<< Back to Events Page | Details of earlier Events >>Friends of Troopers Hill
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Sun 4th November 2012 - Fungi ForayFortunately the overnight rain and sleet that had turned to snow in Bath and parts of Dorset cleared away just in time for the start of the foray at 10.30, and although it was cold we even had some bursts of sunshine. Justin Smith again led us round the Hill finding many different species in the acid grassland and heathland of the Hill. There were ten different wax caps, ranging in colour from red to pure white. There were puffballs and a rotting piece of wood had an example of jelly fungus. Under one silver birch we found brown rollrim, while another had the wonderful fly agaric. There are also some photos on our facebook page here Justin's report on what we found can be seen here. Links to Justin's reports from previous years can be seen here. If you would like to learn more about fungi visit Justin's website at www.bristolfungi.org.uk. |
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Stepping Forward Celebration Event
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Fun Dog Show - 14 October 2012A wonderful sunny afternoon, and the Field had dried out well after the rain earlier in the week. A big thank you to everyone for their support.
Friends of Troopers Hill put on this free event to say thank you to all those dog walkers who use the Hill and help keep it looking good by picking litter and reporting problems. Thank you again. |
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Avon Valley Walk - 23 September 2012A very good turnout of 20 people on a wet day for a guided walk through the Avon Valley and along Brislington Brook. After exploring the Woodland and visiting St Anne's Well in the morning's rain, lunch at Beeses Riverside Bar & Tea Gardens was very welcome. The rain in the afternoon was not as bad as forecast as we returned to Troopers Hill via Conham and Dundridge Park. It was good to be able to share some of the Memories of the area that we have collected and also to show the improvements paid for through our Stepping Forward Project. Click here to see some old photos taken in the Avon Valley. Click here to see more about the Avon Valley and the walk route. |
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Balloon Fiesta Weekend - August 2012In view of the fact that the Olympics were also taking place over this weekend, we decided not to hold our usual Family Event this year. The balloons made several flights over the weekend but the wind was in the wrong direction for us and took them away from the Hill. Fingers crossed for next year! |
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Sunday 29th July - Tai ChiA few brave souls ventured out on a showery morning to join the Bristol School of Tai Chi on Troopers Hill Field. The weather was not suitable for the planned demonstration, but we did manage a short introductory session sheltering under the willow tree. |
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Wednesday 11th July - Sunset StrollA tour of Troopers Hill talking about the fascinating history of the hill and the surrounding area. We were fortunate to have a sunny evening and to be able to finish the walk before a heavy shower came. The 1926 'Britain from Above' photo that we were looking at on the walk can be seen here. You can find out more about the Hill's history and the people who used to live in the area on our History and Memories pages. |
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Saturday 16th June - Music on the HillSadly due to the wet and windy weather this event, that was to have featured SoGYJO's return to Troopers Hill, had to be cancelled. |
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Friday 1st June - Air Balloon School Jubilee WalkFor Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897 the pupils from the school (which was then on Crews Hole Road) marched up Troopers Hill and into St George Park. To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II the whole school (600 children & teachers) again walked to Troopers Hill. 60 balloons were released and the National Anthem was sung. |
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Sunday 20th May - Tree Gazing Walk
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Saturday 19th May - Walking Litter PickAs part of Bristol's Cleaner & Brighter Parks weekend we organised a walking litter pick along the River Avon Trail and through St Anne's Woods to join up with the Discover Brislington Brook Project who were litter picking at Nightingale Valley. |
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Sunday 14th April - Dawn Chorus with Ed DrewittReport and Audio Slide Show on 'This is Bristol' >> An early morning stroll (6am start!) on the Hill with Ed Drewitt listening and looking for birds and other wildlife. On a cloudy morning from the Field we started by going into the woods down the steps that had just been rebuilt by BTCV as part of our Stepping Forward Project. We were surrounded by bird song, with Ed using his bird song pen to help us distinguish the different songs. A wren could clearly be seen near the top of one of the silver birch trees. Moving on to the Hill we saw herons flying overhead looking for food for their young on the nests at Eastwood Farm. Moving round the Hill we saw and heard a range of birds including meadow pipits flying high overhead on their way towards Scotland for the summer. Towards the end of the walk we had a good view of a green woodpecker that perched in a tree near the allotments. These spectacular birds are often seen feeding on ants in the grassland on the Hill. Bird List: Seen Overhead or flying by: Heron; Herring gull; Meadow Pipit; Goldfinch Seen and heard: Green woodpecker, Wood pigeon, Great tit, House sparrow, wren, crow, magpie Heard: Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Willow warbler, Blackcap, Robin, Blackbird, Greenfinch, Blue tit Funded by the Friends of Troopers Hill Education Fund
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Sunday 8th April - Family 'Walk'shops
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Fri 6th April 2012 - Good Friday ServiceGlorious sunshine for this annual service organised by local churches. The service commenced with a Silent Procession from Summerhill Methodist Church at 11.30am. The procession maked its way to Troopers Hill, where the service started just after 12noon. Friends of Troopers Hill were on hand to open gates and we also had a display with details of our Stepping Forward Project in a new gazebo funded by the project. See also the St Aidan's website at |
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Saturday 4th February - Forest ClubUnfortunately, due to illness we had to cancel this Forest Club. We hope to arrange more in the future. Photos of last year's sucessful event can be seen here. |
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Thursday 8th December 2011
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Sun 30th October 2011 - Fungi ForayAfter a wet night it was dry and mild as a group of nearly 30 were led over Troopers Hill by local expert Justin Smith in search of fungi. Despite the dry autumn we again found a good selection of fungi that once again highlighted the importance of Troopers Hill to biodiversity in Bristol.
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Wed 26th & Thur 27th October 2011 - Forest ClubThanks to a wonderful primary school teacher, Isabel, who volunteered her services for free, we were able to offer half term activities for 7-9 year olds in Troopers Hill woodland. |
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Sun 9th October 2011 - Family Fun Dog ShowA great turn out on a disappointingly damp October afternoon. There were lots of entries for all the classes and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. A special thank you to Lucas Vets for the judging and for donating prizes. Also to Beeses Riverside Bar & Tea Gardens whose kind donations allowed us to put on this free event. |
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Fri 2nd Sept 2011 - Troopers Twilight TourOn a warm dry evening just under 30 local residents joined us for a stroll around the hill to learn about its history from Rob Acton-Campbell. Rob's 'Brief History of Troopers Hill' and more information is available on our Hill History page. |
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Sat 13th August 2011 - Family Fun PicnicA great afternoon. After a juggling workshop with Jacky from Circomedia and lots of deer antlers, fox masks and flying buzzards being made in our craft area; International Storyteller Cassandra led some exuberant storytelling featuring some of the same creatures. |
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Fri 22nd July 2011 - Purple ProwlThis was a chance to join wildlife expert Rupert Higgins to learn about the unique flora and fauna of Troopers Hill. Rupert has been involved with Troopers Hill for many years and has a great deal of knowledge about its plant life and the bugs & beasties that live here. As forecast the afternoon showers had cleared and we set out on what looked like a lovely evening for a walk around the hill. Unfortunately the Bristol weather proved that it cannot be taken for granted and after an hour or so we had some very heavy showers so only a stalwart few completed the walk. However Rupert was able to show us some of the wonderful range of flora and fauna on the hill and explain why it is one of the most important sites in Britain for the dotted bee fly and other invertebrates. One of the butterflies we saw was a small skipper which meant we then moved on to talking about the Essex Skipper photographed on 1st July. This is a butterfly that appears to be moving west across southern England, perhaps due to climate change. Rupert was also able to tell us how much the heather has spread across the hill in the years since he started monitoring the site in the 1980s. Back then he was recording each small patch and there was a fear that it would disapear from the hill altogether. We know from Elizabeth Emra that the area was known for its 'purple shade of heath and yellow spots of broom' in the 1830s so the loss of this habitat, which in the past covered a much larger area, would have been a big loss to Bristol's biodiversity. |
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Sun 17th July 2011 - Tai Chi on the HillDue to the morning rain we had to cancel this event, we had hoped to rearrange it for later in the year but unfortunately this has not been possible. We will try again in 2012. |
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Saturday 25th June 2011 - Music on the HillA very enjoyable evening with music from the Gasworks Singers. There was quite a strong wind and unfortunately the forecast sunshine did not appear until just before the last song but the singers put on a great performance which included Gospel, African, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Dylan Thomas and lots more. The Gasworks Singers, led by Dee Jarlett, are 30 enthusiastic members of the massive 160-strong Gasworks Choir, the first community choir of its kind in Bristol. The Gasworks Singers perform acappella and their diverse repertoire includes songs from different eras, continents and cultures, many of which are arranged by Dee and her co-director Ali Orbaum. They have delighted audiences at Trowbridge Village Pump Festival, Ashton Court Festival, Priddy, Larmer Tree Festival and now Troopers Hill. They have performed bi-annually at St George’s Bristol for over a decade, together with their larger sister The Gasworks Choir. At Christmas they appeared on BBC1 Points West, singing Slade’s Christmas hit! |
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Sunday 22nd May 2011 - Avon Valley WalkA guided walk through the valleys of the Avon and the Brislington Brook on a very windy day but the showers kept away and there was some welcome bursts of sunshine. After exploring Troopers Hill Woods we walked down Lamb Hill to the river before walking through St Anne's Woods and Nighhtingale Valley. A loop around Eastwood Farm Local Nature Reserve was then followed by an excellent lunch at Beeses Riverside Bar & Tea Gardens After lunch we then crossed on the ferry to walk up through Conham Vale to Dundridge Park and back to Troopers Hill.
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Wed 11th May 2011 - St George Strollers Launch WalkThis first walk for the St George Strollers included St George Park and Avonview followed by refreshments at St George Labour Club.
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Friday 22nd April 2011 - Good Friday ServiceThe traditional Good Friday Service on Troopers Hill is organised by Churches Together in East Bristol. The procession started from Summerhill Methodist Church at 11.30am and came to Troopers Hill via the main road, The Avenue and Malvern Rd. Friends of Troopers Hill were pleased to help out and we also took the opportunity to talk to those attending about the work that we are proposing to improve existing steps and paths on Troopers Hill Local Nature Reserve. |
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Dawn Chorus Walk
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Thurday 20th January 2011 - Tree PlantingOn a wonderful sunny winter's day TreeBristol organised a tree planting day on Troopers Hill Field.
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Sunday 7th November 2010 - Fungi ForayThis was the fourth time that Justin Smith had led us round Troopers Hill in search of fungi. There was again a good turn out on a cold morning. We found a good range of different fungi - Justin's report on what we found can be seen here: |
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Kite Making and Flying
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Family Fun Dog Show
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Family Fun Picnic
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Tai Chi on the Hill
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Music on the Hill
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Avon Valley Walk
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Dawn Chorus Walk
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Good Friday Service
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Website produced by the Friends of Troopers Hill www.troopers-hill.org.uk |