During the autumn we did two bat surveys at Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve, the Orchard and the Common. We found four species each time:
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| Merry Christmas from one of the Wapley robins |
The robin is a very appropriate bird to feature on Wapley's social media. They live in the woodland and hedges throughout the year, and one particular robin often sings to visitors approaching the reserve via the bridge over the railway.
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| Wapley Bushes map showing closed path in dark green |
Dodington Parish Council has taken advice from health and safety consultants to close temporarily the circular permitted access pathway through Wapley Bushes (Wapley Woods), following storm damage by the recent Storm Claudia. A number of trees have fallen onto the pathway, prompting Dodington Parish Council to call in an arborist to conduct a detailed survey of the remaining trees directly adjacent to the circular path. The report highlighted 19 specimens needing urgent works, of which 10 were classed as ‘critical’. Due to the high risk presented by these trees, they have taken a sad decision that temporary closure of the permitted access pathway is necessary, until the trees can be made safe.
They are working actively to appoint a tree surgeon to carry out the necessary works to the critical trees, so that the pathway can be reopened as soon as possible. They know that the community loves and values the woodland, but they have a legal responsibility to make sure that visitors can enjoy it safely. All of the other footpaths around the site remain open, it is just the circular permitted access path in the Ancient Woodland that is closed. They will keep the closure as minimal as possible and will provide updates as things move forward.
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| A fallen tree on the pathway in Wapley Woods |
We are please to tell you that we won three major awards in 2025. Two of them were South West in Bloom Neighbourhood Awards, both at the highest "Level 5 - Outstanding"
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| South West In Bloom certificate Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve |
We retained our Green Flag Community Award, but we have moved up into the highest marking band:
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| Green Flag Community Award certificate Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve |
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Some of our volunteers at the work session |
The mix of trees was as follows:
25 x Hazel - Corylus avellana
12 x Field Maple - Acer campestre
5 x Hornbeam - Carpinus betulus
5 x Dogwood - Cornus sanguinea
3 x Guelder Rose - Viburnum opulus
5 x Dog Rose - Rosa canina
5 x Hawthorn - Crataegus monogyna
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| Cyril the Squirrel supervised! |
Five of our volunteers did a morning work session at the Kingsgate Park Nature Reserve, trimming back some brambles and cutting some branches that were growing into pathways, plus a general litter picking.
It was just general tidying-up - the Yate Town Council staff have been keeping the Reserve in good order.
Our next work session will be on Sunday 30 November at Wapley Bushes. This workday will be a morning of tree and shrub planting to enhance biodiversity plus general maintenance and tidying up the reserve prior to the winter season. Please wear walking or wellington boots. Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, south Yate, BS37 8US, 10.00am.
