Seeds and Satnav - Good session on 14 November despite the weather

Despite threatening rain, five of us tackled some important tasks on 14 November. You may remember that we gathered hay rattle (yellow rattle) seeds heads back in July. We dried them off, and one of us spend a couple of hours separating out the seeds. We harvested the equivalent of a hundred plus commercial seed packets - here are just some of the seeds:

We are experimenting with planting the hay rattle in patches of the invasive meadowsweet. Hay rattle is a semi-parasite - it can tap into other plants' root systems, and we are hoping that this may give us a natural means of controlling the meadowsweet. Nobody else has tried this combination, as far as we are aware. Time will tell!

Of course, next year we will need to find the particular patches we have "treated" - so we have brought in a bit of technology. We took GPS ("Satnav") readings for each of the patches:

We also noticed some "fairy rings" of large mushrooms in the meadows:


In the meantime, our other work party was busy doing litter picking - an "autumn spring clean", perhaps?

Lilliput Park work morning - Tuesday 1 December

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.

Wapley Bushes work morning - Saturday 14 November

This workday will be a morning of general maintenance work 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 (opposite the road entrance to Cherington), south Yate, BS37 8US, 10.00am.

Replacement Kingsgate Park Nature Reserve Ponds Workday - Saturday 31 October

Regrettably, last weekend's Kingsgate Park workday had to be cancelled due to the inclement weather situation which cannot be helped.

In its place, we are turning up instead on Saturday 31 October at 10am at the Scott Way entrance.

We shall be undertaking maintenance of this important amphibian site including cutting back vegetation. Please wear gloves and wellies.

Please feel free to bring along litter picking and cutting back equipment such as saws, secateurs, shears, loppers, etc. plus the odd spade or two.

Lilliput Park work morning - Tuesday 3 November

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. Please wear suitable footwear and bring gloves if you have them.

Early Bird Walk at Severn Beach - Tuesday 27 October

Up with the lark! Look out for migrating birds and listen for autumn birdsong with naturalist, braodcaster and wildlife detective Ed Drewitt. A short early morning walk along Severn Beach. Wear sturdy boots, and bring waterproofs if wet. No dogs except guide dogs please! (organised by South Glos Council as part of the annual autumn Discover Festival)

Time: 7.00 am - 8.30 am.

Meet at the entrance to Severn Beach railway Station. the walk will then go along the Severn Way. Please book your ticket through the Eventbrite website at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/early-bird-walk-tickets-17794721491

Star gazing live! Monday 19 October, 7pm at Abbotswood, yate

This is a FREE opportunity to learn more about the sky at night. Callum Potter will be our guide and there will be an indoor presentation followed by an outdoor observing session if the weather is good. Please wear warm clothes and stout footwear and please bring a torch.

Location: St Nicholas Family Centre, Chargrove, Abbotswood, Yate, BS37 4LG

Kingsgate Park Nature Reserve Ponds Workday - Saturday 24 October

We shall be undertaking maintenance of this important amphibian site including cutting back vegetation. Please wear gloves and wellies.

Meet at the Scott Way entrance to Kingsgate Park, Scott Way, Yate BS37 4NW at 10.00 am.

Successful Fungus Foray!

Around 17 people attended a fascinating Fungus Foray today with Dr Lee Hayward of the Cotswold Fungus Group. Lee told us many stories and facts about fungi, including how the different types reproduce and their importance for us as a species. Enjoy the slideshow!

Kingsgate Park Nature Reserve Ponds Workday - Saturday 24 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.

Fungus Foray - Friday 9 October 10.00 am

Come and join our exploration of local fungi with expert Lee Hayward of the Cotswold Fungus Group - meet at the Shire Way gate at 10.00 am. There are many kinds of fungi about at the moment - let's see how many we can find!

This event is completely free and it has been organised in cooperation with South Glos. Council. Please wear stout footwear.

Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland (opposite the road entrance to Cherington), south Yate, BS37 8US, 10am.

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.