A very merry Christmas from Wapley Bushes!

Many hands made light work at Wapley work morning on 2 December!

Eleven of us made short work of the woodland planting on 2 December. Despite the rain we planted 35 woodland trees of various species to help replace future losses from ash dieback disease. With such a good attendance we got the trees planted quickly.

Wapley Local Nature Reserve Workday - Sunday 2 December

This workday will be a morning of woodland planting to enhance biodiversity plus general maintenance and tidying up the reserve prior to the winter season. Please wear walking or wellington boots and bring some gloves.

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

Ridge Wood work morning - Sunday 25 November

Meet at 10.00 am at the Melrose Close entrance to woods (see map here)
Jobs to suit all abilities, gloves and tools provided
Finish at 12:00 noon approx.

Find out more from the Ridge Wood website

Wapley Fungus Foray finds species galore

 The Wapley Fungus Foray on 14 October was a great success. Led by Lee Haywood of the Cotswold Fungus Group, 13 volunteers found a wide variety of fungi. The children were particularly good at finding them.

The event was organised by Wapley Bushes Conservation Group and sponsored by South Gloucestershire Council via Cllr Tony Davis's Member Awarded Funding grant. Many thanks Tony!

Here is a small selection of the other fungi we found - there's an official list, but please don't ask me what they all are!

Success at South West In Bloom Awards

Volunteers Pete Carpenter, Paul Hulbert and Tim
Fairhead in Yeovil with the award certificates

Wapley Bushes received two Outstanding awards - the highest level possible for Neighbourhood entries - at the South West In Bloom awards in Yeovil earlier this month.

The judge particularly praised Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve for "outstanding environmental responsibility" in the long-term re-planting project in the woodland, and for the community participation in events and workdays.

Regarding Wapley Common and the Orchard for the Future, the assessor singled out the fruit trees, the grass-cutting rotation providing small mammal habitat (owl prey) and the new bug hotels for special praise.

Lilliput Park, where many of the same people volunteer, gained the Outstanding Award too.

We also congratulate our colleagues of the Wapley Allotments Association for their two Outstanding awards - so it was a clean sweep all round!

Kingsgate Park Nature Reserve Ponds Workday - Saturday 27 October

We shall undertaking maintenance of this important amphibian site including the cutting back of vegetation. 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).

Ridge Wood work morning - Sunday 21 October

Meet at 10.00 am at the Melrose Close entrance to woods (see map here)
Jobs to suit all abilities, gloves and tools provided
Finish at 12:00 noon approx.

Find out more from the Ridge Wood website

Fungus Foray at Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve, Sunday 14 October

Investigating and learning about our local fungi with expert Lee Hayward of Cotswold Fungus Group.There will be many kinds of fungi about – let’s see how many we can find! This event is sponsored by South Gloucestershire Council. Please wear stout footwear.

Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland (opposite the road entrance to Cherington), south Yate, BS37 8US, 2 pm

Create a Back Garden Nature Reserve - illustrated talk by Ian McGuire of Wild Owl TV - Friday 12 October

In the second of his two wildlife gardening talks, local expert Ian McGuire explains how creating habitats, putting up nest boxes and feeding animals can change a suburban garden into a miniature nature reserve. This event is sponsored by South Gloucestershire Council and Dodington Parish Council.

Friday 12 October, 7.30 pm at Dodington Parish Hall, Finch Road, Chipping Sodbury BS37 6JZ.

Kennedy Way Pond Workday - Saturday 6 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).

Another successful Wapley work morning on 9 September

There were only 8 of us, but we accomplished a lot. We carried our annual task of clearing the stream down through the wood - if we didn't do this, the centre of the woodland would start flooding.

Some of the team - proving that
there's now headroom on the paths!

We also chopped back the low-hanging vegetation on the woodland paths, litter-picked round the woodland, and did "routine maintenance" on the fruit trees. Well done everybody!

Ridge Wood work morning - Sunday 23 September

Meet at 10.00 am at the Melrose Close entrance to woods (see map here)
Jobs to suit all abilities, gloves and tools provided
Finish at 12:00 noon approx.

Find out more from the Ridge Wood website

Quick video - Wapley in late summer

Wapley August 2018 a from Paul Hulbert on Vimeo.

A brief look at Wapley in the last few days of August 2018.

Sunbathing fox

Seen in the farmer's field next to Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve this afternoon.

Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve Workday - Sunday 9 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.

Bicycle Safari - Discover local nature on two wheels with expert Ian McGuire.- Sunday 2 September

Family friendly, under 12s must be accompanied by an adult. Bicycle Safari sets off at 11.00 am from Riverside car park next to Yate Cinema BS37 4AY. Meet from 10.15 am for briefing and to check bikes.

Organised by the Joint Cycleway Group with bike checks and riding hints from South Glos Council's "Dr Bike" team".

Ridge Woods Forest Fun Time - Thursday 23rd August

Return of this popular family woodland event, suitable for accompanied children up to age 11.

Forest Trail, Woodland Crafts, free entry, refreshments

Trail starts at Jubilee Gardens Entrance from 2:00 pm - please see map of woods here

Sorry, no dogs at this event. 

Wapley Bushes given 7th Green Flag Community Award

It's now official - Wapley Bushes has achieved the Green Flag Community Award for the 7th year in a row. Ours is one of only 8 Community Awards in the South West, and in fact we've got the only Green Flag award of any sort in South Gloucestershire. Well done to all our volunteers and to Dodington Parish Council staff!

 

The Green Flag Community Award, a category for green spaces that are managed by voluntary and community groups.

The next work morning on the Reserve will be Sunday 9 September, meeting at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, BS37 8US, 10.00am. Extra volunteers would be very welcome – please contact Paul Hulbert on 01454 315851 for more details, or just turn up.
 

Busy bees and the cricket season - report from work morning 15 July 2018

We had a productive work morning this weekend - it was so hot that we had to keep it slightly shorter than usual. Six of us cleared the bramble and other growth round the young fruit trees in the bottom hedge of the lower meadow to give them room for growth. We also cut back overgrowth on the top path and behind the seats on the Common.

While we were there we watched the leaf cutter bees hard at work at our new Bug Hotels on Wapley Common. They lay their eggs in a hole, seal off the cell with leaf fragments, lay eggs in another cell, cap it with more leaves and so on.

We also saw quite a few crickets - here's one resting on one of our tools.

Bugs get posh new accommodation at Wapley Common

Young people from the 4th Chipping Sodbury Guides and Brownies have helped enthusiastically to furnish a new bug hotel for the orchard at Wapley Common. The event was organised after Dodington Parish Councillor Paul Hulbert, a member of Wapley Bushes Conservation Group, ran an Environment Evening for them at Abbotswood School.

"The girls were so enthusiastic and knowledgeable that I invited them to do some practical work at Wapley" said Cllr Hulbert. "We've put a total of three new bug hotels on Wapley Common, and this one is very impressive"

"The Brownies and Guides worked really hard under the direction of our contractor Chris Belcher, who had already constructed the framework"

The bug hotels are part of the Orchard for the Future project organised by Wapley Bushes Conservation Group. There are three groups of young orchard trees on Wapley Common, and each group of trees now has its own bug hotel or "pollinator palace". The intention is to encourage pollinating insects, so increasing the apple crops in future years so that local people can come and pick their own apples, all of which are local historic varieties that are not available in the shops.

There were ten Guides and Brownies plus four Leaders, plus the three of us that are involved with Wapley Bushes.

Wapley Bushes Summer Fruit Tree Pruning - Sunday 15 July

As well as pruning stoned fruit trees such as plums and gages, we shall also be attending to odd jobs on the reserve.

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

Successful plant identification walk, Sunday 17 June

Nine of us joined Rupert Higgins of Wessex Ecological Consultancy to explore the "Ashtrack" that runs alongside the railway just across from the Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve. It's obviously an important wildlife corridor, bringing new flora and fauna into the area. There were lots of interesting plants, though no great rarities, and Rupert taught us a lot.

The event was sponsored by South Gloucestershire Council as part of Councillor Tony Davis's Member Awarded Funding grant.

Plant identification walk near Shire Way - Sunday 17 June

Please join expert Rupert Higgins of Wessex Ecological Consultancy and members of Wapley Bushes Conservation Group to explore the path and linear woodland alongside the railway. We saw several notable plants here last year, and we want to find out what else is along this well-used pathway just across the railway from Wapley Bushes. This event is sponsored by South Gloucestershire Council.

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

Lilliput Park - June and July work mornings

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

The next work mornings will be on Tue 5th June, Sat 23rd June and Tue 3rd July. Then we shall be having a summer break until September.

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.

You can check out the Lilliput Conservation Group on Facebook for more information.

Lilliput Park - May work mornings

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

The May work mornings will be on Tue 1st and Sat 26th. 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.

You can check out the Lilliput Conservation Group on Facebook for more information.

Ridge Wood Evening Bird Chorus Walk - Tuesday 8th May

Take an evening stroll through Ridge Wood and experience the sounds of spring with Ed Drewitt.
Ed is a freelance naturalist and is a regular contributor on BBC's Springwatch and The One Show etc. Further info on his website here.



Meet at Quarry Road entrance to woods - 7:15pm ( see map here )

Pay on Arrival - Adult £3.00 Child - £1.50
No need to book, just come along!

Kennedy Way Pond & River Frome Workday - Saturday 5 May

We shall be carrying out a general spring clean by the River Frome and at the Kennedy Way Pond nature area.

Meet at the Kennedy Way Pond, Link Road, Yate Shopping Centre, 10.00am (parking is available at the two car parks on either side of Link Road, BS37 4AY).

Keep your eyes on the skies!

The weather seems to be bringing in some birds that are unusual for our area. Craig Lewis spotted a pair of Red Kites above Maisemore, just off Shire Way yesterday:

Photo by Craig Lewis

They stayed around for quite a while and gradually moved off heading north.

What's more Craig also spotted a Hoopoe early this morning at Kingsgate Park - that's quite a rarity, the RSPB reckons that only about a hundred make it to our shores each year. In case you see it, here's what they look like:

Source: RSPB

Ridge Wood work morning - Sunday 22 April

Meet at 10.00 am at the Melrose Close entrance to woods (see map here)
Jobs to suit all abilities, gloves and tools provided
Finish at 12:00 noon approx.

Find out more from the Ridge Wood websit

Goose Green Workday - Saturday 14 April

We shall be undertaking reserve maintenance on this local grassland and wetland nature reserve such as path clearance plus litter picking. Please wear walking or wellington boots and bring some gloves.

Please meet at the bridge on the reserve, west of Oak Close, north Yate, BS37 5TN, 10.00am.

Planting for generations to come - report from Wapley work mornings March 2018

We had a good work morning on Saturday 17 March, despite the bitter cold and snow flurries. Although there were only four of the regular volunteers, we were joined by 19 guides and 3 adults from the First Westerleigh Guides, who meet at Abbotswood Primary School.

The guides planted 48 Yellow Archangel plug plants, a typical flower of ancient woodlands and hedgerows, and did a big litter pick. Their spring cleaning even unearthed a metal backplate from a washing machine, that someone had been using as a slide. We were very impressed by the girls' energy and enthusiasm.

Meanwhile the volunteers concentrated on tree planting in the woodland. The priority task was to put in 10 large Wild Service Trees, a tall deciduous broadleaf that is quite rare in the UK. By the time we had done this time was getting on, and we decided to pack in to avoid getting frozen.

Five volunteers returned again on Wednesday 21 March and planted the smaller young trees - 8 each of Oak, Broad Leaved Lime and Black Poplar. Although there were more of them they were easier to plant than the Service Trees - they only needed a simple "T cut" rather than a large hole for the roots.

So that completed our Wapley planting programme for the winter - 100 tree in all that will provide the replacement high canopy when ash dieback disease has eventually taken its toll.

Lilliput Park - April work mornings

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

The April work mornings will be on Tue 3rd and Sat 28th. 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.

You can check out the Lilliput Conservation Group on Facebook for more information.

Quiz Night Live! - Friday 13 April

This is your chance to have some fun and pick a team of Eggheads and bring them along to our general knowledge quiz in aid of Avon Wildlife Trust.

You are most welcome make up a team name and bring your own snacks and beverages. We will also be serving tea and coffee for you in the break.

Quiz teams are usually made up of four players at a cost of £2.50 per individual team member. Please contact Malcolm on 01454 310328 to book your team's place.

Venue: The Old Grammar School, High Street, Chipping Sodbury, 7.30pm.

Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve Workday - Saturday 17 March

We shall be undertaking more tree planting that will help to enhance the biodiversity of this precious nature reserve and doing a spring clean too. Please wear stout footwear.

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

Ridge Wood work morning - Sunday 11 March

Meet at 10.00 am at the Melrose Close entrance to woods (see map here)

Jobs to suit all abilities, gloves and tools provided
Finish at 12:00 noon approx.

Find out more from the Ridge Wood website

Lilliput Park - March work mornings

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

The March work mornings will be on Tue 6th and Sat 24th. 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.

You can check out the Lilliput Conservation Group on Facebook for more information.

Report from Wapley tree planting 18/02/2018

We had an excellent planting morning at Wapley Bushes yesterday. The weather and the ground conditions were kind to us, and we put in 34 trees - a mixture of common oak, black poplar, whitebeam, smalled-leaved lime and wild service tree (rowan/mountain ash)

Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve Workday - Sunday 18 February

We shall be doing a mixture of tree planting on the reserve plus pruning of the local variety fruit trees. Please wear stout footwear, bring gloves and a pair of secateurs if you have them.

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

Lilliput Park - February work mornings

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

The February work mornings will be on Tue 6th and Sat 24th. 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.

You can check out the Lilliput Conservation Group on Facebook for more information.

Primrose Bank Workday, Chipping Sodbury - 3 February

This workday is to clear brambles to help spring flowers has been organised by the Southwold Group of Avon Wildlife Trust on behalf of the Frome Forum. Please wear outdoor clothing, gloves and stout footwear.

Meet at 10am on the east side of Wickwar Road, Chipping Sodbury near the zebra crossing by the entrance to the Frome Valley Walkway.