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Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve is just south of Yate, near Bristol, in the West of England.

Meadow Brown butterfly

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

Dates for your diary

NATURE RESERVE VOLUNTEER WORK MORNINGS
SUNDAY 18 FEBRUARY 10.00 AM
SATURDAY 9 MARCH 10.00 AM

Due to the very wet ground conditions at the moment, it may not be possible to get vehicles up carrying the strimming equipment to prepare the ground for us to do tree planting as planned on Sunday 18 February. Instead our main task that day will be to cut back overgrowth around the fruit trees at the bottom of the Lower Meadow, adjoining the bug hotels and if necessary behind the seats on the woodland edge of the Common.

We will do all the tree planting at our main Wapley Bushes tree planting work morning on Saturday 9 March, when we will be planting a range of broadleaf species to replace some of the tall trees that were cut down due to ash dieback disease, We will plant them towards the top of the Ancient Woodland, where the Upper and Lower Paths join.

As usual there will also be a variety of lighter tasks, so something for everyone on both days. Meet at 10 am at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, south Yate, BS37 8US.

Please wear stout footwear and bring gloves if you have them. If not, we’ll provide gloves that you can keep until the next workday – as a COVID precaution we’re not sharing gloves.

Please come and join us even if you haven’t been before. You are welcome to bring your own tools, or if not tools will be provided. Everyone is welcome, though children under 16 will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

LOOKING AHEAD

On Saturday 20 April there will be a Goose Green Work Morning, when we shall be undertaking reserve maintenance on this local grassland and wetland nature reserve in North Yate.

On Sunday 12 May we’re planning to do plug planting in the Orchard and a general spring clean of the Reserve.

On Saturday 6 July there will be a Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve Work Morning to carry out a deep clean and cut back intruding vegetation along the woodland paths to get the reserve ready for our summer visitors.

Would you like to be kept informed of these 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.

Full details are on the Wapley Bushes Events Page.

Please watch this space for future events.

Keep in touch!

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.

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