Wildlife Photographic Exhibition
We know that many wildlife enthusiasts are also great photographers. We’ve therefore teamed up with the Bedminster Business Improvement District (BID) people to promote a photographic exhibition. Depending on Covid regulations this should be late in 2021 or early in 2022. The exhibition will probably last for a couple of weeks and be accessible to the public because it will be in cafes, shops and other premises in the Bedminster retail area. We are thinking that we will present it as a Wildlife Photography Trail, both raising local awareness of wildlife and helping businesses in Bedminster recover from the pandemic. We are still working out the details, but it will not be restricted to photographers based in BS3. There’s no reason why this shouldn’t become an annual event or that the exhibition shouldn’t go on tour. Indeed, we’ve already had a tentative enquiry from the Clifton BID. We have a small organising group of four people, at the moment, and would be happy if a couple more wanted to join us. If you are interested either with joining the organising group or participating as a wildlife photographer, please contact us at mywildbedminster@virginmedia.com
Winter Bird Report & More Photography
Thanks for the records already sent in. We have already started to write the report and the closing date for additional data is 15 April. We already have some great photographs, but could do with a few more. Most of the pictures we’ve had so far are of fairly uncommon birds. Nothing wrong with that, but it would be good to have the likes of robins, tits and blackbirds too. Please send asap to mywildbedminster@virginmedia.com
And Even More Photography
We are currently up-dating the 2020 audits of green spaces in BS13 and BS14. As well as information about the wildlife of your space and any plans for enhancing habitats, we would like to include a few photographs. Please do not paste the pictures into an email, but send them as attachments. It makes life easier for us. Also pictures should be clearly labelled with the name of the space, eg ‘trees in XXXXX’ or ‘toad in ZZZZZ’. Also, add the name of the photographer. Send to mywildbedminster@virginmedia.com
Wildlife and its Competitors
Any given space can be used for thousands of purposes: a pond, a wildflower meadow, a sports pitch, houses, a car park, a glue factory and more. Many green space support groups have come into existence to protect particular spaces from what they see as unwelcome developments. Just as some, but not yet all, areas of the city have Wildlife Groups, so some areas have ‘Local Planning Groups’ that review proposed developments. If you feel that a local wildlife site is endangered, it’s probably a good idea to talk to your local planning group. They might be able to help. We can put you in touch, if they exist.
Friends of Parson Street Railway Station
FoPSRS are embarking on a great community project in Bedminster, but need some help, including someone to coordinate the project. Can you spare a couple of hours a week? Contact fopsrs@mail.com
Green Spaces and Mental Health
An interesting article in New Scientist demonstrating something that we all know already. Why then do we neglect to fund both services? See https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg34933270-800-green-spaces-arent-just-for-nature-they-boost-our-mental-health-too/
We All Need Fresh Air
It’s estimated that around 300 people in Bristol die every year as a result of air pollution. Many more suffer from respiratory diseases of one sort or another, especially young children with growing lungs. And of course, if you are a fox or a blackbird, it’s probably not doing you much good either. Clean Air Day is on June 17 and organisation such as the Environment Agency want to engage with local communities. If you and/or your community group wants to help raise awareness of this issue in Bristol, please contact catherine.kenyon@globalactionplan.org.uk
Links with Schools
Pre-pandemic, we were making useful links with local schools. Nature study is useful in itself, but it can also be an inspiration for work in maths, art, English and much more. Unfortunately, Covid disrupted education along with so much else and many of our links have been broken. We want to build them up again. Young people are often great at monitoring wildlife, so, for example, we’d like to help schools to audit their grounds either for wildlife in general, or, particular species such as ladybirds or spiders. Many schools have gardens where this could be focused or are close to parks and other spaces. Also, we still have some BHP money to buy scientific equipment, so perhaps one or two schools would like to borrow half-a-dozen butterfly nets or a trailcam. They might also have a go on our hedgehog tunnels. We are open to ideas. If you have links with schools, please invite them to get in touch with us. First come, first served. Email: mywildbedminster@virginmedia.com