Kennedy Pond & River Frome Workday Saturday 6 May

We shall be carrying out a general spring clean by the River Frome and at the Kennedy 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).

Wildlife in your garden and nearby - new group for Shire Way and area

If you live off Shire Way or Rodford Way, you could be interested in a new group aimed at encouraging wildlife in gardens and nearby.

Local residents Clare and Mat Woodman said "The group will be launched to give people the chance to share ideas, tips and suggestions in helping to make the area more wildlife friendly and a wonderful place to live.  From backdoor wildernesses to public open spaces we all can play a part in helping to protect and nurture our outdoor areas.  In our busy lifestyles we sometimes lose contact with nature and our projects will be a chance to step back and enjoy the basics again"

"Gaining volunteers to help put up bird feeders and nest boxes along Shire Way will be one of our many initiatives. We're going to have the first meeting of the Shire Way Conservation Group on Tuesday 9th May 2017 at 7.00pm at Shire Way Community Centre - everyone will be welcome"

"The area already plays host to a variety of birds and animals including green woodpecker, tawny owl and goldfinch.  Part of our work will be to ensure the continuing protection of these species plus the additional support needed for the declining number of bees and hedgehogs affecting us nationwide"

"In collaboration with local councils we will be actively looking to develop roadside 'micro meadows' as well as working towards projects in other areas."

Dodington Parish Councillor Paul Hulbert, who is supporting the project, said "I've always concentrated on larger scale projects like Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve, but I'm keen to find out more about these important small scale initiatives closer to home"

"As well as our gardens we have a lot of green spaces in our part of the town, perfect for wildlife. This very local initiative could also be a way for families to get even small children interested in the natural world on their doorsteps"

"This will very much be an ongoing community based project, aiming to reach out to local schools, organisations and existing conservation groups to develop awareness and support. We're hoping to get local experts to come and speak to the group"

For further details please contact either Clare or Mat Woodman by phoning 07907 733056, by emailing clare_woodman@yahoo.co.uk or by checking out Shire Way Conservation Group on Facebook.

Yate Common work morning Sunday 30 April

Friends of Yate Common work morning meeting 10.00 am - everyone welcome! For more information about the group and event please check out the FOYC Facebook Group.

Friends of Ridge Wood Woodland Work Morning - Sunday 23rd April

Work Morning, 10:00am to 12 noon
Work days are a fantastic way to make a contribution to the future of this important local nature reserve, and they are great fun. Suitable for all abilities.
new volunteers always welcome, just turn up.
Meet at Melrose Close entrance to woods. (see map here)
Gloves & tools provided

Goose Green Workday Saturday 22 April

As part of our commitment to this local grassland and wetland nature reserve, we shall be undertaking reserve maintenance such as path clearance and a general reserve tidy up. 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.

Do some spring cleaning this weekend!

There are two local events this Saturday (8th April) where you can make a real difference to your local area.

Dodington Parish Council Spring Clean will start from the Changing Room at QE2 Playing Fields Kelston Close at 10am, and spread out around the Shire Way / Rodford Way area. Litter pickers, black bags and gloves will be provided. Everyone is welcome, though children must be accompanied by an adult.

If you’ve still got some energy afterwards, why not join in the Abbotswood Spring Clean and Planting just across the road? Starting at 11am in front of Abbotswood shops – just come along and choose something you would like to help with. As well as litter picking there will be planting, painting and lotes more to keep you busy.

Lilliput Park work mornings Tue 2 May, Sat 13 May

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



We've recently been planting up the rockery (see above) and putting shrubs along the wall in the Quiet Corner, but there's lots ,ore to do now that everything has started growing so quickly - especiall the weeds!

Our next work mornings are Tuesday 2 May and saturday 13 May. 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.

Wapley Bushes celebrates award by planting for the future

Some of the Conservation Group members with their
award certificate and the new trees ready for planting

Wapley Bushes Conservation Group has celebrated being awarded the South Gloucestershire Council Chair's Community Award by taking the first steps in a 20 year strategy to ensure the future of this well-loved nature reserve just off Shire Way, Yate.

We are very proud to receive this award - it's the first time the Community Award has been given to groups rather than individuals. We've been looking after Wapley Bushes for 24 years on behalf of owners Dodington Parish Council, but now it's time to look further into the future.

The major threat to the Nature Reserve is ash dieback disease, which is now within a dozen miles of Yate. Eventually, but fortunately very slowly, we will lose most of the tallest trees that form the canopy of this ancient woodland. We have started a long-term programme of replacement planting with different tall native species - oak, whitebeam, black poplar and small-leaved lime.

We planted our first batch of 30 trees last weekend (25 March), with the help of South Gloucestershire's new Member Awarded Funding scheme. We are aiming to plant another 90 trees next winter, gradually working our way through the woodland. By the time we start seeing major effects from ash dieback, the new trees should be at least semi-mature and the reserve will be able to carry on supporting a wide range of species.

19 volunteers came along to Saturday's work morning, meaning that as well as the planting we were able to carry out a comprehensive spring clean. We were glad to see that there wasn't too much litter around, but even so we came away with three black sacks full.

As well as the Chair's Community Award, Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve has been a regular South West in Bloom and Green Flag Community Award winner. The Conservation Group runs a range of work mornings, walks and activities - for further information please contact Paul Hulbert on 01454 315851 or paul.hulbert@gmail.com.

Wapley Bushes - Clearing and nesting

If you've walked round Wapley Bushes in the last few days, you will have noticed that some large bramble patches have been cut down at the top end of the wood. These clearings are ready for the tree planting and clean-up day this weekend (25 March, meeting 10 am at the Shire Way entrance)

On Thursday 23rd you will start to see dormouse nesting tubes on branches in the wood - an ecological consultancy has been given permission to carry out a dormouse survey.

Lilliput Park work mornings Sat 1 April, Tue 4 April

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

Our next work mornings are Saturday 1 April and Tuesday 4 April. We will be planting up the rockery and planting shrubs along the wall in the Quiet Corner - there will be lots to do!

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.

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

Tree Planting and Spring Clean at Wapley Local Nature Reserve Workday Sat 25 March

We shall be planting 30 young woodland trees and carring out a spring clean, that will help to enhance the biodiversity of this precious nature reserve. Please wear stout footwear.
Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, south Yate, BS37 8US, 10.00am.

Quiz Night Live - Avon Wildlife Trust - Friday 17 March

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, BS37 6AH, 7.30pm.

Friends of Ridge Wood Woodland Work Morning - Sunday 19 March

Work Morning, 10:00am to 12 noon
Work days are a fantastic way to make a contribution to the future of this important local nature reserve, and they are great fun. Suitable for all abilities.
new volunteers always welcome, just turn up.
Meet at Melrose Close entrance to woods. (see map here)
Gloves & tools provided

Lilliput Park work mornings Tue 7 March, Sat 1 April

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

Our next work mornings are Tuesday 7 March and Saturday 1 April.

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.

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

Yate Common work morning Thursday 2 March

Friends of Yate Common work morning meeting 10.00 am at the wetland area in the middle of the Common, Thursday 2 March. The aim is to remove bramble and rubbish from the trees above the wetland area. Everyone welcome! For more information about the group please check out the FOYC Facebook Group.

Join in your local litter pick!

Dodington Parish Council is arranging three litter picks this spring, one in each ward, to coordinate with some other local events:

• Saturday 25th February 2017 10am - 12 noon
  Litter Pick: Meet at Parish Hall, Finch Road
  Or join in the conservation work at Lilliput Park from 10am - meet at Kingfisher Road gate

• Saturday 25th March 2017 10am - 12 noon
  Litter Pick and conservation morning at Wapley Bushes
  Meet at Shire Way entrance to Nature Reserve

• Saturday 8th April 2017 10am - 12 noon
  Litter Pick: Meet at Kelston Close, Front of Changing Rooms
  Or join in the Abbotswood Action Group Spring Clean and planting 

All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Litter pickers, black sacks, disposable gloves will be provided.
Please join us and do your bit this spring.

Lilliput Park work mornings Sat 25 Feb, Tue 7 March

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

Our next work mornings are Saturday 25 February and Tuesday 7 March.

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.

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

Report from work morning 19 February

There were only five of us yesterday, but we achieved quite a bit. We cut two nice new butterfly bays on the Ride, pruned half the apple trees, litter-picked the picnic area and surroundings and rebuilt a short length of dead-hedging that needed attention. Next work morning will be Saturday 25 March, but please don't forget our AGM tomorrow (Tue 21 Feb)

Wapley Bushes work morning - Sunday 19 February

On this work morning we will be doing winter fruit tree pruning, creating butterfly bays on the sides of the Ride between the woodlands, and clearing up. 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.

Lilliput Park work morning, Tuesday 7th February

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

Our next work mornings are Saturday 21 January and Tuesday 7 February. At the moment we are preparing areas in the Quiet Corner for planting in the Spring.

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.

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