Outstanding success for In Bloom entries!

Very pleasing that all three Dodington entries that were judged in South West In Bloom gained an "Outstanding" award, the highest grade of award:
Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve
Wapley Common and the Orchard for the Future
Dodington Allotment Association

What's more, Yate and Chipping Sodbury both have Outstanding for all their entries, so it was a remarkable "clean sweep" for our area.

Lilliput Park work morning - Tuesday 6 October

A small band of enthusiasts - the Lilliput Conservation Group - is spending a couple of hours on the first Tuesday of each month tidying up the hedgerows and plantings in Lilliput Park.

This was once the garden of Lilliput Court (formerly Down Leaze House). Some readers may remember Lilliput Court as the old Northavon Council Offices.

Please come along and help us improve this historic park. We shall be meeting at the Kingfisher Road gate. Please wear suitable footwear and bring gloves if you have them.

Kennedy Way Pond Workday - Sunday 20 September

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 shopping centre car park on the western side of Link Road, BS37 4AY

Report from Wapley work morning 13/09/2015

Just seven of us this morning, but we achieved a lot. We dug out the bed of the stream down through the woods, so that it won't flood when we get heavy rain.

It's a "winter stream" or "winter bourne", hence the village name Winterbourne.

We also did a major litter collection, removing half a dozen big sacks full - about par for the course after the summer holidays.

We were a bit discouraged though that there has been some fly tipping on Besom Lane near the kissing gate - we've reported it to South Glos Council.

Filming at Wapley Woods rescheduled

Please note that the days for filming at Wapley have changed:

• Saturday 12 September - 12am to 11pm
• A short session on the evening of Saturday 26 September for a few hours
• Then the main shoot will take place on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October

The arrangements have been fully discussed with the Conservation Group and the Parish Council.

Filming at Wapley Woods

Please note that an amateur film unit will be fiming in and around Wapley Woods on the following dates:

• 12/09/15 12am to 11pm
• 19/09/15 11am to 10pm
• 20/09/15  5pm to 11 pm

The arrangements have been fully discussed with the Conservation Group and the Parish Council.

Wapley Bushes work morning - Sunday 13 September

We shall be undertaking the annual stream clearance and other reserve maintenance walk on this autumn workday. Please wear stout footwear.

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

Ecological walk on Yate Common - Friday 11 September

A guided walk with consultant Rupert Higgins, who has been carrying out an ecological survey of  Yate Common. This has covered invertebrates, birds and lower plants. with a concentration on vascular plants.

Rupert will point out many of the species he has found.

The survey has been done to produce a 5 year Management Plan.

Meet at 10.30 am at the start of the "Road to Nowhere" on the Rodford Way roundabout.

One man came to mow...

Well, probably several men! Walkers will have seen that only one third of the "narrow side" of Wapley Common, where the orchard is, has been mown. This is so that that other two thirds of the grass will fall as a dense mat and provide a habitat for mice and voles.

These small mammals are ideal "owl takeaways" and will encourage our local tawny owls (and perhaps others) to nest in the near side of the woodland.