A good tidy-up on11 May

Eight volunteers had a busy morning at Wapley. In the middle of the Orchard we cleared the persistent prickly bushes and the patch of stinging nettles under the interpretation board. We cut back some overgrowth on woodland paths and started repairing one of the name signs on the bug hotels.

We've also had an important visitor, the assessor for the Green Flag Community Award. We look forward to their comments - assessors often suggest improvements we haven't thought of. 

As you can see, the apple blossom is looking good in the Orchard For The Future.

Would you like to help us at Wapley Bushes and elsewhere? Please email paul.hulbert@gmail.com to find out more, or check out our website at https://wapleybushes.info

We've also got our AGM and committee meeting coming up on Wednesday 21 May - evetyone welcome. Please email Paul if you would like meeting details or papers.

Wapley Bushes Work Morning - Sunday 11 May

 

This workday will be a combination of a spring clean of the reserve and assorted vegetation management. Please wear stout footwear, and bring your own gloves if you can. Everyone is welcome, but young people under the age of 16 need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

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

 

Wapley hazel dormouse survey under way

 

You may see some of these tubes in trees and hedges around the Wapley property for the next few weeks. They are dormouse nesting tubes - a professional ecologist is carrying out a survey to see whether hazel dormice have moved into our area (previous surveys have had negative results)

The population of hazel dormice in the UK has dropped by 75% in less than 30 years. The species is currently classed as vulnerable, but there are thoughts that the status might be upgraded to endangered - see this BBC article

We'll let you know the outcome of the survey.

Excellent results from Bird Walk 13 April 2025

On a nice clear morning our local bird expert Alan Daniells led seven of us on a bird walk through Wapley Common, the woods and the meadows. Many of the group were also experienced bird spotters, and in total we identified 23 species.

We spotted double-figure numbers each of Chiffchaff, Blackcap, and Wren.

There was a wide range of other species too: Mallard, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, and Robin.

A date for your diaries - there will be a Summer Bird Walk on Saturday 28 June starting at the Shire Way gate BS37 8US at 10.00 AM. Please wear suitable footwear.

Sunday 13 April – Spring Bird Walk at Wapley Bushes

Come and join us on a guided Bird Walk led by local expert Alan Daniells. Explore the Nature Reserve and see what sights and sounds our local birdlife has to offer!

Meet at the Shire Way gate BS37 8US at 10.00 AM. Please wear suitable footwear.

Report from Goose Green Nature Reserve work morning Saturday 5 April

 

 

On a lovely sunny day seven volunteers gave the Nature Reserve a good tidy-up, cutting back brambles etc that were trying to invade the grassland. We did litter-picked the whole area, including the woodland parts.

We were  pleased to see that there was less general rubbish than previously, probably due to visits by the Upper Frome Friends - thank you!

We dod find two fly-tipping locations, one next to the railway fence and one in part of the woodland. We have reported these to South Gloucestershire Council Streetcare to deal with.

Goose Green Nature Reserve work morning Saturday 5 April

 

This local riverside grassland and wetland nature reserve is another area we help to look after. We shall be undertaking maintenance tasks like cutting back to keep paths clear and litter picking. 

Please wear suitable footwear and meet at the southern end of Ash Close, off Greenways Road, north Yate, BS37 5TP at 10.00am. Tools will be provided or you can bring your own.

Good Wapley Bushes work morning on 15 March

Seven volunteers planted a total of 21 trees at Wapley Bushes on Saturday 15 March, as replacements for trees lost to Ash Dieback Disease. 

As always, our new trees are native British species - 10 English Oaks, 4 Small-leaved Limes, 4 Field Maples and 3 Whitebeams.

We concentrated on filling gaps where mature trees had been removed and on replacing some young trees that had failed since planting - that's a requirement of the Forestry Commission felling licence.

Have you seen the new Wapley Bushes notice boards?

Have you seen Wapley Bushes Conservation Group's new notice boards at the Shire Way and Besom Lane gates? They replace the old much smaller notice boards, whch have been in place for more than 30 years.

At the moment they hold our most recent award certificates and details of upcoming events. What other information would you like to see there? Your suggestions would be welcome.

 

Wapley Bushes work morning 15 March - please come and join us!

 

For our Wapley Bushes tree planting work mornings this winter, we are planting a range of broadleaf species to replace some of the tall trees that were cut down due to ash dieback disease, As usual there will also be a variety of lighter tasks, so something for everyone.

Meet at 10 am at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, south Yate, BS37 8US. Please wear stout footwear and bring gloves if you have them. If not, we’ll provide gloves that you can keep until the next workday – as a COVID precaution we’re not sharing gloves.

Please come and join us even if you haven’t been before. You can bring your own tools – for example a spade if you’ve got one – or if not, tools will be provided. Everyone is welcome, though children under 16 will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Report from Wapley Bushes work morning 16 February

 

We planted 17 trees on our February work morning to replace trees lost due to ash dieback disease. The species were English oak, small-leaved lime, black alder, field maple and whitebeam. We also did some cutting back of the accesses to the woodland.

Wapley Bushes work morning this Sunday - 16 February

On our Wapley Bushes tree planting work morning this Sunday we will be planting a range of broadleaf species to replace some of the tall trees that were cut down due to ash dieback disease,

Please come and join us! As usual there will also be a variety of lighter tasks, so that there's something for everyone.

Meet at 10 am at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, south Yate, BS37 8US. Please wear stout footwear and bring gloves if you have them. If not, we’ll provide gloves that you can keep until the next workday – as a COVID precaution we don't share gloves.

Please come and join us even if you haven’t been before. You can bring your own tools - for example a spade if you've got one - or if not, tools will be provided. Everyone is welcome, though children under 16 will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.