Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve, near Yate and Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire.


The Nature Reserve is run by the Wapley Bushes Conservation Group, a small group of volunteers.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Good work morning on 9th March, and looking ahead

Six enthusiastic volunteers carried out a range of work during the Wapley Work Morning on Saturday 9th March. We planted 16 "bare roots" trees in the top corner between the Upper and Lower Paths:
4 Acer Campestre - Field Maple
4 Quercus Robur - English Oak
5 Tilia Cordata - Small-leaved Lime
3 Alnus Glutriosa - Black Alder

We also planted another oak that was donated to us in a pot, grown from a Frenchay Common acorn.

We then cut back encroaching vegetation around the main woodland paths in the Ancient Woodland and along the Ride, ready for increasing numbers of visitors as the weather improves. We even cleared a fallen tree that was blocking one of the pathways.

Our next two workdays will be as follows:

On Saturday 20 April there will be a Goose Green Work Morning, when we'll be undertaking reserve maintenance on this local grassland and wetland nature reserve in North Yate.

On Sunday 12 May we’re planning to do plug planting in the Orchard for the Future on Wapley Common and a general spring clean of tWapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve.

Please watch this space for further details.



Monday, February 19, 2024

Wapley tree planting morning - Saturday 9 March

 

For our Wapley Bushes tree planting work mornings this winter, we are planting a range of broadleaf species to replace some of the tall trees that were cut down due to ash dieback disease, We will be planting them towards the top of the Ancient Woodland, where the Upper and Lower Paths join. As usual there will also be a variety of lighter tasks, so something for everyone.

Meet at 10 am at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, south Yate, BS37 8US. Please wear stout footwear and bring gloves if you have them. If not, we’ll provide gloves that you can keep until the next workday – as a COVID precaution we’re not sharing gloves.

Please come and join us even if you haven’t been before. You can bring your own tools - for example a spade if you've got one - or if not, tools will be provided. Everyone is welcome, though children under 16 will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Report back from Wapley work morning Sunday 18 February

 Ten of us had a very successful session on the 18th, doing a variety of cutting back:

We pruned back some hedgerow branches either side of the young fruit trees at the bottom of the Lower Meadow, to give them more room to grow.

We cut back the brambles round the bug hotels to give better access for pollinators and other creatures - it's not just insects who use bug hotels, it's small mammals and birds as well.

We also cut back vegetation behind several of the newly refurbished benches on the Common. Dodington Parish Council is planning more repair work shortly.

Many thanks to all our volunteers!

Sunday, February 04, 2024

Wapley work morning - Sunday 18 February

 

Due to the very wet ground conditions, it may not be possible to get vehicles up carrying the strimming equipment to prepare the ground for tree planting on Sunday 18 February. We will now be doing all the winter planting on Saturday 9 March.

We still have lots to do on Saturday 18 Feb. Our main task will be to cut back overgrowth around the fruit trees at the bottom of the Lower Meadow, adjoining the bug hotels and if necessary behind the seats on the woodland edge of the Common.

Meet at 10 am at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, south Yate, BS37 8US. Please wear stout footwear and bring gloves if you have them. If not, we’ll provide gloves that you can keep until the next workday – as a COVID precaution we’re not sharing gloves.

Please come and join us even if you haven’t been before. You can bring your own tools - for example a shears, a rake or or secateurs if you've got them - or if not, tools will be provided. Everyone is welcome, though children under 16 will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Friday, December 15, 2023

Report from Wapley work morning 26 November

 

The new grit bin near the Shire Way gate
 

Six of us tackled a range of important tasks on the last work morning of 2023. We dug out the remaining middle third of the seasonal woodland stream to prevent it flooding and affecting the ground flora, and cut out some intrusive blackthorn in the orchard area on the Common.

In addition we swept the leaves and mud from the "slippery slope" between the bridge on the Common, and a school volunteer party cleared the slope on the Shire Way side a few days later. Dodington Parish Council then arranged for South Glos Council to provide a grit bin (pictured) near the Shire Way gate, for use by volunteers, parish council staff and members of the public when it gets icy.

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Sunday 26 November - Wapley Bushes Nature Reserve maintenance morning


We’ll be digging out the remaining part of the stream down through the woods, so that it doesn't flood during heavy rain. Last time we couldn’t get through the brambles to reach this section, but it should be accessible now. We also have overgrown vegetation to cut back and litter collection to do.

Meet at 10 am at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, near the entrance to Cherington, Yate BS37 8US. Please wear stout footwear and bring gloves if you have them. If not, we’ll provide gloves that you can keep until the next workday.

Please come and join us even if you haven’t been before. You can bring your own tools or tools will be provided. Everyone is welcome, though children under 16 will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

LOOKING AHEAD

We’re planning tree planting sessions for early in the New Year.

Would you like to be kept informed of these work mornings and other activities? If so, please email paul.hulbert@gmail.com and we’ll put you on our mailing list.