Project summary:
A grant was awarded to South Gloucestershire Council to support the employment of a Wildspaces! Partnership Officer (Community Liaison Officer) and for project work over 3 years on 2 Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) and 5 proposed LNRs.

The South Gloucestershire Wildspaces! Partnership comprises South Gloucestershire Council, Avon Wildlife Trust, BTCV (Avon) and the Forest of Avon. Local community groups are supporting the project along with private businesses within the local area.

The project has received ‘Beacon Status’ by RMC Environment Fund, which is awarded to projects that exceed the Fund’s criteria, are original and have the potential to make a significant contribution to sustainability in the UK.

The project has been awarded over £400,000 towards capital projects to improve access, interpretation and educational facilities on sites.

The Wildspaces! Partnership Officer works closely with local communities and disadvantaged groups to encourage their involvement in the long-term management of their local wildspaces (Local Nature Reserves) through a programme of awareness raising, community training and education.

The Wildspaces! Partnership Officer works in partnership with disadvantaged community groups and organisations – people who may experience difficulty in accessing information or in accessing the green spaces. Disadvantaged groups include the mobility impaired, people with physical disabilities, young people and young offenders (inclusive of Community Payback initiatives).

Each LNR has a sustainable community group dedicated to long term management of their wildspaces. Local people are working with the Council to implement the community led management plans that have been written for each LNR. A continuation strategy is being developed so that after May 2005 the LNRs continue to be managed by a self-supporting network of community groups in partnership with South Gloucestershire Council and other partners.

The project will be measured by monitoring the number of local and volunteer groups participating; number of events; what have been physically achieved to improve access; delivery of educational programmes; improvements to interpretation material; monitoring established links in the implementation of the policies and objectives of South Gloucestershire Council Strategic plans with regard to biodiversity, public enjoyment and appreciation of the natural environment.

Successful Community Projects include:

Wild about Wapley ~ a youth photographic project which resulted in 4000 calendars being produced, an exhibition and website. Visit www.wildaboutwapley.info

Wild Tracks ~ a project featuring four walks from a LNR to outlying villages. The walks were created by local people and will be promoted on drink mats, distributed to local pubs in the area.

LNR boundary markers ~ South Gloucestershire Council has produced an innovative a design for marking key access points to their LNRs. Manufactured by local craftsmen from the Forest of Avon and made from locally sourced timber the design incorporates an A3 panel, framed in an aluminium box, that can be used to update visitors on forthcoming events.

Huckford Quarry LNR lies on the banks of the River Frome north of Winterbourne Down. The site was designated an LNR in 1994 in recognition of its importance to the local community as a site of nature conservation importance and cultural heritage. It is owned by South Gloucestershire Council and managed in partnership with Winterbourne Countryside Group, supported by English Nature.

Gorse Covert LNR is a site measuring 4.35 ha containing broadleaved woodland, a pond and ditch and two areas of amenity grassland. The reserve is in the heart of Patchway, an area of high deprivation and so is a haven for local people to experience nature. The site borders a local primary school that has helped make and install nest boxes for birds. The local secondary school has also been involved in designing interpretation material for the site. A long standing and active conservation group helps manage the site.

Willsbridge Valley LNR is the Avon Wildlife Trust’s countryside and education centre. The Mill situated at the southern end of the valley houses two floors of wildlife and local history displays as well as a café/gift shop and countryside information point. The centre runs courses and activities that include teacher in-service days, volunteer training and workshops for a range of disabled groups. Willsbridge Mill is recognised as a Forest of Avon Gateway Centre. It’s the place to come to learn about recycling and composting! Visitors can find out more about the Forest and the community woodland. The site covers 3.8ha and is highly valuable for a whole range of birds, mammals, invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians.

Golden Valley (Wick Rocks) proposed LNR comprises a total area of 8.8ha with woodland grassland, various habitats along the River Boyd and numerous rock faces. The site forms part of a former ochre works and quarry and is owned by RMC Materials Ltd. The site lies close to the urban fringe and can be accessed by a short bus journey. The proposal for a LNR at Wick has received overwhelming support from both the public and RMC Materials Ltd. The project has helped establish a Friends group who keep a watchful eye over the reserve.

Three Brooks LNR is made up of three woodlands that lie adjacent to each other at Bradley Stoke, the largest private housing estate in Europe. Savages Wood is a 5 ha secondary woodland on an ancient woodland site. Webbs Wood is a 2 ha woodland that has been on the site for at least 300 years. A smaller copse, Sherbournes Brake, a large amenity pond, a tump of grassland that looks like an iron age hill fort – but is a spoil tip created from earth excavated to make the Severn Crossing! And small patches of grassland make up the whole reserve, Small brooks and hedgerows link these feature up making important wildlife corridors. A new community is being established to help look after the reserve.

Avon Valley Woodlands proposed LNR consists of 38 ha of woodland, flood meadow and riparian habitat in the Avon Valley between Conham and Hanham. A local community group has carried out some preliminary management work. The site is recognised as a Forest of Avon Gateway site. The River Avon Trail, a strategic long distance path linking Bristol and Bath passes through the site.