zooming up towards high-flying buzzards, but this time they got above the buzzards and were forcing them down towards the tree canopy where they wouldn't be able to manouvre easily. Isn't nature fascinating?

Go batty with the BBC!

2011-09-22T20:16:00.000+01:00

A BBC Autumnwatch film crew are coming along next Wednesday to the bat walk at Goose Green at 7pm. They wish to film the walk and interview participants. They are hoping to get people to ask wildlife related questions to the camera which will then be aired during the Autumnwatch ‘unsprung’ show, where the questions will hopefully be answered by the team.

We are therefore hoping for a good turnout of local people and a handful of questions to ask. Here's what South Glos say about the bat walk:

"Walk around Goose Green Fields and along the River Frome in search of our magical native bats that can eat up to 3000 insects a night! Meet at the site entrance off Oak Close, Yate. 7pm to 9pm.

Free event! Children should be accompanied by an adult. Please wear sensible footwear and warm clothing. Bring a torch. No dogs allowed.

For more information call ✆ 01454 863592 text 07950 080 111”

Go batty with THREE local bat walks this month

2011-09-12T20:36:00.001+01:00

Tuesday 20th September, 7pm – 9pm. Ridge Wood & the River Frome - meet at Jubilee Park, Chipping Sodbury BS37 6BQ
Thursday 22nd September, 7pm – 9pm. Yate Common - meet at main entrance of the Road to Nowhere BS37 8RZ
Wednesday 28th September, 7pm – 9pm. Goose Green Fields, Yate

More details on the South Glos website here

Lower Woods Dormouse Safari - Sunday 25 September

2011-09-09T10:30:00.000+01:00

This will be a guided two mile walk around Lower Woods nature reserve with dormouse surveyors Gef and Genny Lucena who have been studying the dormouse populations of Lower Woods. There will be the opportunity to learn about coppice management and to watch dormouse box inspections. Places are limited and so advance booking is essential on 01452 383333 quoting booking code 11SAF. Directions to the meeting point will be sent upon booking.

Report from Wapley work morning 4th September

2011-09-04T20:52:00.000+01:00

We had an excellent work morning today. Around 15 of us pitched in and achieved a lot. Our main target was to clear out the leaf mould and debris from the small stream that runs down through the middle of the main wood. It may not look much, but when it rains hard the water really flows. If we didn't clean out the stream it would overflow and destroy the adjoining habitat, in particular affecting a very rare species of sedge.

We did a litter-pick right round the Woodland and the Common, and we were pleased to see that there was less litter than we expected. We checked out the new orchard trees, and these seem to be doing well apart from from some damage by wandering goats (!) - we've been assured that the goats have now been relocated toa field further away.

We cut back trees that have been intruding onto the woodland paths, which was very much needed due to the amount of growth because of the wet weather. We'll have to return to this task on another work morning because there are patches of dense bramble that will need to be attacked with slashers, rather than the croppers and bowsaws we were using today to clear the woody branches.

A big thank you goes to everyone who took part, both the regulars and the people who were taking part for the first time - we hope you enjoyed yourselves undertaking this very valuable work!

Our next Wapley work morning will be on Saturday 19 November - please watch this blog for details of Wapley and other events.

Please don't forget our work morning on Sunday!

2011-09-01T12:03:00.000+01:00

10.00 at Shire Way Gate - please see our previous post for details

Work at footbridge over railway to Wapley Bushes

2011-08-22T13:15:00.002+01:00

On Wed 31 August Network Rail will be carrying out survey work for electrifying the railway line, so they will be digging a couple of test trenches in the approach slopes to Sergeant's Farm Bridge.

Despite the warning notices the footpath will not need to be closed, so you can still get across from Shire Way to Wapley Bushes. Network Rail will also attend to the sunken patches in the path near the Radar Gate when they reinstate the survey trenches.

How do you like our new design?

2011-08-18T19:42:00.000+01:00

I thought it was about time this blog had a more modern design. Please let us know what you think (our contact details are in the right hand column)

Bat Walk on Yate Common, 22 September

2011-08-18T17:54:00.000+01:00

Walk around the Common and its woodlands in search of bats. Meet at main entrance of the Road to Nowhere. Thursday 22/09/2011 7pm to 9pm.

And have you seen the new Friends of Yate Common blog?
http://yatecommon.blogspot.com

Wapley Bushes Work Morning - Sunday 4 September

2011-08-15T10:30:00.000+01:00

This workday will be our annual stream clearance where we hope to clear the central watercourse through the main woodland. This work is required to preserve the habitat of the rare local thin-spiked wood sedge. You are welcome to come along and please wear walking or wellington boots and bring some gloves. Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, South Yate, 10.00am.

Butterflies in the Meadow

2011-07-18T22:55:00.001+01:00

Isabel Ryan took these lovely photos during the Wapley Wander:

This wide shot shows the richness of the meadow, which is what attracts the butterflies and other insects.

This close-up of a pair of marbled whites shows clearly that the markings on the underside of the wings are different from the tops.

Coastal Fossil Hunt Saturday - 23 July

2011-07-08T10:30:00.000+01:00

A tour along our very own local Jurassic Coast at Aust with our expert guide Mr Chris Townson. As we are by the coast we might even see some of the descendants of dinosaurs themselves - wading birds! Bring a magnifying glass if you have one, and please wear stout footwear. Meet for a car share at the Clock Tower, High Street, Chipping Sodbury, 1.30pm (Parking available in the Wickwar Road car park)

Wapley Bushes Summer/Autumn Newsletter now online

2011-07-07T20:21:00.002+01:00

Click here for the Wapley Bushes Summer/Autumn 2011 Newsletter with details of wildlife events on the Nature Reserve and in our area.

Update 22/08/2011: Please note that the Ridge Wood Autmn Quest event on 15 October has been cancelled.

A butterfly's eye view of the Lower Meadow at Wapley

2011-07-04T19:54:00.002+01:00

Report from Wapley Wander 3 July 2011

2011-07-04T10:48:00.003+01:00

Part of the group looking at the flora in the Top Meadow

An enthusiastic group of walkers met yesterday afternoon for a tour of the Nature Reserve. The meadows were full of wild flowers and butterflies - if you haven't visited them lately, catch them now before the flowers set seed and the meadows are mown shortly. There are over 70 wildflower and grass species present in the rich Lower Meadow including many species that are beneficial for insects, including black knapweed, devil's bit scabious and betony. We saw one species of orchid on the day, te common spotted orchid, but we know that there are others which have already gone over. The Top Meadow also had a great collection of grasshoppers and crickets - as we walked through the grass they would explode away from where we were about to tread.

The main Wapley Wood has just been declared an Ancient Woodland by English Nature, meaning that it's over 400 years old, so we talked about the traditional woodland management techniques that we still use today, such as hedgelaying, coppicing and dead-hedging. We also explored the importance of drainage - our ditches and the underground stream - and historic concepts such as the bank and ditch system, and people being able to take wood "by hook or by crook".

We showed off our big projects from the past year, as mentioned previously on this blog - the new path up the Ride, the hedgelaying in the Lower Meadow, and the Orchard for the Future on the Common. We also mentioned our long-term planning and some ideas we have for improving habitat to attract owls.

Thanks to everybody who came. Please follow the links above to find out more about what we've been doing on the Reserve.

Burnet moths doing what comes naturally on the Common

Wildlife and history walk at Wapley - Sunday 3 July 2pm

2011-06-27T19:14:00.000+01:00

Natural England has recently declared that Wapley Bushes is an Ancient Woodland - that means it's more than 400 years old.

To celebrate, there's a guided walk through the woods and meadows on Sunday. The meadows are currently full of wild flowers and butterflies. The walk will also showcase some of the major projects that the Wapley Bushes Conservation Group has undertalken over the past year.

Everyone welcome - meeting at the Shire Way gate, next to the zebra crossing. Please wear suitable footwear.

Another successful Duck Race

2011-06-19T19:17:00.001+01:00

A big thank you to everyone who helped maintain the ancient tradition of duck herding on the River Frome this afternoon, at the Chipping Sodbury Festival Duck Races in aid of the Wildlife Trust.

Report from work morning 8 May

2011-06-14T21:21:00.002+01:00

A long overdue report from our last workday (pressure of work!)

Building up the dead-hedge

We carried out a variety of tasks. The big job was clearing up a quantity of branches that local vandals had chopped down in the Centenary Wood ready for setting fires, and tidying up the butchered trees. We then took the branches down to the edge of the main woodland facing the Lower Meadow, and used them to build up the dead-hedge.

Dead-hedging, in other words weaving branches between stakes driven into the ground, is a traditional way of creating a natural-looking barrier that also acts as a habitat for small creatures. In time ground plants may grow up over the dead-hedge.

We also cut back some vegetation on the paths, gathered up some litter and cut back the grass around the new fruit trees on the Common.

A fun afternoon at the races (duck races, that is!)

2011-06-13T18:57:00.000+01:00

Please join us on Sunday 19 June for the annual Chipping Sodbury Festival Duck Race on the River Frome, in aid of the Wildlife Trust.

Why not come along, have a flutter, and join us for an afternoon of races, a cup of tea and a doughnut? Great fun for all the family!

You are very welcome to come along and bring a picnic to enjoy in the park.

The races start from 2.00pm in Jubilee Park, Quarry Road, Chipping Sodbury.

Evening birdsong at Wapley

2011-04-28T23:46:00.000+01:00

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Check this out on Chirbit

Wapley Bushes Work Morning - Sunday 8 May

2011-04-25T09:00:00.000+01:00

This workday will be a general checking of the state of the woodland, meadows and paths before the summer. We will also be doing a litter pick round the reserve as well. You are welcome to come along on what we hope will be a warm and pleasant walk and please do wear walking or wellington boots
and bring some gloves.

Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the reserve at 10.00am.

Goose Green Spring Clean - Sunday 10 April

2011-03-28T10:00:00.000+01:00

As part of our commitment to this local grassland and wetland nature reserve we shall be undertaking reserve maintenance such as path clearance and a general reserve tidy up. Please wear walking or wellington boots and bring some gloves.

Meet on the main Greenways Road, just north of the entrance to Oak Close, North Yate, 10.00am.

What were YOU doing on Mothers Day 1994?

2011-03-25T18:07:00.000Z

Wapley Bushes Conservation Group is trying to locate local people who took part in a mass planting on Sunday 13 March 1994. In just one morning 80 people – half of them children – planted 800 trees to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of Dodington Parish Council. It was an event called ‘Plant a Tree for Mothers Day’.

“Many of the trees planted in 1994 are now twenty feet tall” said Cllr Paul Hulbert, a member of Wapley Bushes Conservation Group.

“We’re planning a very special planting on Mothers Day next year – March 18th 2012 – to create a hedge on the edge of the Centenary Wood, so we would love to locate some of the original parents and particularly children who took part in the original planting so long ago”

“We would be grateful if anyone who remembers taking part could contact us by phoning Dodington Parish Council on 01454 866546 or emailing dodingtonpc@southglos.gov.uk”

Wildlife Trust Coffee Morning & Book Sale - Saturday 9 April

2011-03-25T09:00:00.000Z

You are most welcome to come and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, a slice of home made cake and have a browse through our varied selection of books that we shall be offering for sale. All monies raised will go to wildlife conservation projects in the Avon Valley area. If you can provide any books or cakes for
this day, please contact Malcolm on 01454 310328.

The Baptist Church, High Street, Chipping Sodbury, 10.00am to midday.

Kingsgate Park work day

2011-03-15T09:30:00.004Z

The Friends of Kingsgate Park have recently been successful in winning a South Glos Council grant of £1200 towards replacing some of the fencing along the Scott Way end of the park.

The Friends are having a workday to bolt on some of the new pales on Saturday 26th March, 10.00am – 12.00, meeting at the double gates on the Scott Way side of the park.

Orchard planting a resounding success

2011-03-13T10:30:00.000Z

Claire Young and Paul Hulbert with the volunteers of the Wapley Bushes Conservation Group

Wapley Bushes Conservation Group have called their latest planting day on Sat 12 March "a resounding success" as more than 40 trees were planted, forming a new Community Orchard on Wapley Common and nearby.

The trees on the Common are all local types of apple, plus a few plums of a rare local variety.

"It's good to do something so traditional yet so future-looking", said Dodington Parish Cllr Paul Hulbert, who organised the event. "We're very grateful to expert Graham White - known locally as Mr Fruit - who guided us through the planting"

South Gloucestershire Cllr Claire Young commented "This was a great way to spend a beautiful spring morning - fresh air, good company and exercise with a legacy that should last years"

The planting was jointly funded by Dodington Parish Council and South Gloucestershire Council.

Successful planting morning!

2011-03-06T21:25:00.001Z

We had a very successful planting session on Saturday, planting 130 trees to fill gaps along the newly-laid hedge - half was hawthorn, and the rest was a mixture of dogwood, field maple, guelder rose, alder buckthorn, wayfaring tree and wild pear.

Many thanks to all the volunteers who came. Please remember that we've got another work morning next Saturday (12 March) planting our Orchard for the Future - we're meeting at 10.00 am at the Shire Way gate as usual. We hope to see you there.

Planting an Orchard for the Future - Saturday 12 March

2011-03-04T20:40:00.003Z

Please come and help Wapley Bushes Conservation Group members and friends plant some groups of fruit trees on Wapley Common next Saturday, 12 March.

We aim to create a community orchard - an "Orchard for the Future", if you like - where in years to come our children and grandchildren will be able to come and pick delicious fruit straight from the trees.

The project is being funded by Dodington Parish Council and South Gloucestershire Council, but the labour is all being provided by local volunteers. The planting session will start with a workshop led by local supplier “Mr Fruit” (Graham White)

We shall be meeting at the Shire Way gate to the Nature Reserve, next to the zebra crossing near Cherington, at 10.00 am. It would be helpful if you could bring a spade and gloves, if you have them, and you should wear suitable footwear.

Wapley Bushes Work Morning - Saturday 5 March

2011-02-18T10:00:00.000Z

Today we shall be meeting on a Saturday to allow some of our members who cannot join us on a Sunday to come along and join us in our ongoing reserve conservation work. We hope to start our plans to reinvigorate a recently laid hedgerow by planting up new whips in the gaps. This will help to provide an improved habitat, shelter and food source for wildlife. Please wear stout footwear.

Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the reserve, 10.00am.

Southwold Spring Walk - Saturday 26 February

2011-02-14T10:00:00.001Z

We shall be going to the Cromhall area of the county to look for some of our early spring favourites such as snowdrops. We shall also be looking out for birds on the wing and in hedges and we shall be admiring the scenery too so why not come and join us? This walk will be relatively short.

Please wear walking boots or other stout footwear. Meet for a car share at the Clock Tower, High Street, Chipping Sodbury, 1.30pm.

Community Orchard Planting, Chipping Sodbury - Saturday 12 February

2011-02-09T21:42:00.000Z

This workday, organised by the St John's Park Conservation Group, will be a joint work morning with Chipping Sodbury in Bloom to plant some fruit trees to create a community orchard.

Please meet on the bridge over the River Frome on Wickwar Road, opposite the car park, 10.00am - 12.00pm.

Wildlife Quiz Night Live! - Friday 18 February

2011-02-04T12:30:00.000Z

Timber! A successful January workday

2011-01-23T17:45:00.001Z

Many hands make light work, as they say. We had 14 volunteers at today's Wapley Bushes workday. Our plan was to create a range of micro-habitats in the Western Wood. The Western Wood was planted some 20 years ago and had never been thinned, so we concentrated on three areas to increase the biodiversity as recommended in the Management Plan.

Following Forestry Commission guidelines we carried out some selective felling to open up a glade just off the Ride, allowing light through and encouraging ground flora.

Along the diagonal path we cleared a number of semicircular areas that will provide warm, still air conditions for our many species of butterfly.

Finally we cut back a lot of intrusive brambles and overgrowth at the entrance from the Ride to the Western Wood to improve public access and let more light through to ground level.

Many thanks to all the volunteers who came today - all your hard work will pay dividends later in the year!

Wapley Bushes Work Morning - Sunday 23 January

2011-01-03T12:29:00.000Z

This workday will involve practical woodland management work such as tree and shrub planting. This will help to enhance the biodiversity of this precious nature reserve. Please wear walking or wellington boots and bring some gloves.

Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, South Yate, 10.00am.

Treat yourself to a remote view of Slimbridge

2010-12-21T18:59:00.004Z

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge is a fascinating place, especially in this cold weather. Here is a video of the birds being fed on the Rushy this morning:

What's more they also have live webcam feeds of Swan Lake and the Rushy - you can watch the daily wild bird feed at 4pm, or watch the wild birds anytime of the day or night! (Note - the webcam page needs Flash, and takes a few seconds for the video feeds to load - please be patient)

Wapley Bushes in the snow

2010-12-19T21:20:00.000Z

A few photos from today's walk in the woods and meadows.

Season's Greetings from Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve!

2010-12-18T22:05:00.000Z

Report from work morning 20 November

2010-12-17T22:02:00.000Z

A well-attended work morning saw us tackling planting on the woodland edge alongside the Lower Meadow. We planted 150 trees, and as usual they were all traditional species for the habitat: Wayfaring tree, spindle, hazel, hawthorn, purging buckthorn, dogwood, and guelder rose.

Malcolm sorts out the trees

Our volunteers get stuck in

Pat's picked out a tree

And Isabel has planted hers

Major path works complete

2010-11-13T21:22:00.002Z

The new surface of the Ride should be much
less slippery in winter and safer for walkers

The reconstruction of the Ride – the path between the two woodlands – has now been completed.

This is thanks to a £10,495 grant from SITA Trust to fund the ‘Track to the Top’ project. The scheme was also supported by a community contribution of £1,200 from Wapley Bushes Conservation Group.

Some 40 metres of muddy path within the woodland was dealt with at the same time. A big thank you to our colleagues from South Gloucestershire Council, who provided invaluable design and technical advice.

News update

2010-11-13T21:16:00.004Z

Apologies for the upper path in the wood being blocked by a fallen ash tree – tree surgeons are very busy at this time of year, and it took a while to get them on site. Our periodic tree survey is being carried out to identify any dangerous trees.

Meanwhile, the recent Fungus Foray was very well attended. Many thanks to our expert Justin Smith!

And please don't forget our work morning next Saturday (20 Nov) - see you there? As usual we're meeting at 10 am at the Shire Way gate.

Westonbirt Arboretum Spectacular Enchanted Christmas 2010 - 26 Nov onwards

2010-11-12T12:28:00.000Z

Take a walk along the famous Illuminated Trail and see the National Arboretum lit up at night. There’s also the opportunity to visit Father Christmas plus lots of other festive excitement - carols from local choirs and bands, roast chestnuts, mulled wine and great gift ideas from the Christmas Market and Forest Shop, which will stay open until 8.30pm selling fantastic presents and decorations.

The tickets costs are: adults £8, concessions £7, children £4, and the tickets can be bought online from October onwards (http://www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt) or through the box office on 01842 814612.

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening from 26 November to 19 December 2010
5.00 to 8.30pm (last entry at 7.15pm), Westonbirt Arboretum, A433, 3 miles south west of Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

Wapley Bushes Work Morning - Saturday 20 November - update

2010-11-04T15:39:00.000Z

This workday will be a morning of tree planting, plus general maintenance work and tidying up the reserve prior to the winter season. Please wear walking or wellington boots and bring some gloves, and preferably a spade if you're intending planting.

Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, South Yate, 10.00am.

Excellent Wapley owl prowl - but don't forget Foray for Fungi tomorrow Mon 1 Dec)

2010-10-31T19:55:00.000Z

There was an excellent turnout for last week's Wapley Owl Prowl - more than 40 people! Many thanks to Ian McGuire.

Tomorrow - Mon 1st December - we have a Fungus Foray led by Justin Smith. Last year's event was fascinating, and we saw many species we'd never even noticed before.

Come and join us, meeting at the Shire Way entrance to the reserve, Shire Way, Yate at 2.00 pm. The event will last until about 4.00 pm.

Coppicing and Shelter Building, Lower Woods - Sunday 7 November

2010-10-23T12:26:00.000+01:00

Enjoy a fun day out in Lower Woods learning about the traditional art of coppicing, the use of coppice products and help with the care of this 700 acre nature reserve. You can also have a go at building your own shelter.

There will be baked potatoes in the bonfire to enjoy at lunchtime, but please bring drinks and other food. This event is suitable for adults and children over 14 (if accompanied by an adult). All tools, training and equipment provided. Please wear waterproof footwear as this reserve can be damp.

This event is free but donations are welcome. For more information, and to book your place on this event quoting event code COPP10 01, please contact Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust on 01452 383333.
Meet at Meet at Lower Woods Lodge, Inglestone Common, east of Wickwar, South Gloucestershire (OS Grid Reference ST 746881), 10.00am to 15.00pm (booking in advance required).

Wildflower planting, Yate Common on Saturday - all welcome!

2010-10-19T09:59:00.002+01:00

Please come and help the volunteers of the Friends of Yate Common doing some wildflower planting this Saturday (23 Oct) and help make this popular area ever better.

Meet at 10.30 am at the Reed Pond.

Kingsgate Park Ponds Workday - Sunday 31st October

2010-10-17T12:26:00.001+01:00

We shall be undertaking maintenance of this important amphibian site including the cutting back of vegetation. Please wear gloves and wellington boots.

Meet at the Scott Way entrance to Kingsgate Park, Scott Way, Yate 10.00am.

It's Your World - a successful event!

2010-10-16T14:29:00.003+01:00

Thanks to all involved in the It's Your World environmental event at Yate Sports Centre today.

It was good to see just how many local and regional environmental organisations there are. Quite a lot of the people attending are involved in several of the local groups - we have quite a "Green Network" in our area!

Lots of people stopped at the Wapley Bushes display and asked us about the Reserve - some had visited before, and some didn't even know the Reserve existed. Hopefully we will get a few extra visitors in the coming months!

Wapley Bushes Foray for Fungi - Monday 1st November

2010-10-14T12:24:00.000+01:00

Get to know the difference between mushrooms and toadstools on a mycological adventure with Justin Smith.

Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the reserve, Shire Way, Yate, 2.00pm to 4.00pm.

Ridge Woods Twilight Owl Walk - Wednesday 27th October

2010-10-13T12:25:00.000+01:00

Come and join Ian McGuire for a twilight owl prowl through Ridge Woods Nature Reserve and hear him call for the resident tawny owls.

Meet at the Quarry Road entrance to Ridge Wood, Chipping Sodbury,7.30pm to 9.30pm.

Wapley Bushes Owl Prowl Monday 25th October

2010-10-11T12:23:00.001+01:00

Take a twilight walk with Ian McGuire and hear him call for tawny owls. You won’t go home disappointed. Please wear warm clothing and stout footwear.

Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the reserve, Shire Way, Yate, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

It's Our World - big local environment event Oct 16th, Yate Leisure Centre, 10am - 1pm

2010-10-02T12:12:00.003+01:00

Come and join about 30 local environment organisations at this major event. There will be all sorts of stalls, children's activities and a talk by BBC Weatherman Richard Angwin!

Come and find out how you can get involved in looking after our local environment and help safeguard our world for future generations.

10 am - 1 pm Exhibition (Sports Hall)

10 am - 1 pm Produce market and outside events (West Walk)

10 am - 1 pm Children's trail and activities (Sports Hall)

11 am Schools Poster Prize Presentation (Sports Hall)
by Richard Angwin (The BBC Points West Weather Man!)

11.15 - 11.45 am Talk by Richard Angwin on the weather and climate change.

Check out the It's Our World website here

Wapley Bushes path works about to start!

2010-09-28T22:23:00.001+01:00

The works on site will start next Tuesday, 5th October.

They should last approximately 10 days, weather permitting.

During that time the Ride will be closed and walkers will be asked to use the path through the Woods instead.

£10k funding boost for Wapley Bushes project from SITA Trust

2010-09-09T22:59:00.000+01:00

Dodington Parish Council has received a £10,495 funding boost from SITA Trust to fund a project called ‘Track to the Top’. The money will be used to rebuild a well-used public path in the Local Nature Reserve. Until now the path to the upper meadow has had no drainage, resulting in water flowing across the path and, in the winter, making walking extremely slippery and dangerous.

Wapley Common is a beautiful area of open and wooded land which lies between the Shire Way estate in Yate and the hamlet of Wapley in the rural southern edge of Dodington Parish.

"The Ride is an important route for walkers and for vehicles used to maintain the Reserve" explained Cllr Paul Hulbert. "Without it we would have to take heavy machinery across flower-rich meadows, which would damage them".

For several winters the Ride has been closed for safety because of mud

SITA Trust provides funding through the Landfill Communities Fund. Funding is available for community and environmental groups to carry out a range of improvement projects.

The scheme is also being supported by a community contribution of £1,200 from Wapley Bushes Conservation Group, who manage the Local Nature Reserve on behalf of the Parish Council.

"We are very grateful for SITA Trust’s support – this is one of our largest projects, and we couldn’t do it without them" said Tim Fairhead of the Conservation Group. "As well as improving access, upgrading the Ride will preserve the vegetation of the woodland edge and maintain it as one of our best areas for butterflies and other insects"

Technical support and advice is being provided by South Gloucestershire Council, the other partner in managing the Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve.

Rained off...

2010-09-05T10:46:00.000+01:00

Unfortunately today's work morning (5 September) was rained off. There was some heavy rain early this morning, and as we were intending to do stream clearing it would have been dangerously slipperly.

Please watch this space for details of other forthcoming events.

Wapley work morning tomorrow - 5 September

2010-09-04T15:14:00.001+01:00

There will be a Wapley Bushes conservation work morning on Sunday 5 September. We'll be meeting at the Shire Way gate at 10.00 am, and aiming to finish by about 12.30 pm.

We will be doing some general conservation work such as tidying up a small stream that is the habitat of a very rare plant.

Please come along and help! Tools are provided, but you'll need to wear wellies or stout footwear and appropriate clothing.

Our autumn/winter programme will be published here shortly - watch this space!

"Little and large" mammal sightings at Wapley

2010-08-03T17:42:00.000+01:00

I had two striking mammal sightings at Wapley today. I was driving along Besom Lane, and two roe deer - hind and fawn - crossed the road 20 yards ahead of me. They paused and looked at me and then dived into the Picnic Area hedge.

They obviously knew where they were going - I later saw that there are several established tracks through the thicket and out onto the clearing.

About 10 minutes later, on the Common, I saw a shrew running across the grass. So, sightings of the Reserve's largest and smallest mammals in just a few minutes.

A great walk at Wapley Bushes - species galore

2010-07-18T18:41:00.000+01:00

We had a fascinating walk this afternoon exploring the meadows and woods at Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve. We were pleased to welcome guests from Cabot Group of the Wildlife Trust.

Among the many butterflies we spotted was this magnificent marbled white.

We also encountered a range of other insects such as these burnet moths.

Last chance to see - before the Wapley meadows are cut

2010-07-11T20:11:00.000+01:00

The meadows are looking magnificent now, but we have to cut them in a few days for the optimum crop of wild flowers and grasses next year.

So either check the meadows out during the course of this week, or come along on our Sunday afternoon guided walk - 18 July 2 pm at the Shire Way gate.

Biodiversity Walk at Wapley - Sunday 18 July 2pm

2010-07-03T12:15:00.000+01:00

Explore Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve in the company of experts who can tell you about our local flora and fauna.

Everyone welcome - meeting at the Shire Way gate. Please wear suitable footwear.

Flowers and insects galore - report from evening walk 22 June

2010-06-28T23:10:00.002+01:00

We had an excellent walk last week with Rupert Higgins of Wessex Ecological Consultants - he really made us look at the meadows in particular with new eyes.

Left is a bee orchid that we found in the Lower Meadow.

Our next event will be an afternoon Biodiversity Walk on Sunday 18 July, starting at 2pm from the Shire Way gate.

Experts in all sorts of flora and fauna will help us learn more about this fascinating area.

Please come and join us - no need to book, just turn up!

Wapley Bushes Nature Reserve - evening walk, Tuesday 22 June, 7pm

2010-06-12T12:12:00.000+01:00

Please come and join our evening walk round Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve with Rupert Higgins of Wessex Ecological Consultants, the expert who has just revised the Reserve Management Plan. This will be an opportunity to find out about how the Reserve is looked after and our plans for the next five years. Everyone welcome - meeting at the Shire Way gate. Please wear suitable footwear.

Educational events at Wapley

2010-05-19T21:15:00.001+01:00

Sure Start is the Government’s programme to deliver the best start in life for every child by bringing together early education, childcare, health and family support. Wapley has recently hosted two Sure Start forest skills training events and a Dad's Group event.

As part of the Healthy Schools Initiative Abbotswood School is now joining in work with the Reserve's Nature Journal, like the schools that took part last year. As well as regular class visits to the reserve there will be a Parents Group session in June.

The Wapley Bushes Conservation Group and Dodington Parish Council are glad to see these community education programmes making use of the Reserve, the Common and the Picnic Site, which are managed to provide opportunities for conservation, education and recreation.

Dates for your diary - Nature Reserve events

2010-05-17T21:09:00.001+01:00

Tuesday 22 June 7pm – Evening walk round the Reserve with Rupert Higgins of Wessex Ecological Consultants, who has just revised the five-year Management Plan

Sunday 18 July 2pm – Biodiversity Walk with experts on various types of flora and fauna

Sunday 5 September 10am – Conservation Group Work Morning (ditch clearing etc)

It has been decided that future work mornings will alternate between Saturday and Sunday mornings to suit people who can't make one or the other. Further work mornings will be held on Sat 20 November, Sunday 23 January and Saturday 5 March.

All events start from the Shire Way gate. More details will follow on all these events.

New edition of the Reserve Management Plan on the way

2010-05-15T21:07:00.001+01:00

Rupert Higgins of Wessex Ecological Consultants has been busy revising the five year Management Plan for Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve.

You can find out more by joining us on a evening walk with Rupert on Tuesday 22 June. We'll be meeting at 7pm at the Shire Way gate.

Report from 8 May work morning - good news and bad news

2010-05-13T21:05:00.002+01:00

Our keen volunteers spent their Saturday morning clearing up litter on the meadows and in the woods. The good news is that there wasn't a lot of it - half a dozen bin bags.

The bad news is that there were half a dozen or more fire sites with smashed glass, melted bottles and cans - all dangerous for children and wildlife. We're talking to the Police and the Fire Brigade about the problem.

Wapley Bushes Work Morning this Saturday, 8 May - come and join us!

2010-05-07T01:39:00.000+01:00

We're having a Saturday work morning this week, especially for people who can't make our usual Sunday morning sessions.

We will be doing a general spring clean of the Nature Reserve and cutting back some excess growth from the paths.

Please come and join us - we'll be meeting at the Shire Way gate at 10.00 am. please wear suitable footwear, but we'll provide the tools etc.

Bluebells galore

2010-04-27T20:43:00.001+01:00

There are masses of bluebells at Wapley at the moment, particularly in the woods and hedgerows. The best place to see them is along the lower path in the main wood. Spring has really sprung!

Evening birdsong at Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve

2010-04-11T01:41:00.003+01:00

Listen!
It's surprising what you can record with an ordinary mobile phone. This recording has just been slightly cleaned up and amplified using Audacity.

We came, we saw, we planted

2010-03-24T00:29:00.002Z

We had a big problem to deal with - an ugly corrugated fence at the bottom end of the Western Wood, put up by the adjoining landowner.

The morning of Sunday, 14 March saw an enthusiastic work party gather at Wapley Bushes for a coordinated planting operation on a bright, sunny day. Our task was to plant 60 shrubs and climbers. This is a particularly difficult area to plant in so the plants were specially selected to be both shade tolerant and good for wildlife.

Fortunately, we had a very good volunteer turnout and the task was completed well before midday ; congratulations to all involved in this very successful workday. Here are just a few parts of the stretch that was planted - we'll keep an eye on its progress and report back in due course:

The next work morning will be on Saturday 8 May, specially for people who can't make Sundays. We'll meet at 10.00 am at the Shire Way gate as usual - please check back here for more details in due course.

Work morning - Sunday 14 March

2010-03-08T22:14:00.000Z

Come and join us for a morning of hedgerow and boundary planting. Tools will be provided, but please wear suitable footwear. We will be meeting at 10.00 am at the Shire Way gate.

For more details please ring Paul Hulbert on 07771 562505 - or you can just turn up on the day!

Grow Your Own Fence!

2010-01-24T17:29:00.003Z

24/1/2010
Photo: Some of the Conservation Group regulars building up the dead hedge
Originally uploaded by paulhulbert

We had a very successful workday today. A dozen of us coppiced a lot of the excess trees in the Centenary Wood, and dragged the material down to the lower end of the main wood.

There we constructed some fifty metres of dead hedging to protect vulnerable areas of the wood. Not bad for a morning's work!

Wapley Work Morning - Sunday 24 January - come and join in!

2010-01-17T18:46:00.000Z

Our next work morning will be on Sunday, 25 January. We will be doing some traditional woodland management - coppicing, in other words removing excess growth of self-seeded ash - in the Centenary plantation.

Then we'll will bring the brash - the cut material - down to places where we need to reinforce and rebuild dead hedging. Dead hedges are barriers made entirely from natural material, that we use to protect sensitive areas. Stakes are driven into the ground at intervals, and longer cut branches are woven between the stakes.

Please come and help, no experience necessary. We're meeting at the Shire Way gate at 10.00 am. You'll need to wear suitable footwear and warm clothing, but tools will be provided.

You can ring Paul for details on 01454 315851, or just turn up on the day.

Another note for your diary - the following work morning will be on March 14, when we shall be doing some hedgerow/boundary planting near Chris's Bridge.

A Christmas cracker

2009-12-22T10:03:00.000Z

BBC Breathing Places Christmas song video :-)

Wapley in the snow

2009-12-21T23:53:00.005Z

Click here to see larger versions of these photos

Pictures from our Fungus Foray

2009-11-21T23:17:00.002Z

Click here to see larger versions of these photos

Fungus Foray - Tuesday 3 November 2.00 pm

2009-11-01T10:53:00.001Z

Come and join our exploration of local fungi with expert Justin Smith - meet at the Shire Way gate. There are many kinds of fungi about at the moment - these photos were taken only yesterday.

Blown away

2009-11-01T10:44:00.000Z

Unfortunately today's Wapley work morning had to be cancelled. It wasn't so much the rain, more the wind - we had planned to do work in the woodland, and that's not safe when there are high speed gusts.

Wapley Bushes autumn events

2009-10-25T18:26:00.000Z

Lots of things are happening on the Nature Reserve over the next few days:

Saturday 31 Oct 9.30 am - have your say about the Management Plan for the next five years - walk around the Reserve with our consultant. Everyone welcome.

Sunday 1 November 10.00 am - work morning with members of the Conservation Group. Please come and help us!

Tuesday 3 November 2.00 pm - a Fungus Foray with expert Justin Smith. There are lots of fungi on the reserve at the moment, some the size of small plates. Come and find out all about them.

All events are free - meet at the Shire Way gate.

An excellent workday - report from Sunday 20 September

2009-09-27T13:44:00.003+01:00

We had a very good workday last Sunday. We cleared the stream that flows down through the middle of the wood during heavy rain, cleared paths and cut back vegetation in the main wood and at the picnic area, and did a lot of litter picking.

We were very glad to have three local guides with us who are working for their BP Badge - many thanks for your help, girls!

Our next work morning will be on Sunday November 1st.

Wapley Bushes - come and help, Sunday 20 September

2009-09-17T20:00:00.005+01:00

The Wapley Bushes Conservation Group is meeting on Sunday 20 September at the Shire Way gate at 10.00 am. We should finish by about 12.30 pm.

We will be doing some general conservation work such as tidying up a small stream that is the habitat of a very rare plant.

Please come along and help! Tools are provided, but you'll need to wear wellies or stout footwear and appropriate clothing. If you would like more details please ring Paul on 01454 315851, but you can just turn up on the day.

More butterflies at Wapley

2009-07-26T23:57:00.007+01:00

Peacock butterfly - named after the eye-shaped spots like those on a peacock's tail.

Painted Lady butterfly - an immigrant that flies in from North Africa. Adults cannot overwinter in UK and return south for the winter.

Small White butterfly - its caterpillar is very fond of cabbage. Small and large whites are often called "cabbage whites".

All photos taken 25 July in the small patch of rough ground on the left as you enter the Lower Meadow. The meadows will be cut shortly - take a look now if you want to see them.

A good time for insects

2009-07-23T23:40:00.006+01:00

It's peak season for insects at Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve.

All photos taken 23 July.

Meadow Brown butterfly on vegetation next to the top pond

Bee on thistle

Dragonfly in the woodland ride - very hard to photograph on the wing

Discover the nature where you live

2009-07-08T16:54:00.001+01:00

Nature lovers are invited to join a walk to explore the wildflower meadows, riverside grasslands and woodlands of St John’s Park estate in Chipping Sodbury.

The walk, which will be led by Mary Wood from Avon Wildlife Trust, takes place on Tuesday 21 July from 7pm.

South Gloucestershire Council has employed the Avon Wildlife Trust to renew the management plan for these open spaces so please come along to discover the wildlife and discuss how the areas should be managed in the future.

Anyone interested in joining the walk should meet at the bridge over the River Frome on Wickwar Road at 7pm.

If you need any further details please contact Chris Giles at South Gloucestershire Council on 01454 863725.

A little experiment, on a stormy day at Wapley

2009-07-07T21:55:00.008+01:00

We're experimenting with Chirbit audio blogging.

A stormy day at Wapley - click here:

Report from work morning 5 July - lots achieved!

2009-07-05T22:58:00.004+01:00

Starting to repair the dead hedge
- driving the uprights in

Filling up between the stakes to build the dead hedge

Our main task was to rebuild a delapidated dead hedge that protects a sensitive part of the woodland. We gathered a variety of material. Much of it came from a fallen bough, which we cut up and carried down to the workplace.

We also collected young trees we had cut down a while ago when coppicing in the Western Wood, and we took out some self-sown young ash that have appeared in the Upper Meadow.

We sharpened stout lengths of wood and drove them in as uprights, then filled in between them with heavy boughs as a foundation and then lighter branches on top.

Dead hedging is a traditional woodland management practice, and it works well with coppicing - in future we intend to use the coppiced wood as soon as we cut it. Previously we've left it to decay as habitat for insects etc, but it was too ready a source of firewood and much of it disappeared.

We had one more task to do before we finished. The diagonal path up through the Western Wood has been getting overgrown, so we cut back the brambles and cleared a way through.

Not bad for two and a half hours work! Our next work morning will be on Sunday 20 September - an early autumn tidy-up, including clearing leaf mould etc out of the little stream so that the centre of the wood doesn't flood during winter rains. Please come and join us - ring Paul on 07771 562505 for details.

Work morning Sunday July 5th - dead hedging

2009-06-17T10:15:00.001+01:00

Dead hedging is making a barrier entirely from natural material, as shown in this drawing from the BTCV. Stakes are driven into the ground at intervals, and longer cut branches are woven between the stakes.

We are planning to collect material that we have previously coppiced from the Centenary Wood (see earlier post) and bring it down to locations where we want to create barriers to protect sensitive areas.

Please come along and help us - you can also collect your FREE copy of the new Nature Journal, if you haven't already got one. You'll need to wear suitable footwear. Tools and gloves will be provided.

We look forward to seeing you at 10.00 am at the Shire Way gate.

Work mornings programme

2009-06-16T10:11:00.000+01:00

Our next few work mornings will be as follows:

July 5 - Dead hedging, collecting material from Centenary Wood
Sep 20 - Stream clearance
Nov 1 - Planting edge of Western Wood
Jan 24 - Coppicing and using material as dead hedging
Mar 14 - Hedgerow/boundary planting near Chris's Bridge

Meet at 10 am at the Shire Way gate in each case.

Report from May 31 Work Morning

2009-06-15T22:02:00.007+01:00

This was a work morning with a difference, exploring the Reserve with the new Nature Journal.

Flora we spotted included hay rattle (a partly parasitic plant, drawing nutrient from grass), bird's foot trefoil (otherwise known as bacon and eggs), cowslip seed pods, campion, and twayblade (one of the orchid family)

We identified many different bird species including wren, song thrush and green woodpecker.