The Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project
Richard Bland
Downs news What's Happening
150 years youngWhy not Join The Friends of the Downs and Gorge. Individual or family membership is available for £10 per household. Contact Robin Haward at robinhaward@blueyonder.co.uk
- Sunday 22 May 2011 saw a very successful event, despite gale force winds, celebrating the 150 years since the passage of the Clifton Downs bill giving the area to the citizens of Bristol. Many people dressed in full 19c dress, a military re-enactment group were present, the Rotary gave support as Marshals, mini plays were presented by the Theatre School, the Bristol Brass band played, as did a fine singing group, and the Lord Mayor attended accompanied by the Downs Ranger.
- The Goats are coming to the Gully at the end of June. The plan for improving the vegetation on the sides of the Gully (Walcome Slade to some) are in an advanced state. The Goat fencing is complete and the goats will follow soon. The aim is that they should browse down the scrub vegetation that has rapidly regenerated after the felling exercise of three years ago, and thus enable the original limestone grassland flora that was an important feature of the Gully to become re-instated. The Friends of the Downs will be part of the team responsible for monitoring and maintaining this scheme on behalf of the City Environmental Department and Natural England. They have carried out botanical surveys to ensure that there is adequate knowledge of the flora before the goats arrive.
- Butterfly Transects Year 2. The Friends of the Downs are continuing weekly transects of the Downs recording all butterflies present. For more info contact Martin Collins at martinandglen@hotmail.com
- Zoo Parking off Ladies Mile The Friends of the Downs monitored the Zoo use of the land off Ladies Mile throughout 2010. On average during the summer holiday period some 300 cars used the area, which was opened as soon as the other two car-parks were full. The system was very efficient, litter collection was on the whole done well, and the downs surface coped well. The area was not opened in wet conditions, and its use ensured that street parking in Clifton remained tolerable. The only negative area was the condition of the path from the car-park down to the Zoo. This had become neglected, chippings added at the start of the season had spread, and there was considerable erosion. As a result of comments from FODAG the Zoo did a complete upgrade of the path in March 2011, improving the surface for users and edging the path properly.
- Greater Bristol Bus Network The plans for the new route extending up from Whiteladies Mile and across the Downs to Westbury have been examined in detail by FODAG. They carried out a traffic survey of Roman Road and the top end of Parry’s Lane to discover whether the proposed changes to these two minor roads made sense, and as a result of the comments the Parry’s lane proposals were altered. FOD also criticised the absence of detailed data on pedestrian and cycle use of the Blackboy junction, and thus any proper planning for them in the proposals. FODAG carried out a rush hour survey that revealed that the junction was used by approximately 500 cyclists and 500 pedestrians an hour during the morning and evening rush hours.
- Bristol Water water-main plan. Bristol Water’s plan for a major new pipeline from North Bristol to the Downs Watertower and down to the Clifton pumping station in Oakfield Road was examined in detail for its potential impact on existing trees and vegetation by members of the FODAG committee. It was clear that a great deal of care had been taken to minimise damaging effects of the trench, and there were only a few areas where it seemed probable that it would cross potentially significant archaeological sites, including the Roman road to Bath, and an abandoned 19c century road across the Downs, or where there would need to be careful mitigation of its impact on plants.
- Clifton Camp At present the huge defensive structures of Clifton Camp, in which the Observatory is situated, are obscured by scrub and self-sown trees that mostly sprang up during the Second World War. The Downs Committee wants to reveal the camp in all its glory, and archaeologists are concerned about the damage the vegetation is doing to the structure. Initial plans were the subject of much concern, and CHIS and FODAG both commented in detail, and the plans have been much modified as a result. The first tranche of restructuring the vegetation was completed in March 2011 when scrub was removed below a line of trees which lie on a defensive bank on the west side of the camp close to the Gorge edge. At present the site looks untidy, as the drought has had the effect of preventing rapid plant re-growth, but the effect is also to make the trees stand out more effectively.
The plan is to repeat this action, of removing scrub vegetation in small areas each year for a number of years, learning on the way how to manage the resulting bare surfaces and enable the expansion of native limestone species and grasses that are tough enough to withstand the wear and tear of human use.
- 23 Sept 10: The Goats are coming to the Gully. The plan for improving the vegetation on the sides of the Gulley
(Walcome Slade to some) are in an advanced state. The Goat fencing is being constructed, and the goats should follow soon.
The aim is that they should browse down the scrub vegetation that has rapidly regenerated after the felling exercise of three years ago,
and thus enable the original limestone grassland flora that was originally such an important feature of the Gully to become re-instated.
The Friends of the Downs will be part of the team responsible for monitoring and maintaining this scheme on behalf of the
City Environmental Department and Natural England.
Butterfly Transects Year 1. The Friends of the Downs have completed the first year of the Downs Butterfly Transect on behalf of Butterfly Conservation. Remarkably half of all the Butterfly species in England have appeared on these transects.
- 17 May 09: Park Forum meeting Summary
- 20 April 09: A management plan for the Bristol side of the Gorge has just been published.
Public comment is requested and open until May 29th. The site is
www.bristol.gov.uk/gorgeproposals
It is a big improvement on the first plan. It still includes the idea of , experimentally, using goats, which work well in both Cheddar Gorge and Burrington Combe . Please look at the proposals, and make your own comments. - 21 Feb 09:
Changes to the Iron-age Camp.
At present the huge defencive structures of Clifton Camp, in which the Observatory is situated, are obscured by scrub and self-sown trees that mostly sprang up during the Second World War. The Downs Committee wants to reveal the camp in all its glory, and archaeologists are concerned that the trees, if they fell in a storm, would damage the archaeological evidence concealed in the sub-soil. Provisional plans have been made which will be the subject of public consultation this coming summer. If you have been to the camp in Leigh Woods of the same age, where much clearance has been done by the National Trust, you will know how dramatic the result is. Both camps were designed some 2500 years ago to defend the only feasible crossing of the Avon, which lay between Nightingale Valley in Leigh Woods and the track that became Bridge Valley Road. - Jan 09:
By way of it's first active venture, FOD+AG planned a deep litter collection on the Downs. Its purpose will be to supplement the excellent work done by the Downs
Ranger's team on a regular basis, by removing litter which has accumulated and become hidden in undergrowth but which, in winter, is exposed.
Such litter not only spoils the appearance of the Downs but is also hazardous to it's wildlife in a variety of ways.
FOD+AG have equipemnt and guidance available, and are aware of a groundswell of concern for, and appreciation, the value of the Downs to the people of Bristol. What they now need are VOLUNTEERS willing to offer a little time and energy to promoting it's well-being.
Martin Collins at ( 0117 ) 924 9435.
FOD+AG Membership/subscription (£5 pa) forms will be available on the day.
Please be aware that children are welcome under close adult supervision, and that Bristol City Council insurance does not cover over-75s - 4 Dec 08: The Downs Ranger, Gordon Milward, will start work on Dec 9th on an overgrown area near the top of the Gulley to cut back scrub growth round a series of mature and excellent trees, including the one old yew tree on the Downs. There will also be work on the path down the Gulley, which is often impassably muddy. The work has been approved by Natural England. The aim is to improve the appearance of the area, make it feel safer, with clearer sightlines and clean trunks, make it easier to maintain in the long run, increase the variety of plant species by increasing the amount of sunlight, and thus increasing the insect life, and also improving the drainage of an area that at some time has had heavy soil dumped over the top of the limestone"
Brief summary of Draft Downs Management Plan.
There will be a five year rolling plan based on six themes of Enjoyment, Events, Access, Landscape and Wildlife, Antisocial Behaviour, which will be reviewed and updated annually.The aim is to fit into the Bristol Parks plan for parks that are Safe, Accessible, Clean, Attractive, and are good for Wildlife. The management will seek a Green Flag award from the Civic Trust.
There is a separate English Nature Management Plan for the Gorge, (which overlaps with the Downs in several areas) which should be linked to this plan. There is also a plan for the Iron Age fort, involving progressive removal of scrub and trees, and interpretation. It is intended to standardise furniture, and fencing, to look at signage, litter bins, seating, road crossings, control of grass parking, deal with running track.
It is proposed to bring management in house, to maintain and develop The Gorge and Downs Project, and to seek additional funding. (The annual cost is £221,000, income £75,000). It is intended to establish a Friends organisation as a single group representing the present 31 stakeholders, and have volunteers for monitoring, research, tree wardens, wardening. The plan seeks to improve information, and enforce Bye Laws.
The first year priorities are to examine and propose solutions to following;-
- A visitor point at Sea Walls;
- Disability access and parking;
- Cycle routes;
- Record scrub growth, prepare plan;
- Review furniture, create a design guide for these and fences;
- Open lost views of the Gorge;
- Deal with fairyland;
- Control grass parking;
- Review litter bins;
- Solve running track;
- Monitor plants and other wildlife. Create Marketing plan;
- Examine recycling;
- Create Friends and volunteer Wardens.
Useful links
- The Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project by The Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation based at Clifton Zoo
- The Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project
- Clifton Garden Society. Contact Person: David Speller, 9 Dowry Road, Bristol BS8 4PR.
- The Tree Register of notable trees in Britain and Ireland