Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve is just south of Yate, near Bristol, in the West of England.
Please click on the menu items above to find out about the Reserve, or read the latest diary entries from our blog wapley.blogspot.com
NEWS UPDATES
Volunteers needed to help our local environment!
Would you like to help nature conservation in our area? Wapley Bushes Conservation Group needs more volunteers for our practical sessions and for background activities.
You can find out more by coming o one of our workdays, emailing Paul Hulbert on paul.hulbert@gmail.com. or coming to our next committee meeting at 7.30 pm on Wednesday, 14 January, in the Foxall-Powell Room at Dodington Parish Hall, Finch Road, Chipping Sodbury BS37 6JZ.
The Conservation Group helps to look after several Nature Reserves in the area and also works with local youth organisations.
Please come and join us – we’re an active, friendly group that really makes a difference to our local environment.
DORMOUSE SURVEY UNDER WAY
You may see some dormouse nesting tubes in trees and hedges around the Wapley property for the next few weeks. 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. We’ll let you know the outcome of the survey.
EXCELLENT RESULTS FROM SPRING AND SUMMER BIRD WALKS
On recent bird walks our bird expert Alan Daniells led us through Wapley Common, the woods and the meadows. Many of the group were also experienced bird spotters, and in total we identified 26 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.
NATURE RESERVE VOLUNTEER WORK MORNINGS
AUTUMN / EARLY WINTER WORK MORNINGS
Our events are all free to attend and they do not require advance booking. We take sensible Covid precautions like not sharing gloves on work days so you are very welcome to bring your own gloves if you have them, but if not then we provide gloves that you can keep and use for the next workday.
You can bring your own tools or tools will be provided. Please wear stout footwear. Everyone is welcome, though children under 16 will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Sunday 21 September
Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve Workday
The key tasks will be the annual clearing out of the woodland stream, cutting back vegetation overgrowth and optional litter picking. Please come and join us even if you haven’t been before. You can bring your own tools or tools will be provided.
Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, south Yate, BS37 8US, 10.00am.
Saturday 11 October
Kennedy Way Pond Workday
We shall be carrying out general management tasks at this nature reserve area. Please wear wellington boots.
Meet at the Kennedy Way Pond, Link Road, Yate Shopping Centre, 10.00am and parking is available at the Yate overflow car park on the eastern side of Link Road, BS37 4AY.
Saturday 25 October
Kingsgate Park Nature Area Workday
We shall be undertaking maintenance of this grassland and wetland site including vegetation clearance. 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.
Sunday 30 November
Wapley Bushes Nature Reserve Workday
This workday will be a morning of tree and shrub planting to enhance biodiversity plus general maintenance and tidying up the reserve prior to the winter season. Please wear walking or wellington boots.
Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, south Yate, BS37 8US, 10.00am.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Would you like to be kept informed of work mornings and other activities? You can use our Contact Us page to ask for your email address to be added to our local list, so that you find out about environment events at Wapley and other local wildlife sites.
You can find out about our activities on the Wapley Bushes Events Page.
Please watch this page for future events.
WAPLEY BUSHES LOCAL NATURE RESERVE – A WARM WELCOME
This area of woodlands and meadows is a haven for wildlife. Please enjoy the views and the peace and quiet. Visitors of all ages are welcome to explore the Reserve – look for secret places like the Lower Pond hidden in a copse, and the Dragon Tree on the Lower Path in the Ancient Woodland.
The Reserve is owned by Dodington Parish Council and managed in partnership with Wapley Bushes Conservation Group. The Reserve was set up in 1992.
Wapley Bushes Conservation Group holds regular workdays and always welcomes new volunteers – there is something for everyone, and it’s a very friendly group. The Conservation Group is affiliated to Avon Wildlife Trust, and can tell you about other local nature areas and volunteering opportunities.
Enjoy your visit and please come back soon.
Ash Dieback Disease tree surgery
Major tree surgery works were carried out over the last two winters to deal with Ash Dieback Disease. The contractors returned to the Centenary Wood area in autumn 2021 to remove the stumps and get rid of the deepest ruts. By the end of winter 2021 – 2022 we had planted more than 130 new trees, and about 240 in winter 2022 – 2023. Please check out our Ash Dieback Disease page.
Telephone contacts
Wapley Bushes Conservation Group
01454 315851 or 01454 313055
Dodington Parish Council
01454 866546