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Bristol's Wildlife Sites

The table below gives information about some of Bristol's wildlife sites and the groups that look after them. Each site has its own character, you will be surprised at the range of wildlife you can find within the city.

The Friends of Badock's Wood

Badock's Wood LNR

Badock's Wood LNR is approximately 8 hectares and provides a wildlife haven in an urban setting. It comprises woodland, a stream and open grassland, as well as a Bronze Age burial mound.

The FOBW along with Bristol Parks help by maintaining and improving the different habitats - improving the woodland and stream environment in respect of safety, access and enabling it to be used for educational activities for the local communities, especially Southmead.

The Friends of Eastwood Farm

Eastwood Farm LNR

Eastwood Farm LNR is a little further up the Avon Valley from Troopers Hill on the other side of the river. Formerly farmland, it was purchased by the council and used as a landfill site in the 1970s. Tipping finished in 1978 and since then the area has undergone extensive landscaping, resulting in the beautiful open space we see today.

At weekends you can get there by taking the ferry to Beeses Bar and Tea Gardens from Conham - Beeses is now open all year river permitting. The site can also be accessed by road from Whitmore Avenue in Broomhill (just off Broomhill Road, almost opposite Brislington Police Station), and by foot from Wyndham Crescent and Eastwood Road. By bus catch the No 1 and get off in Whitmore Avenue which is the end of the route.

Click here for an image of the site's interpretation board which has more information about the site.

Malago Valley Conservation Group

Manor Woods Valley LNR

The Malago Valley Conservation Group is a voluntary group covering south-west Bristol - Bedminster Down, Bishopsworth, Hartcliffe, Headley Park, Highridge, Withywood - roughly, the BS13 postal area.
The newly designated Manor Woods Valley LNR falls within their area and is looked after by the Manor Woods Valley Group.

Narroways Millennium Green Trust

Narroways

Narroways Hill, in St.Werburghs, Bristol, is a little grassy & wooded ridge dissected by railway lines. Following demonstrations by local people when British Rail threatened to sell it in 1997 money was raised so it was purchased by Bristol City Council. It became a Millennium Green in the year 2000, with a 999 year lease to keep it free and open to the local people and allow wildlife to thrive.

The Northern Slopes Initiative

The Northern Slopes


The Northern Slopes Initiative is a group of people seeking to maintain, conserve and enhance their local open space resource known and grouped collectively as the Northern Slopes.

The Slopes are three areas of public open space, in Knowle, south Bristol. Separately they are known as Novers Common, Glyn Vale/Kingswear and Wedmore Vale (The Bommie) although local people may use other names. Originally set up to protect the areas from housing development, the Group has expanded its work to encourage others to join with them to work for the benefit of the people and communities that live around the Slopes; and the features that make the Slopes what they are.

Royate Hill

Stockwood Open Space

Lawrence Weston Moor

Avon Wildlife Trust LNRs

 
These three Local Nature Reserves are owned by Bristol City Council and managed by Bristol Parks with the Avon Wildlife Trust. The sites were part of the Wildspace! Project.

The Royate Hill Volunteers work with the Trust to manage their site, which was saved from developers in the 1990s thanks to the efforts of local residents, the Trust and the Council.

There are no formal park groups for the other sites but local schools and residents took part in the Wildspace! activities of the past four years and it is hoped that some of this work can continue. A leaflet about Lawrence Weston Moor can be obtained from Bristol Parks .

Friends of Old Sneed Park Nature Reserve

Old Sneed Park Nature Reserve

This reserve of 6.6 hectares is located in Sneyd Park in the valley lying between Old Sneed Park and the Severn Beach railway line. The entrance is in Glenavon Park. The site is important for wildlife and supports a range of habitats including wildflower meadows, bramble scrub, a lake and woodland.

The Friends of Old Sneed Park Nature Reserve was formally launched in 1996 with the aim of working with Bristol City Council to improve the amenity, safety and access of the site. The group is now a registered charity with education and conservation aims.

Callington Road Nature Reserve

Callington Road Nature Reserve

This is a new Nature Reserve accessed from Callington Road (the ring road) at Brislington, just past Tescos heading from the A4. The site is 6.4ha and has a pond with wheelchair access, grassland, trees and scrub. .

Friends of Nightingale Valley

Nightingale Valley

Nightingale Valley is a mixture of woodland and water meadows alongside Brislington Brook. You can access the valley from St Annes Terrace, off Wick Rd, and then follow the brook through to Allison Rd.

Ashton Vale Heritage Group

Ashton Vale Fields & Wetlands

This is an area of low-lying fields and marshland in west Bristol. The area is a green haven on the edge of the urban sprawl. Colliter’s Brook flows through the site and it is crossed by several public footpaths. The fields are home to many forms of wildlife; water voles have been seen and wading birds such as snipe are common visitors.

Photos of walk on 15 November 2008

St Anne's Woods

St Anne's Woods

St Anne's Woods could be considered to be an extension of Nightingale Valley, but it is separated by St Anne's Park Rd and the railway. At the south end it has steeply wooded sides, but as Brislington Brook flows north towards the Avon the valley opens out into some areas of meadow. It is here that the ancient St Anne's Well can be found.

St Anne's Wood is a sadly neglected spot that has been featured in the Evening Post 'Love Bristol' campaign. It is badly in need of a large investment to bring it back to its former glory.

Coombe Brook Valley

Coombe Brook Valley

Known locally as 'The Gosey', Coombe Brook Valley is an oasis for wildlife amongst the housing estates. On either side of the stream are some small wooded areas of hazel, oak and sycamore trees. Most of the reserve is mature scrub of hawthorn and elder, which provides an important home for birds such as wren, greenfinch and spotted flycatcher. Many butterflies can also be seen here in the more open areas of scrub and grassland, including small tortoiseshell, peacock and speckled wood.

A Friends Group has recently been formed to hold work parties and to work with the Avon Wildlife Trust (who manage the reserve) to bring about improvements. You can contact them at .

Friends of Arnos Vale Cemetery

Arnos Vale Cemetery

Arnos Vale Cemetery is a unique wildlife site. The years of neglect that allowed the graves to become so overgrown have resulted in somewhere that has a really special feel. The site covers 45 acres and has been successful in gaining Lottery Funding for a major restoration project. The restoration will make the site more accessible but will still leave most of what has become an important wildlife area untouched.

Friends of Cock Road Ridge

Cock Road Ridge

Lush and green, the Ridge is a hidden oasis of pleasant walks, with a diverse range of wildlife and unrivalled magnificent views over Bristol and towards Bath.

Cock Road Ridge is owned by South Gloucestershire Council and is located on the eastern edge of Bristol in Kingswood. As the name suggests it comprises a ridge of land, running between Mount Hill and Cadbury Heath. It is approximately one kilometre in length.

Golden Valley LNR

Golden Valley LNR

The Golden Valley LNR is in Wick on the A420, carparking is available at Wick Village Hall. The wooded valley is full of bird song and by climbing up the valley sides you can get a view in to the big hole that is Wick Quarry. Peregrine Falcons nest on the rock faces and in the Spring you can follow their progress live by webcam 24 hours a day.

Friends of Magpie Bottom

Magpie Bottom

Magpie Bottom runs along the Stradbrook from the A431 west of Hanham towards Kingswood. A fresh water spring rises and flows into a pond. There are several woodland trails plus the main paths going North to South and East to West. A substantial green has goal posts at the centre and smaller grassed areas dotted around.

The Friends of Magpie Bottom undertake conservation activities on the last Tuesday of each month at 10am - 1pm. Meet at entrance at the bottom of Bryants Hill on A431. Tools and refreshments provided. Call Paul Humphreys, BTCV, on 0117 960 5447 for information.

Conham Vale

Conham Vale

Between Magpie Bottom and the River Avon the Stradbrook runs through Conham Vale. The woodland on the western side at the River Avon end forms the boundary of Dundridge Park. The Dundridge Park Group built steps and a 'deer path' through this woodland, which also contains the remains of old quarries.

Avon Valley Woodlands LNR

Avon Valley Woodlands LNR

This South Gloucestershire Local Nature Reserve covers more than 94 acres and stretches along the Avon Valley from Conham to Hanham. It is comprised mostly of woodland (some ancient semi natural), but also includes flood meadows, riparian habitat, scrub and grassland.

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Friends of Troopers Hill
Website produced by the Friends of Troopers Hill

www.troopers-hill.org.uk