Once again, the Friends of Ridge Wood are planning a FREE family trail and woodland crafts to encourage kids to get out and about during the school holidays.
Check out the Friends of Ridge Wood website for more details.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Wapley Bushes wins major environmental award for fourth year running
Wapley Bushes has just won the Green Flag Community Award, the only such award in South Gloucestershire. Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve, Wapley Common and the Orchard for the Future form one of the very best green spaces in the UK – and that’s official. The green space is among a record-breaking 1,686 places that have received the prestigious Green Flag Award – the mark of a quality park or green space.
A Green Flag is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities. The Community Award recognises sites that are largely managed by community groups, in this case the volunteers of Wapley Bushes Conservation Group.
The award, now celebrating its 20th year, recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country. Wapley’s Green Flag was presented yesterday at the regional Green Flag Award event in Cheltenham. This is the fourth year running that Wapley has succeeded in gaining this award.
Report from work morning 10 July 2016
We actually spread this work session out over a few days, because not all of us were available at the same time. There were five of us in all. On the 10th we had a group of three, clearing vegetation around signs and entrances, litter picking, cutting back of invasive blackthorn shrubs (sloe bushes) and summer fruit tree pruning.
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| The climbing rose (Rosa Wedding Day) by the cottages has really grown well on the dead plum tree. It has put on a good flowering display this year and it is serving its conservation purpose since a number of bees were visiting the flowers (the idea is that the the summer flowering rose take over from the spring flowering fruit trees to ensure a supply of nectar and pollen for insects over a longer period). |
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One of the deer-damaged young plum trees was experiencing lop sided growth and a number of dead branches. That tree had to be severely pruned back to its most promising young shoots which were then cable-tied to ensure vertical growth. |
| Finally, here is a picture of the healthy plum-like gage tree which had a significant standard prune back. |  |
Two more colleagues paid a double visit on other days, gathering hay rattle seeds for transplanting (there will be more on this in a later post) and doing a litter-pick.
Wapley Bushes Summer Fruit Tree Pruning morning Sunday 10 July
Please come and join us for a pleasant summer work morning – nothing too strenuous!
As well as pruning stoned fruit trees such as plums and gages, we shall also be attending to odd jobs on the reserve. There will be something for everyone!
Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, south Yate, BS37 8US, 10.00am.
Lilliput Park work morning – Tuesday 5 July
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.
National Meadows Day at Dyrham Park – Saturday 2 July
Join the National Trust for National Meadows Day at the Whitefield from 11am to 4pm, our wild flower meadow, to celebrate all things meadow! Get your face painted and take part in our bioblitz with lots of experts on hand. Meet our bee keeper, take part in craft activities, watch some scything action and learn all about wild flowers. You can even make some wild flower seed bombs, bee hotels and flower crowns with us. Children and assistance dogs are welcome and for more information call 0117 937 2501 or email: dyrhampark@nationaltrust.org.
Please wear suitable clothing for an outdoor activity. This event is at Whitefield, our wild flower meadow at the far end of the visitor car park
Please note that standard entrance charges apply: Adult £11.20, Child £5.80, Family £28.30
Swineford Summer Walk – Sunday 19 June
Our guides, Pauline and Richard Wilson, will be taking us on a walk from the Swineford picnic site on the A431 and taking in Upton Cheyney, North Stoke and the edge of Lansdown at Prospect Stile.
Please wear walking boots or other stout footwear. Ample free car parking is available at the Wickwar Road car park. Meet for a car share at the Clock Tower, High Street, Chipping Sodbury, 1.30pm.
This week’s butterfly
Butterfly at Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve this week – not sure what species.
If you click the image you may be able to zoom in to see more details.
Lilliput Park work morning – Tuesday 7 June
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.
River Frome and Kennedy Way Pond Spring Clean – Saturday 14 May
We shall be carrying out a general spring clean by the River Frome and at the Kennedy Way Pond nature area.
Meet at the Kennedy Way Pond, Link Road, Yate Shopping Centre, 10.00am (parking is available at the two car parks on either side of Link Road, BS37 4AY).