We shall undertaking maintenance of this important amphibian site including the cutting back of vegetation. 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)

A small band of enthusiasts – the Lilliput Conservation Group – is spending a couple of hours on the first Tuesday of each month tidying up the hedgerows and plantings in Lilliput Park.

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.

This is a seasonal celebration of autumn and apples with the Abbotswood Action Group community.It’s loads of fun and there will be interesting and creative activities for all ages. Admission is free and refreshments will be available. Well behaved dogs on a lead are welcome to come along too.

Location: St Nicholas Family Centre garden and Abbotswood precinct, Chargrove, Abbotswood, Yate, BS37 4LG, 11am – 3pm.

Cutting the vegetation

There is a stream down through the middle of the wood that only flows when it’s been raining heavily, but we need to clear it every year to make sure that it doesn’t overflow and alter the surrounding habitat. So on Sunday we cut our way through the vegetation and dug out the leaf mould and other debris from the stream bed.

The stream going up through the woodland

As we were clearing the stream we first saw something jump away very quickly – a frog, we think – and then we saw a toad ambling its way away from the area where we were working. We’re not sure that we’ve seen a toad in the wood before.

The wood definitely seems to be getting wetter. In the summer the bed of the stream usually develops deep cracks, but only the upper part of the stream had cracks this time.

Lady fern or similar species

Hart’s tongue fern

Ferns are also much more widely distributed in the wood than a few years ago. It will be interesting to see what other species changes occur.

Bracket fungi

One tree near the stream regularly has spectacular bracket fungi, some as large as dinner plates.

13 people came on the work morning, so we were also able to do a lot of litter picking and our regular maintenance of the fruit trees.

A big thank you to everyone who helped!

We shall be carrying out general management works on the reserve including vegetation clearance at this local wildlife haven.
Meet at the Kennedy Way Pond, Link Road, Yate Shopping Centre, 10.00am (parking is available at the Yate overflow car park also on the eastern side of Link Road, BS37 4AY)

Bat Walk
7:00pm to approx. 9:00pm

Join the Friends of Ridge Wood and Avon Bat Group for a twilight stroll in search of bats. Bat detectors provided. Wear warm clothes and boots and bring a torch.
Meet at Quarry Road entrance, Chipping Sodbury, BS37 6AX.
No dogs allowed – except guide dogs….

This is a free event in the Discover Festival program organised by the Council.
However please register your intention to attend, on the South Glouc website.

Click Here to book your free place. Run by Eventbrite.

Two of us spent a couple of hours this morning cutting back overgrowth on the route we’ll be using for the bat walk this coming Friday 9th September (7.30 pm at the Shire Way gate)

The worst part was near the top of the Ride – we’re investigating having the Ride cut back mechanically during the autumn, now that the bird nesting season has finished. If we don’t, we’ll have the Ride growing over every summer.