Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve, near Yate and Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire.


The Nature Reserve is run by the Wapley Bushes Conservation Group, a small group of volunteers.

Saturday, October 31, 2026

Busy morning at Kingsgate Park

 

One of the Park's moorhens, supervising our work!

Eight volunteers from Wapley Bushes Conservation Group had a busy morning today (31 October)

We cut back a lot of invasive branches, blackthorn etc to keep the Nature Reserve paths open.

We also litter-picked the Reserve and the Scott Way fringe of the Park.

Today was our annual contribution to help the good work of Yate Town Council's Estates Team and the Friends of Kingsgate Park.

Our next work morning will be at Wapley Bushes on Sunday 29 November. Why not come along and join us?


Sunday, October 11, 2026

Kingsgate Park Nature Area work morning - Saturday 31 October - DATE CHANGED DUE TO WEATHER

 


Sorry, we had to change the date because of the storm forecast for this weekend. The original date would have been a washout.

On this work session we shall be undertaking maintenance of this grassland and wetland site including vegetation clearance. Please wear gloves and wellington boots.

Meet at the Scott Way entrance to Kingsgate Park, Scott Way, Yate, BS37 4NW, 10.00am. Parking is available at the entrance of Shackleton Avenue. 

Saturday, October 10, 2026

Effects of the hot summer at Kennedy Way Pond

Apart from the obvious - the pond being dry - we saw some interesting outcomes of the hot dry summer.

Compared to previous years the tree branches hadn't grown too much, so they weren't overshadowing the pond, and just needed a light trim in places.

In contrast the ground flora such as grasses and brambles had been growing quite vigorously - probably encouraged by the lack of shade from the trees - so our seven volunteers cut them back.

We also did a litter pick round the pond and along a short stretch of the River Frone bank from the footbridge, past Aldi to the steps. We're pleased to report that there wasn't much rubbish, but it was disappointing to find a smashed beer bottle. Oh yes, and there was a plastic pigeon garden ornament that someone had tossed into the pond!



Saturday, September 26, 2026

Kennedy Way Pond Work Morning - Saturday 10 October

 

We shall be cutting back overgrowth and carrying out general management tasks at this nature reserve area. Please wear wellington boots.

Meet at the Kennedy Way Pond, Link Road, Yate Shopping Centre, 10.00am and parking is available at the Yate overflow car park on the eastern side of Link Road, BS37 4AY.

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Report from Wapley Bushes work morning, Sunday 20 September

 

Autumn is the season to look out for
large bracket fungi in the woods!
 

Our four volunteers worked hard clearing most of the seasonal stream down through the woods, but then we ran into a wall of bramble that we'll have to tackle differently. There has been so much growth during the hot summer that the bottom end of the stream, nearest to the Lower Path, has totally disappeared. We'll need to locate it and decide what work is necessary there to stop the low point of the path getting flooded during winter rains.

Wednesday, September 09, 2026

Sunday 20 September – Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve Work Morning

The key tasks will be the annual clearing out of the woodland stream, cutting back vegetation overgrowth and optional litter picking. Please come and join us even if you haven’t been before. You can bring your own tools or tools will be provided.

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

Saturday, July 04, 2026

A good work morning today (Sat 4 July)

 

Six of us had a good morning out in the sunshine today clearing overgrowth along the sides of the main woodland paths - the circuit round the Ancient Woodland, and the Ride (the path between the main woodland and the Western Wood)

At this time of year the vegetation grows really fast, so we trimmed back the greenery next to the notice boards at the Shire Way entrance as well, plus the annoying patch of nettles underneath the interpretation board in the Orchard on the Common.

Please join us next Sunday (12 July) at 2 pm for a guided species identification walk through our very diverse Nature Reserve. We'll be meeting at the Shire Way gate next to the notice boards.