Kennedy Way Pond Workday, Saturday 12 October

We shall be carrying out general management works on the reserve including vegetation clearance at this local wildlife haven.

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

Orchard Harvest Day, Sunday 6 October

Celebrate the richness and variety of English fruit at this 14th century historic barn with a 200 year old working cider press. Activities and fun for all ages. Organised by South Gloucestershire Council.

11am -4pm, Winterbourne Barn, Church Lane, Winterbourne, BS36 1SE.

Munching and meddling at Wapley - first crop and work morning 15 September

Ten of us met at Wapley today for the first autumn work morning of the year. We started as usual with a safety briefing:

Then most of our volunteers worked on clearing the stream in the wood and cutting vegetation back from the paths, while a couple of us did some maintenance on the young fruit trees.

• Good news - we've had our first crop from the Orchard for the Future.
• Bad news - we've eaten it. Two apples, one each. But they tasted lovely!

Here's another part of our mini-crop - a medlar, very much a rarity nowadays.

 And here are our volunteers at the end of a productive morning.

Our next work morning at Wapley will be on Saturday 16 November, but there will be a Wapley Owl Prowl on Monday 28 October, meeting at 7.00 pm at the Shire Way gate. See you there?.

Wild Owls Chat, Saturday 21 September

Learn more about the UK's owls in this chat with Ian McGuire of Wild Owl. Organised by South Gloucestershire Council.

2:30 -3:30pm, Winterbourne Library, Flaxpits Lane, Winterbourne, BS36 1LA.

Introduction to British Owls Talk, Thursday 19 September

Come face to face with a wild owl and learn more about them in this inspiring talk from Ian McGuire of Wild Owl. Organised by South Gloucestershire Council.

7:30 -9.00pm, The Old Grammar School, High Street, Chipping Sodbury, BS37 6AH.

Ram Hill Colliery Heritage Open Day, Sunday 15 September

An opportunity to visit the remains of this 19th century coal mine with guided tours showing the steam engine and house, horse gin and dramway terminus remains. Organised by South Gloucestershire Council.

10:30am - 4:00pm, Ram Hill Colliery, Broad, Lane, Ram Hill, Coalpit Heath, BS36 2TY.

Wapley Bushes Workday, Sunday 15 September

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 thinspiked wood sedge. Everyone welcome - there are lots of lighter tasks too. Please wear walking or wellington boots, and bring some gloves if you have them.

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