Winter Bird Survey
It’s nearly time for our Winter Bird Survey. This runs from October to March inclusive. People are invited to record the birds that they see. Mostly this is in gardens, but by all means include your local park, allotment or nature reserve. Until now, we have concentrated on BS3, but as our membership grows and we involve folk from other parts of the city, we can expand our area of interest.
2020 will be our 10th year. Actually, it’s our 20th because some people were involved in a city-wide project run by Avon Wildlife Trust recording winter garden birds. We just carried on when that project ended. Only by long term recording can we know if particular species are stable, increasing or decreasing. Also, it’s fun.
When we come to write up the 2020-2021 bird report, it would be good also to have some pictures, so please snap away, but hang on to the pictures until we ask for them next April.
Could You Be a Tree Champion?
There are Tree Champions all over the city, but the more the merrier. Tree Champions look out for damaged trees in parks and streets and report this to BCC. They also look for likely places to plant new trees. Jim Smith is a convenor for Tree Champions and a member of Bristol’s Tree Forum, so if you want to know more about what Tree Champions do, contact Jim at jimsmith012@yahoo.co.uk
Ecological and Climate Emergencies
Bristol Parks Forum are gathering information about the actions of parks group re climate and ecology. We are assuming that they don’t just want responses from park groups, but also from allotments, nature reserves, city farms, school grounds etc. They are asking two questions:
- has your group taken any actions to address the ecological and climate emergencies?
- what is your group planning to do?
Of course, we have been asking these questions in South Bristol for some time. Our updated audits on park and other groups in BS3 was circulated in May and our initial findings for other parts of South Bristol were published in March (both audits are available on request from MyWildBedminster@virginmedia.com). Both reports have been sent to the Parks Forum. But, there are gaps in both audits and things may have changed over the summer, so please contact Bristol Parks Forum with up-to-date information.
Data that we have gathered and that BPF acquire will help in the implementation of Bristol’s Ecological Emergency Strategy which is due to come out this month. Even responses like ‘we have done nothing’ are helpful in order to get a clearer picture of the true situation. Send info to mail@bristolparksforum.org.uk
Participation in the Wildlife Group
Towards the end of June, we estimated that we had somewhere between 500 and 600 people who received this newsletter and/or visited our Facebook and Instagram sites. Most of them probably live in BS3, but we are beginning to link up with people in all parts of Bristol (and a few beyond!). We know that numbers are going up and we hope to publish new figures at the end of September. More importantly, we know that many people are actively gardening and improving public spaces for wildlife. Keep it up!