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Habitat Management 2007 - 2010
 Works have been carried out over the last three winters to clear areas of bramble and scrub in accordance with the 2007 Management Plan as described below. For winter 2009/10 the main focus was on revisiting those areas cleared in previous winters and removing any regrowth of trees, scrub or bramble. Three small trees at the Troopers Hill end of the gully have been removed to complete the work started in that area last year.
The work is part of an ongoing process to improve the environment of the hill and to protect the heathland and grassland. This work is being managed by Bristol Parks in consultation with Friends of Troopers Hill. Friends of Troopers Hill help with bramble clearance and other labour intensive tasks at our regular Work Parties. If you have any questions or concerns about this work please contact either Friends of Troopers Hill or Bristol Parks; contact details are here. You can see photos of the 2008/9 works here.
Additional Litter Bin 2010
Objective 6.2.6.7 of the Management Plan states that the litter on the site will be monitored and that the question of placing extra litter bins would be re-evaluated. Many of the users of Troopers Hill pick up litter as they walk round and this is particularly true of early morning dog walkers who often clear cans an bottles left from the evening before. In early 2010 we were approached by a dog walker who sugested that a litter bin should be placed near the entrance to the LNR from Troopers Hill Field to avoid the need to leave bags of collected litter under the dog waste bin.
This suggestion was passed to our members by email and discussed at our meeting on 25 May 2010, the idea received positive feedback with some people even saying they would be willing to contribute to the cost. It was therefore agreed at the meeting that Friends of Troopers Hill would pay Bristol Parks to install a litter bin in the Field near the entrance to the hill; Bristol Parks have agreed to empty it and maintain it. Hopefully the bin will be installed later this year.
As with benches (see below) we are keen to maintain the wild appearance of Troopers Hill LNR and avoid too much furniture on the hill so we have always resisted suggestions to place litter bins on the LNR and this continues to be our position.
New Benches 2009/10
As part of the Management Plan (objective 7.2.6.5) we have produced a seating plan - additional seats were the most requested improvement in the 2002 Visitor Survey and have often be mentioned since. Two seats were installed in 2007 by Bristol Parks at the top of the hill and these have proved very popular. Three more of the benches shown on the plan have been installed as part of our
YANSEC funded project to replace some installed in 2006 that were then vandalised. All the seating shown on the plan is now in place.
 While additional seating is still asked for, we are also aware that many people do not want to see too much furniture on the hill as this might spoil its wild appearance; it is therefore necessary to keep a balance.
In 2009 we were approached by a family that wanted to donate a bench to Troopers Hill as a memorial. Our Community Parks Officer suggested a location where he thought that an extra bench would be beneficial, without impacting on the appearance of the hill. We agreed that this would be a good location. We are pleased to say that this new bench has now been installed by Bristol Parks at the top of the steps leading up from Greendown.
Greendown Entrance 2009
Works to improve this entrance were carried out in 2009 as part of a project which had a total cost of £21,500. Bristol Parks provided 10% of this funding while Friends of Troopers Hill were awarded a grant from YANSEC for the remaining 90% -
you can see details and photos of the works here. The work was carried our in accordance with a design produced with funding from Awards for All. This work was in accordance with objective 7.2.10.6 of the Management Plan to improve safety and access at the entrances from Troopers Hill Road.
Plan Aims & Objectives for Wildlife
The most important habitat on Troopers Hill is the acidic grassland and heathland, this covers the central area of the site and is the core of the reserve and the reason it was created. Acid grassland is a UK priority habitat and together with other 'Species Rich Grasslands' its protection is also one of the aims of the Bristol Biodiversity Action Plan.
The Management Plan was put together with advice from Bristol Parks Natural Environment Team and other naturalists in Bristol. All agreed that the priority was for this core habitat to be protected and where possible to be restored to areas where the surrounding scrub and woodland has encroached over the last twenty or more years (see our Old Photographs page).
To achieve this aim it is necessary to remove some of the trees and scrub that has grown in that time, this work is carried out in the winter to avoid the bird nesting season. The work is being managed by Bristol Parks and carried out by Bristol Contract Services. You can see photos of the 2007/8 works here. Surveys of two of the areas cleared in the winter 2006/7 have shown encouraging signs that heathland plants are re-establishing themselves - download the report here.
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 Areas of scrub will be maintained around the outside of the site but these will be managed to prevent them becoming woodland. Between the scrub and the grassland and heathland on some parts of the site are areas of broom. Troopers Hill is the only site in Bristol where broom grows in such profusion. As the hawthorn and bramble is pushed back we hope to encourage the broom to re-establish itself in these areas. Areas currently covered in broom will then be returned to grassland and heathland. This will be a reversal of the natural progression that has occurred over the last 20 years where bramble has choked areas of broom and then hawthorn has grown amongst the bramble.
Plan DetailsThe Management Plan for Troopers Hill Local Nature Reserve was produced jointly by Bristol Parks and Friends of Troopers Hill and adopted in January 2007.
For the purpose of the plan the hill is divided up into 11 compartments and the management aims for each area are set out, together with details of how they will be achieved. As well as the main document there are three maps, all are available for download as pdf files.
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The plan covers a five year period and so extends to April 2012. An additional year will be added to the plan at each annual review so that we are always looking 5 years ahead. Friends of Troopers Hill have learnt a great deal about the ecology of Troopers Hill since the original plan was produced in 2004 and this has allowed us to plan an improved management regime. Our initial focus had been to try and maintain the hill in its current state, but with the support of Bristol Parks we are now able to work towards improving the habitat with particular focus on the acid grassland and heathland.
The plan also shows how the Management of Troopers Hill fits in to the various policies that have been adopted by Bristol City Council. The format follows Bristol City Council's ‘template’ for future management plans for parks and green spaces which is based on guidance from the Commission for Architecture, Buildings and Environment (CABE Space).
Adoption of the plan demonstrates Bristol City Council's committment to ensure that Troopers Hill Local Nature Rerserve is both maintained and improved for the benefit of both wildlife and people.Have Your SayIf you have any comments on the plan or the planned work please Contact Us or post your views on our Friends' Forum. The plan is a living document that is reviewed each year so we welcome your input.Earlier Management Plans
The 2004 plan and the updates produced in April 2005 and 2006, can be downloaded as pdf files using the links below. Please note the original Plan is 65 pages and nearly 6MB it will take sometime to download.
If you have any problems downloading the documents, or wish to receive a copy in printed form or on CD please email
, a donation to cover costs would be appreciated.
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The Plan was officially launched at a signing ceremony on the hill on Wed 9th June 2004. It was signed by Peter Wilkinson, Head of Bristol Parks and Susan Acton-Campbell, Chair of Friends of Troopers Hill
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