Orchards are a South Gloucestershire priority biodiversity habitat because many orchards have been neglected or grubbed up in recent decades.

In order to help stem this decline, Wapley Bushes Conservation Group, Dodington Parish Council and South Gloucestershire Council are now all working together to preserve the traditional horticultural skills that are needed to maintain existing and newly-planted orchards.

A free fruit tree pruning workshop is being held at the Wapley Rank cottages opposite the southern Besom Lane entrance to Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve, Besom Lane, Westerleigh, South Gloucestershire, BS37 8RW, starting at 10am on Sunday, 13 July 2014. The workshop tutor will be local fruit tree expert Mr Graham White. No advance booking needed – just turn up on the day.

South Gloucestershire is fortunate to have some very picturesque countryside and our local walk leaders,
Richard and Pauline Wilson, will be taking us to the Orange End, Assley Common and Inglestone Common
areas in the north of the county where we shall see wild summer flora in full bloom.

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, 2.00pm.

Exjoy a relaxed Wild Flower Walk through Ridge Wood with local naturalist Rupert Higgins. Learn more about the wildflowers in this beautiful nature reserve and about how the reserve is managed.

Meet at Quarry Road entrance 9.50 am for a 10 am start. The walk should finish around 12 noon.

This particular spring walk forms part of South Gloucestershire’s Walking for Health programme so it is relatively gentle and different walk options are available such as walking in the Ridge Wood nature reserve or heading out into the green, open countryside.
Meet at the Rugby Club car park, The Ridings, Chipping Sodbury, BS37 6PQ, 10.30am.

Help preserve this local grassland and wetland nature reserve! We shall be undertaking reserve maintenance such as path clearance and a general reserve tidy up.  Please wear walking or wellington boots and bring some gloves.

Please meet at the bridge on the reserve, west of Oak Close, North Yate, 10.00am.

This will be a guided tour of the scenic River Bybrook area near Slaughterford, Wiltshire and our walk leaders will be the experienced guides Richard and Pauline Wilson. Please wear walking boots or other stout footwear and please note that 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, 2.00pm.

It was a lovely spring morning today, and we made the most of it. Half a dozen volunteers scoured the Nature Reserve and the Common picking up litter and giving the Reserve a “deep clean”. Fortunately there wasn’t too much rubbish except in the couple of usual litter “hot spots”.

Meanwhile Tim went round the young trees in the Orchard for the Future applying deer repellant and administering minor “first aid” where necessary. The trees are looking good.

Thanks to everyone who took part today!

This is your chance to have some fun and pick a team of Eggheads and bring them along to our general knowledge quiz in aid of Avon Wildlife Trust. You are most welcome make up a team name and bring your own snacks and beverages. We will also be serving tea and coffee for you in the break. Quiz teams are usually made up of four players at a cost of £2.50 per individual team member. Please contact Malcolm on 01454 310328 to book your team’s place.

Venue: The Old Grammar School, High Street, Chipping Sodbury.

This is an opportunity to learn the traditional countryside craft of dry stone walling under the tuition of experienced practitioners. The two day course costs £60 and for more information and to book a place please contact the National Trust at Dyrham Park on 01225 892374.
Please meet at the visitor centre at 9.30am on both days and Dyrham Park is 2 miles south of the M4 Junction 18 on the A46 (satnav postcode: SN14 8HY).

We shall be undertaking general management tasks, including a spring clean, that will help to enhance the biodiversity of this precious nature reserve. Please wear stout footwear.

Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, south Yate, BS37 8US, 10.00am.