Your questions answered on how you can help wildlife this autumn
MEET OUR GROW WILDER
LAND PARTNERS
The fascinating people who share the site with us
BATHAMPTON MEADOW
The story of a young nature reserve
Welcome to your autumn edition of Wild Avon
I hope you can grab some quiet time to leaf through, enjoy and feel proud of the work that you’re such an important part of.
Our last magazine celebrated Team Wilder with a special focus on people and community groups who are improving their patch for the benefit of nature. Our ambition is to see at least 1 in 4 people taking positive action so we reach a vital tipping point where it’s part of everyday life.
I’d like to start with a big thank you to everyone who shared one of their ‘actions for nature’. The response was inspiring and boosted the Team Wilder map with ideas shared from right across the region.
We’ve taken your actions on the road to inspire others including at this summer’s Festival of Nature, where even more people contributed their actions to the map avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/team-wilder
Sadly, this summer has also seen climate change continue to devastate wildlife and wild places. Our thoughts are with those profoundly impacted by forest fires and floods.
The question of how to support nature’s recovery is urgent and at times feels overwhelming. I draw comfort from the positive change which surrounds us and is illustrated in these pages.
We are seeing a revolution in wildlife-friendly planting. In the heart of the city, organisations are setting aside their planters for nourishing wildflowers and people are planting up their pavements to help create those muchneeded connections with our traditional green spaces.
Increasingly, we’re seeing our surroundings as the habitats that they are, or could be. We’re learning to see ‘messy’ as beautifully diverse and life-supporting. Our appreciation of untamed spaces is growing and this is what reaching that tipping point is all about.
Whatever action you’re taking – whether it’s changing your behaviour, sharing something you’ve learned, standing up for local wildlife, or joining other Wildlife Trust members to drive improvements at a whole landscape scale, thank you.
Ian Barrett Chief Executive of Avon Wildlife TrustFollow me on Twitter @IanBarrettSW
Wild Avon is the membership magazine for Avon Wildlife Trust, your local wildlife charity, working to secure a strong future for the natural environment and to inspire people to care for it. With the support of around 18,000 members and over 600 volunteers, the Trust cares for over 30 nature reserves, runs educational and community programmes, advises landowners and campaigns on issues that threaten wildlife habitats.
Trust Office
17 Great George Street, Bristol BS1 5QT
Telephone 0117 917 7270
Email mail@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
Website avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
Folly Farm (registered company address)
Stowey, Pensford, Bristol BS39 4DW
Telephone 01275 331590
Email info@follyfarm.org
Website follyfarm.org
Grow Wilder (formerly Feed Bristol)
181 Frenchay Park Road, Bristol BS16 1HB
Telephone 0117 965 7086
Email growwilder@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
Website avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/growwilder
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You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter online through our website to hear about our latest news and events.
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Registered
The Wild Avon Team
Editor: George Cook
George.cook@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
Designer: Kevin Lester
UK editor: Tom Hibbert
UK designer: Ben Cook
Cover
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Help us to bring wildlife back across 30% of land and sea by 2030 by increasing your membership donation today, so that we can all benefit from nature on our doorstep: avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/ increasedonation
Become a part of our growing community of local people who take action for nature as part of their everyday lives: avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/team-wilder
Campaign We need your voice to raise awareness for urgent local issues such as fighting the ecological emergency, reversing insect decline and creating a connected network of habitats for wildlife: avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/campaign
Fundraise Set yourself a challenge or organise an event to fundraise with family and friends to help wildlife in our region: avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/ fundraise
Help to secure 30% of land for wildlife by 2030 by contributing land or the money to make a purchase: avonwildlifetrust.org. uk/gift-land
Celebrate your love for local wildlife by giving a gift that could last for generations. A gift in your will, no matter how big or small, can make a real difference: avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/giftinwill
Beech woodland is well worth a visit in autumn with its vibrantly coloured leaves, soft, muted sounds and the smell of damp earth.
The run up to leaf-fall gives one of those most spectacular of autumn spectacles, trees and woodlands turning from their usual various shades of green to reds, oranges, yellows and rusty browns.
Deciduous trees drop their leaves in autumn to conserve energy. The evolutionary advantage is that being leafless reduces the “sail” effect (the amount that the tree catches the wind), and so the chance of them being blown over during strong winter storms is reduced.
The leaves carpeting the floor are a joy to wade through and provide vital food and shelter for insects and bedding for mammals such as the hazel dormouse. Fallen leaves serve to enrich the ground around the trees, nourishing the trees they came from and also feeding other plants and fungi.
SEE THEM THIS AUTUMN
Lower Woods Jointly managed by Avon and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trusts, Lower Woods is the largest ancient woodland in the south west!
Goblin Combe A woodland with a high proportion of beech trees in some areas, with exceptional autumnal colour and views reaching over Avon to the sea.
Browne’s Folly A reserve hit particularly hard by ash dieback disease. Ongoing safety works haven’t taken away from the site’s natural beauty.
Newts are charismatic creatures that tend to swim under the radar. They are adept hunters in water and on land and have special adaptations to survive in both habitats.
The UK hosts three species of these amazing amphibians: smooth, palmate and great crested newts. They hibernate over winter in underground burrows, crevices, under logs, rocks and leaf litter, or in muddy sediment at the bottom of ponds. When they emerge in spring, they can travel hundreds of metres looking for a mate and a pond where they can reproduce.
Their eggs will hatch into larvae (similar to a tadpole) then undergo metamorphosis before emerging from the water in summer where they will spend much of their time foraging for any unsuspecting beetles, worms or slugs!
As the season turns, the thriving, lush green vegetation of the saltmarsh slowly dulls to more subdued hues of golden brown and orange. The estuarine mud provides ample forage of insects, worms, bivalves and mud snails for dunlin, shelduck and redshank. Snipe can also be spotted beaking around in the mud for delicious insect larvae whilst the saltmarsh flora provides nutritious seed for finches and skylarks to keep them going through the leaner months.
Walborough is a destination for birdwatching and learning about coastal plants. Enjoy stunning views of Brean Down and the Severn estuary from the top of the hill and enjoy walks through diverse grassland.
Clevedon Pill is a beautiful area of saltmarsh where the Blind Yeo and Land Yeo meet. It supports a variety of wetland bird species. In autumn you can spot linnets, curlews, lapwing and turnstone, to name just a few!
Create and manage a pond: Ponds serve as habitat, breeding and feeding ground for newts. After the leaves have fallen in autumn, remove the dead organic matter from your pond. This limits decomposition, maintains oxygen levels and keeps the pond clear. Try not to disturb the sediment too much and pile up the leaves next to the pond so any critters have the chance to crawl back in. Find pond resources on the Team Wilder website.
Leave areas undisturbed:
As semiaquatic organisms, newts spend a lot of their time outside the pond. Leaving damp woody piles, uncut grassy areas, leaf litter and rocks provides cover for hibernation and feeding grounds for your local newts.
Create nature highways:
Newts need to travel around to find breeding sites and food, so ensure there’s a hole in your fence to allow newts, frogs, hedgehogs etc. to move from garden to garden.
Autumn is the time of the deer rut where male stags assert their dominance. Look out for a clash of antlers!
After suffering huge declines from persecution and pesticide poisoning, buzzards are now doing well and have become the most common bird of prey in the UK. Wherever you are in the country you are likely to be able to enjoy these large raptors soaring overhead!
What to look for
Buzzards are large birds of prey with wide, rounded wings which they use to glide and soar on thermals, allowing them to fly without spending much energy.
The overall colour of their feathers can vary a lot between individuals from dark browns to much paler shades. When they soar above you, try to spot pale patches on the underside of each wing.
Listen out for buzzards’ distinctive call, which is likened to a cat mewing, as they soar over fields and farmland.
Diet
Their diet is as varied as their plumage. They are opportunistic hunters who will feed on carrion, small birds and small mammals. They’ll even eat earthworms and large insects if they need to.
Hovering?
A hovering bird of prey is usually a kestrel. They will fly into the wind at the same speed allowing them to hover in the air looking for prey below. Buzzards usually look for their prey whilst they soar over fields, but sometimes they will hover like a kestrel, although they make it look more like hard work.
Just leaf it be! Avoid sweeping all the fallen leaves which provide shelter for overwintering insects, or pile them up in the corner for hibernating hedgehogs.
Folly Farm: You can regularly see these raptors soaring over Folly Farm with the picturesque views of Chew Valley Lake in the background.
Clapton Moor: Set in the beautiful Gordano Valley, Clapton Moor is a great place to look for buzzards. Its watery rhynes and ditches are also great habitat for other species of wading birds and winter waterfowl.
Did you know?
After centuries of persecution, landmark legislation through the Protection of Birds Act was passed in 1954 designating buzzards a protected species. Now, almost 70 years later, buzzard populations have quadrupled, showing that nature can recover!
We would like to dedicate this ‘Species Spotlight’ on buzzards to the late Robin Prytherch.
Robin was an influential local ornithologist and talented bird artist who studied buzzards in the Gordano Valley for over 40 years.
His talks and publications contributed to our understanding of British birds; and his generosity to Avon Wildlife Trust will help provide habitats for birds to soar over for years to come.
More ducks, geese and swans arrive in the UK for the winter months. Head to your nearest lake to hear a splendid chorus of honks and quacks.
Plant some early spring bulbs such as crocus and snake’s head fritillary to help our pollinators!
NOT JUST FOR KIDS
Leaves of all shapes, colours and sizes cover the floor like a blanket at this time of year. If you want to preserve some of these autumn leaves, you could make leaf bunting! You can do this by collecting your favourite leaves and tying them together with string. This way you can have your favourite leaves hanging up all year round. Make sure you keep some leaves on the ground or pile them up for insects and hibernating mammals!
Want to eat your own mushrooms, but scared of not knowing which ones are safe? You can join a local foraging event with an expert who can guide you through the safest and tastiest mushrooms to pick. You can wow your friends and family by having them over for breakfast, cooking them your very own hand-picked mushrooms! Never eat any foraged food without multiple positive identifications.
Got leftover pumpkin masterpieces that you’ve carved for Halloween? There are so many things that you can do with them rather than just throwing them away. You could make a delicious pumpkin soup, or maybe a relaxing pumpkin face mask! It’s best not to throw whole pumpkins out into the woods, as animals like hedgehogs become poorly if they eat them. Making a pumpkin bird feeder is great fun though, and some animal shelters and zoos will also take leftover pumpkins as tasty snacks for their residents!
The chestnut tree is a symbol of the autumn season, and in late autumn ripe chestnuts will begin to fall to the ground. Sweet chestnuts are delicious eaten warm, and you can cook them in the oven, in a frying pan or even on an open fire if you’re feeling particularly festive! Be careful to check that you have the right kind of chestnut as ‘horse chestnuts’ are poisonous and can cause stomach upset. There are lots of great websites and resources to help you tell the difference between the two.
As the weather starts to get colder, birds need all the calories they can get to build up fat reserves to get them through the winter. You can help them out by making fat balls. These can be made out of kitchen scraps including cake crumbs, porridge oats, raisins and bits of cheese mixed together with lard and suet and set overnight in the fridge.
Esther and Eric, our two expert ecologists, answer some of your most asked questions!
We’re lucky that so many supporters are also talented photographers! It’s been such a joy to see what wonderful wildlife you’ve been able to capture and how nature has caught your eye. Sharing photos like this is a great way to take action for nature and be part of Team Wilder, as it’s a sure-fire way to inspire others:
“What wildlife-friendly plants would be suitable in different areas of my garden?”
The garden environment determines which plants are suitable. For example, some plants grow well in the sun (knapweed, oxeye daisies, self heal) whilst others can tolerate partial shade (red campion, fox gloves, wild carrot).
Different suppliers, such as Grow Wilder, Emorsgate Seeds and Habitat Aid, offer seed mixes for different environments.
“How can I ensure a pond won’t be a safety hazard for children?”
Ponds are great for wildlife and they don’t have to be deep - 50cm at most. Natural barriers can be created around the pond, such as dead hedging where you pile up cuttings to make a hedge.
The dead hedge will provide shelter for wildlife, such as hedgehogs and birds, at the same time as keeping children safe. You can find out more about dead hedging on the Team Wilder website!
“How can I make new habitats for wildlife that are also engaging for children?”
Get the children involved in the creation of habitats such as bug hotels, log piles and mini meadows. Educational signs can also help children to understand why the habitat is there and how it benefits wildlife. Cut winding paths through your wild meadows for children to run through.
“What can I do for wildlife over the autumn and winter?”
Leaving areas of your garden wild can be great for wildlife. Leaving leaves in piles at the edge of your garden can provide food and shelter for overwintering insects and hibernating creatures like hedgehogs.
Visit our website for more actions you can take to help wildlife this autumn: avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/actions
Herriott’s Pool Nature Reserve is managed by Avon Wildlife Trust in partnership with Bristol Water and forms the southernmost part of Chew Valley Lake, home to over 260 species of bird which have been recorded over the whole site.
Chew Valley Lake is a perfect spot for an autumnal walk, giving you the opportunity to watch activity on the lake at its busiest time of year. During the autumn months, the lake has its greatest diversity of birdlife with many migrating species stopping off on their journey south.
Chew Valley Lake was created between 1952 and 1956 to supply Bristol with drinking water and is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Protection Area (SPA). It has a large expanse of open water but also one of the largest reedbeds in south west England, as well as wet woodland and grassland.
Herriot’s Pool is fed from the River Chew, which means that, unlike the rest of the lake, it maintains a consistent water level year round. The pool has 11 islands, as well as lagoons and bays which have been created to provide areas for birds to safely roost, nest and shelter. Avon Wildlife Trust volunteers have regularly cut reed in this area to increase the structural diversity of the reed bed and to maintain areas of open water.
Chew Valley Lake is an internationally important staging post for migratory birds, especially waders, terns, warblers, swallows and martins. The reedbeds and willow scrub are a critical autumn feeding ground for reed, sedge, and Cetti’s warblers and the lake is one of the most important inland waters in Britain for wintering wildfowl. Chew Valley Lake supports nationally important populations of shoveler and gadwall, as well as teal, tufted duck and coot. Other overwintering species include goldeneye, wigeon, snipe, lapwing and redshank. In some years up to 400 great crested grebe gather on
the lake in autumn as well as little grebe, mallard, pochard and shelduck. The lake also supports large numbers of roosting black-headed gull, common gull and lesser black-backed gull. Bitterns are a winter visitor and osprey regularly stay into the autumn months.
Over 30 species of mammals have also been recorded including lesser horseshoe, brown long-eared, noctule and soprano
pipistrelle bats which forage around the lake. Harvest mice have been known to occur on site and otters are now common. Amphibians and reptiles also call the lake their home, with a large population of common toad and grass snake.
There is parking and a great view of Herriott’s Pool nature reserve from Herriott’s Bridge on the A368. There are two further car parks run by Bristol Water at the north end of the lake.
There is a natural population of common eel that has been supplemented with introductions as well as a variety of coarse fish which create rich fishing grounds for bird life.
Great white egret – Much larger than the little egret and with a large yellow beak, this bird was once a rare visitor to the UK but sightings have increased over the past couple of decades.
Northern shoveler – Numbers peak in autumn as they stop off on the way back to their wintering areas in France and Spain.
Great crested grebe – Large numbers gather in the autumn to moult from their breeding plumage to their winter plumage.
Osprey – These majestic birds are regular visitors to the lake. Autumn is a good time to see them as they stop off to fuel up on their journey back to Africa.
The village of Moreton was flooded to create Chew Valley Lake. During dry years remains of the village, including an old bridge, can still be seen as the water level drops. Before construction work took place for the lake, the site was excavated by a team of archaeologists who found Roman, Bronze Age and Iron Age artefacts. Stratford Mill survived the flood, having been demolished and then rebuilt at Blaise Castle in Bristol where it can still be seen. Another flooded mill was Herriot’s Mill, where Herriot’s Pool and Bridge take their name from.
As well as being a haven for nature, the lake is a recreational resource and hosts both a sailing club and a fishery.
Otter – Get up early and try to catch a glimpse of one of these elusive creatures fishing in the lake.
Walk the Grebe or Bittern trails from the Bristol Water car parks.
Walk up North Hill at nearby Folly Farm nature reserve for a panoramic view of the lake – Please note, no dogs allowed.
Access a bird hide from the Bittern nature trail, which starts from picnic area two. Permit holders can access a further five hides around Chew Valley Lake; membership of an ornithological group is required.
Thanksto your continued support we can care for this nationally and internationally important wetland habitat and all the wildlife that calls it home.
Out in the western Mendips, Purn Hill is a nature reserve that boasts absolutely glorious views out across the Somerset levels and the peaks of Uphill and Brean Down. Like most of the Mendips, Purn Hill is made of limestone which is mostly covered in grassland with high floral diversity. This Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is home to some nationally rare plant species such as honewort and Somerset hair-grass. One plant, white rock rose, is only found on two other sites in the whole of the UK!
To mark the coronation, the title of King Charles’ National Nature Reserves (NNR) will be awarded to the nation’s most important places for nature. Avon Wildlife Trust, Natural England and other partners are bringing together important nature sites and the resulting Mendip NNR will be formally declared this autumn. It’s the perfect time to visit our reserve at Purn Hill.
The Northern Slopes, between Knowle and Bedminster, is made of three green spaces: The Novers, Glyn Vale, and Wedmore Vale, also known as the Bommie. As well as having some incredible views out over the city of Bristol, the slopes also have a mixture of different habitats including meadows, hedgerows, streams and wooded areas home to many different birds, slow worms, badgers and hedgehogs! The Northern Slopes is one of eight local nature sites involved in the My Wild City project and was one of the sites where Bethan, our Early Years Learning Officer, used to run our children’s playgroup My Wild Child. She said her favourite things to do on the site with the children was to look for freshwater shrimp in the stream, watch the flocks of house sparrows, search for mini-beasts in the woods and in the summer climb the hill behind the woods to enjoy the wildflowers and butterflies in the meadow. The site is maintained by the Northern Slopes Initiative, a group of volunteers who look after the site for people and for wildlife.
For more nature filled days out, visit these woodlands for fantastic autumnal colours!
Lower Woods
Goblin Combe
Browne’s Folly
See page 5 for more details.
Find out more at avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/ nature-reserves
I love spending time in nature. There’s just something special about getting outside, seeing wildlife, feeling like you’re part of something bigger. But we live busy lives, finding time isn’t always easy. When I’m in the studio, or on tour, it’s so easy to forget just how important time in nature is, and how it’s always just beyond the door.
That’s why I’m a huge fan of The Wildlife Trusts’ 30 Days Wild challenge. It’s all about everyday actions. That’s the amazing thing about experiencing nature – it doesn’t have to be something big. Taking a few minutes outside, watching a bird or standing under a tree, can be just as powerful as spending a whole day exploring a forest or walking along a beach. It just gives you a rush of happiness that’s hard to find anywhere else.
In winter, we need that feeling more than ever. But it can sometimes seem harder to find. Days are shorter and darker. The leaves and flowers are mostly gone. Those sunny June memories of 30 Days Wild with bees, birdsong and butterflies seem like a lifetime ago. But remember the message: do one wild thing a day. It’s not always easy, but try to find the time and I promise you that you won’t regret it.
I live in a city, but even there I can head outside and find some mood-boosting wildlife. I can head to the park and see birds flying around the bare trees, or take a walk along the river. Watching the water flow by can give you an incredible sense of peace,
even on the gloomiest winter day. If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, you don’t even have to go that far. We have so much wildlife on our doorstep, just waiting for us to enjoy it.
Earlier this year, I had surgery on my vocal cords. I couldn’t sing, couldn’t even talk for months. Spending time in nature really helped with my recovery. I even came up with the melody for my new single whilst walking around a park. The power that nature has to heal and inspire us is incredible.
There are definitely days when it feels harder. When it’s cold outside and the couch feels too comfy to leave. But make that effort, even if it’s just to step outside for a moment. See if you can hear a robin singing, or even just spot a pigeon. Feel the breeze on your skin, or touch a tree and trace the texture of the bark. Find that little something that reminds you that nature is all around us, that we’re connected to it. Take it in, let it fill your soul, ground you to our amazing world. It’s therapeutic and good for us on so many levels.
Just one little moment a day is all it takes to keep your heart wild, and a wild heart will make winter so much more wonderful.
Find out more about how nature can help our health and wellbeing at wildlifetrusts.org/wellbeing
A WINTER CHALLENGE
If, like James, you’re missing the fun of 30 Days Wild, why not take on our festive version – 12 Days Wild! Can you do one wild thing a day from the 25th December to the 5th January?
Find out more and get inspired at wildlifetrusts.org/ 12dayswild
James Brittain-McVey is a nature lover and musician, best known as the guitarist for The Vamps. He has been an ambassador for The Wildlife Trusts since 2021, inspiring his fans to think about their impact on the natural world. James’s new solo single, Dancing on the Head of a Needle, is out now.
rees are impressive at any time of year. They can live for centuries, the shape of their trunks and branches telling the story of their long lives. Some grow tall, others wide and sprawling, creating natural, living statues.
Winter is a wonderful time to discover the UK’s old and unusual trees, as many have shed their leaves, revealing the unique shapes beneath. Here are six Wildlife Trust nature reserves where the trees have a story to tell.
You can discover even more at wildlifetrusts.org/ancient-trees
1 Glenarm, Ulster Wildlife
One of Europe’s best examples of wooded river valley and parkland, with large numbers of ancient and veteran oak trees. Keep an eye out for signs of mammals including red squirrels, pine martens and badgers.
Where: Glenarm, BT44 0BD
2 The Hollies, Shropshire Wildlife Trust
A spellbinding grove of ancient hollies, perched on the edge of the Stiperstones. Each windswept tree is a unique character. Some are three or four centuries old, wizened and creaking with age.
Where: Snailbeach, SY5 0NS
3 Moseley Bog, Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust
Moseley Bog is a gateway to Middle Earth. The gnarled old trees were a favourite of author JRR Tolkien, who lived nearby. They provided the inspiration for the old forests in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
Where: Birmingham, B13 9JX
4 Hethel Old Thorn, Norfolk Wildlife Trust
The Wildlife Trusts’ smallest nature reserve is just large enough to protect a single, very special tree. Hethel Old Thorn is thought to be one of the oldest hawthorns in England. Legend has it that the tree grew from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea. Where: Wymondham, NR14 8HE
5 Cwm Byddog, Radnorshire Wildlife Trust
One of the top 20 ancient tree sites in Wales, with some trees thought to be up to 800 years old. One mighty oak has a girth of 6.3m, whilst there’s an alder with a 5m girth. With so many old trees, it’s also a great place to see lichens. Where: Powys, HR3 5SL
6 Alderney Community Woodland, Alderney Wildlife Trust
This may not be the oldest woodland on our list, but these trees tell a story. Many of Alderney’s trees were felled by the Nazi’s during WWII, so the Trust has planted over 12,000 trees to bring the woodland back. This history is evident in the Community Woodland, with several bunkers on the reserve. Where: Les Rochers, Alderney
We’d love to know how your search went. Please share your best photos! @wildlifetrusts
Grow Wilder, our 6-acre smallholding in Stapleton, has a mission to get people taking action for nature through wildlife friendly gardening and sustainable food growing. We want to inspire and empower people and demonstrate that you can grow food, make space for wildlife and bring people together into communities in one place.
Over the years, Grow Wilder has changed, developed, rebranded and, of course, grown! However, one thing that has stayed constant is that we have always shared the site with our “land partners.” These are individuals or small enterprises who share the site to run their businesses and help us to manage and use the land productively. For example, Geoff the wood worker will help with coppicing and tool repairs and Sims Hill help keeping paths accessible. All the land partners will have their own objectives but all share our mission of looking after the environment and teaching people how they can live more sustainably. You may have met some of them when visiting Grow Wilder, but we thought we would use this opportunity to introduce and celebrate our wonderful and dedicated land partners.
GEOFF – TREE TO TREEN
Tree to Treen is a green woodworking business based at Grow Wilder. Founder Geoff Hannis has built a gorgeous timberframed workshop, nestled into the very heart of the site. The workshop offers
courses in all sorts of crafts. Geoff runs turning courses (on a foot-powered lathe, called a pole lathe) and other local tutors teach heritage skills such as basketry and spoon carving. Geoff also makes treen* from locally-sourced wood, some of it from other Avon Wildlife Trust sites, to sell at the Grow Wilder craft market on the first Saturday of every month. Grow Wilder is the perfect place to grow as a business as it encourages balance with the natural environment, with conservation, food growing and communities all working together. Tree to Treen wants to promote a similar relationship for land management with regards to sourcing materials. One of the best aspects of being at Grow Wilder is the engagement with the public to discuss these issues with, and also to demonstrate the craft.
*Treen – small household items made of wood (e.g. door knobs, bowls, candlesticks, spoons etc).
treetotreen.com
(more information and course bookings) @geoffhannis (instagram)
ROCKET MAN – ALI
My name is Ali. I am originally from Syria but I now live in the UK with my family. Back in Syria, my family and I had a big land for cultivation. I grew wheat and barley there and my family also had
our own area to grow vegetables. When I moved to the UK, I volunteered at Windmill Hill farm for two years and then with Sims Hill. I started to get business support from ACH (Refugee and migrant support services) and worked with Grow Wilder to get a small patch of land to start my business.
I have started my business Rocket Man, selling a range of seasonal produce to restaurants and businesses around Bristol. I enjoy working as a farmer and being outdoors. I would like to find a bigger plot of land to expand my business. You can follow my business on Facebook or contact me on rocketmanproduce@gmail.com to find what I have available.
JONATHON
Wild Oaks is a sustainable food project with growing sites at Grow Wilder and Dundry Hill. We aim to optimise the strengths of both sites, which offer different climates, soil types and varying on-site facilities. Our food forest/orchard located at Dundry Hill blends elements of traditional agriculture with the principles of permaculture to create a self-sustainable abundant agroecosystem, providing a diverse ecosystem of edible plants, trees and shrubs. Grow Wilder’s site has agricultural soil of the highest quality, enabling us to focus on developing our fruit and vegetable harvests in a more intensive way. Our focus here is mainly to
develop a variety of berry bushes, such as blackcurrants, blueberry and gooseberry, and 16 types of raspberry!
Our project focuses on producing diverse foods, from fruit juices and wine to jams, spicy chutneys and pickles. Our organic pest and disease management techniques promote long-term environmental sustainability and promote biodiversity which ensures our produce is organic and free from unnecessary additives or chemicals. We are grateful to be a part Grow Wilder, which is developing an environmentally-aware, socially responsible community with sustainability and resilience at its heart.
Christopher Roe, a fully qualified medical herbalist, runs the Subtle apothecary, a herbal clinic supplied almost entirely from herbs harvested from the local area or grown at Grow Wilder. He treats people for all manner of ailments from his clinic in Eastville. He also runs educational workshops on designing and creating herbal remedies and foraging for food and medicine.
The Subtle apothecary is based on the premise that nature, conservation and biodiversity are to be lived and worked and used for sustenance and livelihood rather than something to be simply observed in
leisure time.
SIMS HILL
Sims Hill Shared Harvest is a social enterprise that is growing food to feed the people of Bristol just a few miles out of the city centre. We are a community supported agriculture scheme which means we are a partnership between growers and our consumers. Sims Hill is also a cooperative, meaning we are owned and run by our members.
At Grow Wilder, we use natural, sustainable, organic, wildlife-friendly growing methods and permaculture
principles to produce high quality vegetables whilst supporting social action through land-based projects. We produce seasonal veg that is sent out every week where people can receive at least six different vegetables including staples, root vegetables and salads or greens (or both!).
If you want to join us as a member or as a volunteer to help us grow our veg on site, please visit our website for more information: simshill.co.uk
Your support as Avon Wildlife Trust members helps Grow Wilder demonstrate how land can be used in many different ways whilst inspiring others to get involved with nature. Thank you! n
Sand martins slice above our heads, the thrum of buzzing insects fill the summer air and a pair of Canada geese, followed by an adorable huddle of fluffy yellow goslings, gently swim up the river. Walking around these damp meadows on a warm summer evening, it’s hard to believe that this nature reserve is so young. At only 25 years old, Bathampton Meadow is a story of how a site can change and nature return if given the space and opportunity.
GEORGE COOK
Just a few miles east from the city of Bath lies Bathampton Meadow, a nine hectare site sat in the Avon Valley. Owned by the Highway Authority but leased and managed by Avon Wildlife Trust, the reserve is made up of meadows and an oxbow lake which attracts all sorts of different wildlife from wading birds, kingfishers, a wide variety of damsel and dragonflies and even grass snakes!
Created in 1998, the aim of the site was to provide extra flood relief from the River Avon due to loss in flood plain when the Batheaston Bypass was constructed. When the Highway Authority first submitted its planning permission for the bypass in 1995, the plans didn’t include anything about replacing the flood plain that the new road would remove, so the Environment Agency put in a formal objection.
Ken Tatum, Flood Risk Manager at the Environment Agency at the time, said:
with the river and act as a store for flood water. By 1997, the road and the new reserve were finished and since then the reserve has helped manage the rising levels of the river, with the man-made oxbow lake filling and draining after heavy rain.
This is a great example of a naturebased solution, using nature to tackle problems of the climate crisis. We aim to restore over 1,000 hectares of habitat to provide nature-based solutions by 2030.
Ken met with officers from Avon Wildlife Trust to come up with a proposal for the Highway Authority that could potentially lead to an improvement to the environment whilst the road was built. These meetings saw the birth of Bathampton Meadow as it is known today.
It was agreed that an area of the site would be lowered to form a man-made lake. The water level within this area would rise
Ken, who is still involved with the site today, joined volunteer groups with Avon Wildlife Trust to help maintain the site. Hard working volunteers such as Ken help to continue improving the site for wildlife. This year they have removed large areas of bramble, allowing more space and light to reach the ground to promote diversity of wildflowers such as marsh orchids and birds-foot trefoil. Volunteers also have also removed old fences and posts and regularly pick up litter that is washed into the reserve from the river after heavy rain.
Recently, the volunteers have planted young willow trees (known as whips) along the edge of the river. They hope that as these trees grow, they will provide food for the beaver population that lives along the river.
If they were allowed to reduce the flood plain storage here, then the next development could do the same, and then the next. This was an important decision for all flood plain throughout the county
Local naturalist and volunteer, Glen Maddison regularly visits the site to carry out ecological surveys. He noted, “From what was a tangle of brambles has emerged a rich wildlife corridor with mixed habitats all alive with insects and wildflowers”.
What I really love about the site is that whenever I arrive for a wander around I’m never sure what I’ll see. Watching rabbits scurrying around the higher levels, grass snakes zig-zagging their way across the pools, metallic green and blue damselflies flicking around the waterside foliage or hearing the call of a kingfisher as it speeds down river in a flash of orange and electric blue and the swifts screaming around overhead as they chase the many midges that frequent the still waters. It’s an extraordinary place!
Compared to the surrounding flat fields grazed by sheep, you can really see the contrast between the sites and how the wildlife flourishes with more complexity and variety of habitats.
Glen even tells how he heard cuckoos calling on site, the first he had ever heard in Bath!
Bathampton Meadow is an example of how a site, even a small one near a city, can transform quickly and become a safe haven for wildlife. All it takes is the dedication of committed volunteers like Glen and Ken and the continued support of Avon Wildlife Trust members who, together, can help nature recover. n
Thank you
“There is compelling evidence that England’s collection of wildlife sites are generally too small and too isolated, leading to declines in many of England’s characteristic species. With climate change, the situation is likely to get worse. This is bad news for wildlife but also bad news for us.”
It’s over a decade since the Lawton Review published ‘Making space for nature’, a report for government that confirmed that our wildlife sites are not resilient enough to meet the challenge of climate change, and provided a repair manual to help re-build nature.
Since then, the report has been archived and the ecological crisis has become more pressing. We all need to do more to halt declines and bring nature back in abundance.
This magazine presents a snapshot of the work you support which all adds up to making more space for nature.
Bathampton Meadow is an example of how creating more space for nature also provides effective solutions for flood management. It shows how to achieve better habitats by designing landscapes and planting that help wildlife thrive, in contrast to the flat, grazed fields around them.
We’re working with others to create and join more of the habitats along the River Avon. This will benefit all the rich
and diverse species which range from meadow flowers to mayflies, bugs, birds and beavers.
There are many pressures on our natural environment, locally, nationally and globally. With your support, we strive to join up and add to the natural ‘stepping stones’ across our region that would support wild populations to recover and flourish.
We already face climate and ecological crises. Right now, the cost of living crisis threatens to chip away at the progress illustrated in these pages – at a time when we urgently need to scale up.
Donate to make a difference
Sustaining vital nature reserves costs around half a million pounds every year. In addition, we’re reaching beyond traditional reserves to inspire people in their neighbourhoods to create more joined-up spaces for wildlife.
If you’re able to increase your regular gift, or add a donation, then together we can achieve even more for local wildlife.
More land conserved for nature, more people taking action on their patch.
Bigger areas dedicated to wildflowers, woodlands, wetlands. Bigger populations to reverse declines.
Better quality rivers running through to the sea; healthier, more resilient woodlands; better designed spaces for nature.
Joined up sites like our cluster of reserves in the Mendips and the Biodiversity Lines that create buzzing pollinator pathways.
To boost your support today, visit avonwildlifetrust.org. uk/form/membership-donationincrease Thank you for your membership of Avon Wildlife Trust and all that it achieves.
Professor Sir John Lawton
We are gratefulwildly to the hundreds of members who have increased their regular gift to Avon Wildlife Trust this year.
With support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we’ve been working for over three years with Bristol City Council to focus on eight Local Wildlife Sites across the city, making improvements for wildlife and visitors, and encouraging everyone to get involved in enjoying and caring for these special wild spaces.
The My Wild City sites became even more important than we could have anticipated in 2020. Although the project paused for most of the year through lockdowns, we were encouraged by the fact that more and more people were finding value and solace in the green areas near to their homes. Since our return we’ve heard many stories about people discovering their local wildlife site for the first time – exploring new parts and encountering their ‘wild’ neighbours!
We’ve continued to work with volunteers to improve habitats for nature, collaborated with local schools and engaged the whole community in a programme of wildlife events and training.
Here are just a few of our My Wild City highlights…
In 2022 we recorded glow-worms on a ‘Community Glow-worm Walk’ at Stockwood Open Space after a decade of no sightings. And as we moved our eyes from the bioluminescent bottom of a female glow-worm up to the sky – a shooting star! What magic!
We’ve restored ditches and rhynes for the endangered water vole at Lawrence Weston Moor and trained volunteers to record their tracks and signs. A local resident filmed a water vole tucking into some vegetation at the pond!
Local people welcomed goats to Hengrove Mounds in 2023. The goats will stay on the mounds to keep down the scrub and improve the site for wildflowers and the rare carrot-mining bee.
The success of this project revolves around the generosity, passion and enthusiasm of local people taking action for nature. A HUGE thank you to the Wild City Action Team, a.k.a. the Wild Cats, a dedicated group of volunteers who have roamed around the My Wild City sites every Tuesday, carrying out essential habitat works such as coppicing, scything
We’ve connected with over 6,000 people across the city, trained 400 people in managementwildlife-friendly practices and welcomed over 1,300 school children to their local My Wild City site
and scrub clearing, their skill-set and steeliness has made untold gains for people and wildlife – thank you! And of course, THANK YOU to the local groups, Wildlife Action Group, residents, wildlife champions, artists, council staff, glow-worm hunters, water vole monitors, tawny owlet wranglers, newt checkers, wildflower sniffers, orchid spotters, goat herders, bee befrienders, butterfly walkers – we appreciate you, and our wild neighbours do too!
What now? Going forwards the management of these sites will be continued by volunteers, Your Park and Bristol City Council.
If you’d like to get involved in caring for the My Wild City sites and for further information and resources please visit avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/mywildcity
As we moved our eyes from the bioluminescent bottom of a female glowworm up to the sky – a shooting star! What magic!
The Land Yeo River flows through the North Somerset Levels and Moors and out to the Severn Estuary, feeding a vast area of coastal wetland and peatland. A healthy river is integral in maintaining a healthy ecosystem, so we are working with Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) to deliver the Wilder Waterways project, kindly funded by the Wessex Water Foundation Partnership Programme. We are gathering evidence to understand the different threats and
pressures facing the river and identifying key opportunities for creating new habitats, enhancing old ones and improving water quality. We are working with local people, multiple landowners, farmers and community groups to deliver practical habitat management and provide advice and support. We’ve engaged local communities with the project to help them better understand the river and its importance. Local residents have attended wellbeing
walks to build a connection with their river and citizen scientists have been helping to gather water quality data during the annual RiverBlitz. Concerningly, across the entire Avon catchment area, 89% of water samples contained high levels of nitrates and phosphates. Keep an eye on our events page and social media for updates so you can get involved with the RiverBlitz 2024!
Thank you to everyone who played a part in raising over £65,000 to invest in Grow Wilder, our urban nature reserve.
The team there, including the volunteers and partners featured on page 16-18, continue to bring people and nature together, developing skills and knowledge to restore and conserve natural habitats. It’s no wonder that this wildlife-rich haven holds a place in so many people’s hearts.
A little while back we shared plans to add a new community space, expand the café and plant nursery, and upgrade the facilities for visitors and volunteers.
Like many a best laid plan, we’ve encountered some issues which delayed our original vision to throw open the doors to the Engagement Hub this year. We’ve withdrawn our planning application so that we can work more closely with local planning officers on the best way to integrate the original Grow Wilder site and the land we’ve leased next door.
If you’ve visited recently, you’ll know that it’s a hive of activity. The nursery is providing record numbers of wildflowers for meadow planting all over the country, there is an expanded range of
courses and events, and we’re improving access and information for visitors with support from the Enovert Community Trust.
If you were one of the kind donors to the Engagement Hub, thanks again. You’ll have received an update and don’t forget that we’d love to hear you thoughts.
Come and select your wildlife friendly garden plants from the nursery, sign up to learn a new skill or just drop in for a visit. Follow Grow Wilder to learn more: avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/growwilder
Join us in celebrating the progress for wildlife that members, volunteers and supporters like you have helped make.
It was a pleasure to meet members at last year’s event in Weston-super-Mare. You are warmly invited to join us for our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 8 November at 6pm.
The AGM is kindly supported by Triodos Bank at:
The Foundation, Lower Ground Floor, St George’s Road, Bristol, BS1 5BE
Please book your place at avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/AGM2023
Come and meet the team and hear about the work across the region that your membership supports.
Our Annual General Meeting highlights different areas of work and plays an important part in running the charity.
The formal AGM meeting is for the following purposes:
As Ordinary Business
1. To receive the Annual Report of the Board of Trustees and Audited Annual Accounts, together with the Auditors’ report, for the year ended 31 March 2023.
2. To elect as Trustees any persons duly proposed for election. (There are no Trustees for re-election following their first three-year terms of office this year.)
1. To adopt the following Resolution as a Special Resolution: That the articles of association of the Trust are altered in accordance with the document produced at the meeting.
By order of the Trustees Note from Chairman: Some changes to the Trust’s governing document (i.e. its constitution, known as “articles”) are proposed for approval at this AGM. These changes are to modernise and update the articles to allow future flexibility so that, where it is appropriate to do so, the Trust could include more members by holding meetings that are a hybrid format of in-person and online, including Annual General Meetings. These changes are in line with the Trust’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and in response to requests from members. A copy of the articles including the proposed alterations referred to in the above Special Resolutions can be obtained by contacting agm@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk or calling 0117 9177270
Under the Companies Act 2006 the serving Auditors, Messrs Burnside, are deemed re-appointed and continue in office. Audited Accounts and Trustees’ Annual Report will be available on our website 28 days before the event and are also available on request from agm@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
This year, we will be holding elections for two Trustee positions on our Board. Trustees can be nominated either by the Board, or by Members.
The Board undertook an open recruitment process this summer, looking for applications from candidates from a wide range of backgrounds, including our volunteers and people with expertise in wildlife conservation, community organising and behaviour change, or fundraising. We have worked with diversity specialists BeOnBoard to encourage as wide a range of applicants as possible. Interviews are now taking place to select the Board’s nominees who will be put forward for election at the AGM.
Groups of four or more Members can also nominate candidates for election by making a formal written proposal delivered to the Trust office at 17 Great George Street, Bristol BS1 5QT no later than 25th October. This must include the written consent of the candidate to act as a Trustee. Candidates must be members of Avon Wildlife Trust, provide verification of identity, and a declaration of suitability and personal interests.
Please note that all candidates will be subject to checks that they are not disqualified from acting as a charity Trustee or company director.
Members are entitled to appoint a proxy to attend, speak and vote at the meeting on their behalf. A proxy need not be a member. To be a valid proxy, an appointment form must be received by the Trust not less than 48 hours before the time of the meeting. For a proxy form please contact agm@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
Come to our AGM – Members, volunteers and friends of Avon Wildlife Trust are welcome to attend, only members will be invited to vote.
Please confirm your attendance by visiting avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/AGM2023
Tay is the Community Organiser at Avon Wildlife Trust, and is passionate about environmental justice, community power and ecological health for people and nature.
Hello, Cześć, Hola, Marhaba, Salaam! I’m Tay and I’m the Community Organiser at Avon Wildlife Trust, working on the national Nextdoor Nature project. As a passionate organiser and grower, community action has always been a huge part of my life and it’s a privilege to meet local people who are working to make their neighbourhoods better for nature and people.
I came to the UK as a refugee when I was young and so admittedly, did not know a lot about Avon Wildlife Trust or their work until moving to Bristol in 2016, where I spent the next five years working in Bristol’s bustling natural history television industry. It was a huge privilege to be able to travel to some of the most verdant habitats across the globe, whether it was filming humpback whales off the coast of Mozambique or gopher tortoises in the longleaf pine forests of Florida.
During the COVID-19 pandemic however, many of our filming crews were grounded and I was spending more time at home. I was again reminded of the importance of local green space; the small park near my home became the most important lifeline throughout the lockdown period to soothe my mental health through difficult times. This experience reignited my passion for community organising and I knew that I wanted to do more to support my neighbours – so when the opportunity for this role came up, I jumped at the chance to support Bristol communities with their physical and mental health whilst also taking care of our natural world in urban places.
We are now one year into the project and I am constantly blown away by the generosity, care and pride our members and residents of Bristol have for their communities. So far, we’ve been working to create a community allotment on a
council estate in Redcliffe, create new jobs and planting in urban areas of Barton Hill, build planters along a street in Easton and dream up plans for a community garden in St George. Peerlearning from other communities has been a huge part of our success, and the Team Wilder website, avonwildlifetrust. org.uk/team-wilder, is jam-packed with valuable resources, stories and advice for anyone wanting to take action in their neighbourhood. If you’d like to learn more about community organising, or have an idea to create something for people and nature in your neighbourhood, please get in touch with any questions and I’d love to help.
Nextdoor Nature aims to support communities in BS1 and BS5 who want to create space for nature where they live and work, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Chew Valley Group
All meetings are held at the Old School Room in Chew Magna, starting at 7:45pm. The confirmed events for this autumn and winter are:
Thursday 26 October ‘Photographing White-tailed Eagles in Norway’, a talk by Helen and Rick Ayrton
Thursday 23 November A talk by Mike Landen on ‘Birds and a few other creatures of Ethiopia’
Thursday 25 January ‘Beavers in Avon’, a talk by Bevis Watts and Rob Stephens
Thursday 22 February A talk by Rupert Higgins on ‘Butterflies in Avon’
Gordano Conservation Group
Meet once a month on Sundays at various nature reserves from around 10:00am until 1:00pm. All are welcome, with no need to book just bring suitable, waterproof clothing, sturdy footwear and a drink. For more information on this volunteering opportunity, visit avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/events or contact Sarah Kennedy on 07853 248476
Sunday 29 October Weston Moor (Taggart’s Wood) BS20 8PZ Scrub control on this lowland calcareous SSSI grassland
Sunday 26 November Tickenham Hill (BS21 6RQ)
Limestone grassland is an important habitat in our region so we’re bashing back scrub to help restore the grassland
Sunday 7 and 28 January Weston Moor. Task details to follow in the 2024 programme
Keynsham Local Group
A varied program of talks on the second Friday of the month at 7:30pm in the Baptist Church Hall, Keynsham BS31 1DS. Entrance is £3.50 for members and £4.50 for non-members, including refreshments served at 7:15pm. For details visit keynshamawt.org or e-mail keynshamawt@gmail.com
Friday 10 November ‘The Green Planet - breathing life into our world’ with BBC Wildlife Film Producer Paul Williams
Friday 8 December ‘It’s Snow Time’. Our members’ evening, open to all with short talks and festive refreshments. Talks include ‘The Fox and Hounds Restoration Project’ with Dave Sage and John Aldridge and ‘The Azores - more than just Whales!’ with Rita Andrews
Friday 12 January ‘The Coombeshead Harvest Mice Project’ with ecologist Pete Cooper
Friday 9 February ‘The Last Sunset in the West - Britain’s vanishing West coast orcas’ with marine biologist Dr Natalie Sanders
Portishead Local Group
A number of events lined up. Entrance is £2 for adults and £1 for children and students with nonmembers welcome to attend. All events take place at 7:30pm at the Folk Hall, 95 High Street, Portishead BS20 6PR. Upcoming events include:
Friday 27 October ‘Birds of the Severn Estuary’, an illustrated talk by Rupert Higgins
Saturday 28 October Autumn Fair at the Folk Hall, High Street Portishead, BS20 6PR from. 10.00 am to 1pm. Free Entry
Friday 24 November ‘Mammal watching in Europe’ an illustrated talk by Tom Mabbett of Naturetrek
Friday 26 January ‘Eight Legged Wonder’, an illustrated talk by Mark Patak about the habitat and lifestyles of spiders
Friday 23 February ‘Turn the Tide Portishead’, a talk by Sue Tabb about a local voluntary group who clean our beaches and promote alternatives to the use of plastics
Southwold Local Group
A number of events lined up throughout the autumn and winter, often volunteering at local nature reserves. These events start at 10:00am and please remember to check the weather forecast before attending, wear sturdy footwear and bring your own gloves if you can.
Saturday 7 October Kennedy Way Pond Workday. We shall be carrying out general management tasks at this nature reserve area. Kennedy Way Pond, Link Road, Yate Shopping Centre BS37 4AY
Saturday 28 October Kingsgate Park Nature Area Workday. We shall be undertaking maintenance of this important amphibian site. Kingsgate Park, Scott Way, Yate BS37 4NW
Sunday 26 November Wapley Bushes Nature Reserve Workday. Woodland planting to enhance biodiversity plus general maintenance and tidying up the reserve prior to the winter season. Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, south Yate BS37 8US
We have a range of volunteering opportunities available, from practical conservation to administrative roles. It’s a brilliant way to make a real difference to wildlife, improve wellbeing and meet other likeminded people who also want to help nature. To find out more about our opportunities, why not sign up for our quarterly volunteer newsletter? Visit avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/ get-involved/volunteeringopportunities to sign up and find out more about our current opportunities to get involved.
If you’d like to find out more about our local groups, get in touch:
Chew Valley
Andy Davis: 01275 332 601
Gordano Valley
Sarah Kennedy : 01275 817 565/07853 248 476
Keynsham
K athy Farrell: 07850 508 702
Portishead
Cynthia Dorn: 01275 843 160
Southwold
Tim Fairhead: 01454 323 608
Joining your local group, attending talks and volunteering are fantastic ways to get involved in helping wildlife in your local area.
Leave a lasting tribute to your loved one with a dedication in our virtual Remembrance Meadow.
Share memories and enjoy a quiet minute of remembrance in our immersive wildflower meadow at Folly Farm, captured forever in all its summer glory.
avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/remembrance-meadow