Wapley Bushes work morning - Saturday 19 March

We shall be undertaking general management tasks, including a spring clean, that will help to enhance the biodiversity of this precious nature reserve. We anticipate doing some work on the top pond and a general spring clean.

Please wear stout footwear. Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland (opposite the road entrance to Cherington), south Yate, BS37 8US, 10.00am.

Ridge Wood work morning - Sunday 13 March

10.00 am - 12.00
Meeting at Melrose Close entrance
More details about Ridge Wood available here

Happy 10th birthday to the Wapley blog

It's hard to credit it, but we started this blog exactly ten years ago, on February 24th 2006. Our first blog post was about the Top Pond - you can check it out here

We've been advertising our work mornings and events, and reporting what's happened on the Reserve - you can explore our archive by clicking the links on the right hand side.

More recently we have been putting up details of work days on other local Reserves, so watch out for opportunities to get out in the fresh air and do your bit for the environment. Everyone is welcome!

Damp but a good work morning at Wapley

Despite some light drizzle, on Sunday 21 February eight of us - including two new volunteers - tackled the winter fruit tree pruning in the Orchard for the Future. We were dealing with apples, pears etc (stoned fruit like plums needs to be pruned in the summer)

We also planted a strawberry tree in memory of Wendy Mayo, the Clerk to Dodington Parish Council who died last summer. Wendy and her family were frequent volunteers on the Wapley Bushes Local Natire Reserve. Arbutus unedo is a bushy evergreen shrub with red strawberry-like fruits. It's not related to real strawberries, and it's not a citrus species - strangely it's a member of the Ericaceae, in other words the heaths and heathers. Bilberries (European "blueberries") are also members of this unusual family.

In addition we planted some dog roses in the fence alongside the road, and litter-picked around the Common and the picnic area. Our next Wapley work morning will be on Saturday 19 March.

Lilliput Park work morning - Tuesday 1 March

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.

Please come along and help us improve this historic park. We shall be meeting at the Kingfisher Road gate at 10.00 am. Please wear suitable footwear and bring gloves if you have them.

Friends of Yate Common - AGM and General Meeting Tuesday 23 February

Come and meet the group - 7 pm at the Pop Inn Cafe, Yate Shopping Centre

Ridge Wood work morning - Sunday 21 February

10.00 am - 12.00
Meeting at Melrose Close entrance
More details about Ridge Wood available here