Friends of Ashton Court Estate
FACE is developing well. It has now agreed a constitution and sought recognition from both Bristol Parks and the Bristol Parks Forum. Two members have established a facebook group which has already exceeded 100 members with many stunning photographs. We hope to gather ideas about how the estate can be improved. We already have posts about the valuable role played by the estate during the current pandemic. Feel free to sign up and to invite others to join both the facebook group and FACE itself. Facebook can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/groups/3436241153156298/ Contact BS3 Wildlife Group for FACE membership. Work has started on a report of the Birds of Ashton Court and there is talk of a Tree Trail to follow.
News from Mary in Windmill Hill
We’ve been seeing bat’s quite a lot this summer over our garden on Windmill Hill. They haven’t been here for a long time, as far as we know. In the spring moving our compost bin we found we have slow worms and later, when shifting some wood my husband saw a juvenile slow worm. Recently we’ve heard an owl, possibly Tawny, down by St John’s Churchyard and we’ve heard a Sparrowhawk over Malago Green, Cotswold Road North. Our garden is also full of frogs. The land beside us is now being built on with a loss to wildlife habitat. There was a pond in the space so maybe our population has expanded because of the disturbance.
Thingwell Park
In the last newsletter we included news about Fishponds Community Orchard. In today’s newsletter we have information about the nearby Thingwell Park allotments.
Thingwall Park Allotment Site BS16: is the largest allotment site in Bristol; is a lush, green space; prefers organic growers; wants to be pesticide free by 2023; in ‘normal’ times has workshops on plots about composting, no-dig gardening, pollinating plants, organic growing; has encouraged tenants to create a space for hedgehogs; has many small ponds that attract frogs, newts and dragonflies; has a wildlife plot that attracts lots of birds including in the last few years a group of starlings, pied fly-catcher; is also home to small mammals and foxes; is, at the moment a riot of colour because of all the flowers in amongst the veg; is home to the wonderful Fishponds Community Orchard; has had lots of butterflies this year; has lots of generous tenants who have donated produce to the food bank; would like all allotment sites to prefer organic methods of gardening so that insects and other wildlife and people can thrive and have a green space to enjoy.
We’d welcome more information from our friends in both North and South Bristol about how particular patches are being made more wildlife friendly and also about how space supporters are collaborating so that wilding becomes city-wide and connected up and not just restricted to green islands.
Bulb-tober
Avon Wildlife Trust (AWY) are running Bulb-tober again in (surprise!) October, aiming to support young people to plant native wildflowers to improve local green spaces. AWT is looking for youth and school groups that would be interested in receiving some beautiful local wildflower plugs to plant in their local area. Due to the current situation, they are planning on dropping off bundles of plants along with ‘how to’ videos for choosing a location and planting. There will also be the option of AWT staff running a session online before and after planting. They may be able to come to some of the planting sessions too. AWT is also interested in hearing from care-homes and GP Surgeries that have green spaces which could use some wildflowers as there may be a willing youth group that will plant them. Contact: mywildcity@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
Advert in The Pigeon and SB Voice
We have been given some money by Bristol Health Partners because they recognise the link between becoming involved with nature as a gardener, observer, walker etc and wellbeing. We haven’t been able to spend some of this money because of lockdown, but we are renegotiating our targets. More news on this later, but meanwhile we have taken out adverts in local magazines to encourage more people to join in. They should appear in the September issues. Please spot them and encourage people to join in.
Dragonflies
There have been some good pictures of dragonflies on our facebook page. I hope that some of you are also noting your sightings down so that in a few months when we ask for your observations you will be able to send them to us to begin to answer the question ‘what are the dragon and damselflies flies of Bristol?’ This will be our first dragonfly report. We need to know species (if possible); date seen and where, including post code.
And Now for Something Completely Different….
The BS3 Wildlife Group and other community organisations has been approached by the ‘Everyday Integration Team’ at Bristol University. They are looking at what encourages people in a community to get along with each other rather than splitting into factions. I guess sharing an interest in wildlife is a helpful process. They want people’s views via a questionnaire. There are prizes to encourage participation!!!! Go to https://geosciences.onlinesurveya.ac.uk/whose-bristol for the questionnaire. It should take about 15 minutes. You have to be 18 plus and live in or near Bristol and can only have one go per person. Info about the project can be found on https://everydayintegration.org.uk/ and go to every-day-integration-project@bristol.ac.uk if you have any questions or comments. The prize draw closes on 20 September. Five people will win Vouchers for £100 each and 10 further people will get £50 vouchers. Good luck!