Nature in the City

This page has links to websites giving details of some of the fabulous range of Nature Reserves and wildlife sites in the City of Bristol and surrounding area. Click here for details of forthcoming events on some of these sites.

'Nature in the City' is the name of an exciting new project which will run for two years from September 2006 and which will involve many of these sites, including Troopers Hill.

Bristol Parks have been awarded Lottery funding from the Hertitage Lottery Fund for the project which will focus on the rich history of the sites as well as their importance for wildlife. Final details of the project will be confirmed once the necessary match funding is in place.

The Friends of Troopers Hill fully support Bristol Parks' plans for this project and look forward to the benefits it will bring to Troopers Hill and to wildlife throughout the city.

We shall link to the project's own website once it is up and running.

Bristol Local Nature Reserves

 
Further information on the three other Local Nature Reserves and the three proposed Local Nature Reserves in the City of Bristol.

Avon Local Nature Reserves

 
This new site gives details of all 25 Local Nature Reserves in Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

The Friends of Badock's Wood

Badock's Wood LNR is approximately 8 hectares and provides a wildlife haven in an urban setting. It comprises woodland, a stream and open grassland, as well as a Bronze Age burial mound.

The FOBW along with Bristol Parks help by maintaining and improving the different habitats - improving the woodland and stream environment in respect of safety, access and enabling it to be used for educational activities for the local communities, especially Southmead.

The Friends of Eastwood Farm

Eastwood Farm LNR is a little further up the Avon Valley from Troopers Hill on the other side of the river. Formerly farmland, it was purchased by the council and used as a landfill site in the 1970s. Tipping finished in 1978 and since then the area has undergone extensive landscaping, resulting in the beautiful open space we see today.

In the summer you can get there by taking the ferry to Beeses Tea Rooms from Conham. The site can also be accessed by road from Whitmore Avenue in Broomhill (just off Broomhill Road, almost opposite Brislington Police Station), and by foot from Wyndham Crescent and Eastwood Road.

Malago Valley Conservation Group

The Malago Valley Conservation Group is a voluntary group covering south-west Bristol - Bedminster Down, Bishopsworth, Hartcliffe, Headley Park, Highridge, Withywood - roughly, the BS13 postal area.
The newly designated Manor Woods Valley LNR falls within their area and is looked after by the Manor Woods Valley Group.

Avon Wildlife Trust

The Avon Wildlife Trust help manage a number of Nature Reserves in Bristol and the surrounding area, including the Local Nature Reserves at Royate Hill, Stockwood Open Space and Lawrence Western Moor.

Narroways Millennium Green Trust

Narroways Hill, in St.Werburghs, Bristol, is a little grassy & wooded ridge dissected by railway lines. Following demonstrations by local people when British Rail threatened to sell it in 1997 money was raised so it was purchased by Bristol City Council. It became a Millennium Green in the year 2000, with a 999 year lease to keep it free and open to the local people and allow wildlife to thrive.

The Northern Slopes Initiative

The Northern Slopes Initiative is a group of people seeking to maintain, conserve and enhance their local open space resource known and grouped collectively as the Northern Slopes.

The Slopes are three areas of public open space, in Knowle, south Bristol. Separately they are known as Novers Common, Glyn Vale/Kingswear and Wedmore Vale (The Bommie) although local people may use other names. Originally set up to protect the areas from housing development, the Group has expanded its work to encourage others to join with them to work for the benefit of the people and communities that live around the Slopes; and the features that make the Slopes what they are.

South Gloucestershire Wildspaces

This is the site for information about Local Nature Reserves in South Glouscestershire.

These include the Avon Valley Woodlands which extend along the river from Conham to Hanham Mills and are only a short walk from Troopers Hill.

Golden Valley LNR

The Golden Valley LNR is in Wick, South Gloucestershire and is one of the reserves that took part in the 2005 Wildways exchange visits between local LNRs. It is well worth a visit, details of how to get there are on the website.

Wick Quarry Peregrine Watch

Peregrine Falcons are nesting in the active quarry next to Golden Valley LNR.

Thanks to this exciting project, you can follow their progress live by webcam 24 hours a day.