Reserves

Avonmouth Sewage Treatment Works

Grid ref: 531 798 / Area: 10.1 hectares

In the heart of the heavy industrial area of Avonmouth lies one of our most unusual reserves. Within the boundaries of a modern sewage treatment works, it attracts an astonishing number of ducks, waders and other water birds.

How to get there
Details to permit holders only. Permits and maps, issued to Avon Wildlife Trust members only, obtainable from the Trust.

We encourage visitors to use environmentally friendly forms of transport wherever possible. Most of our reserves are easily accessible by bicycle, with many close to the National Cycle Network. Click here to view a location map of the reserve on the National Cycle Network website.

Part of the reserve may also be viewed from Kingsweston Lane.

Access
The birds are easily disturbed and lagoons are potentially treacherous, hence access to permit holders only.

Wildlife and conservation
Three man-made lagoons and a pool provide welcome feeding and resting areas for many birds. The deeper lagoons attract diving ducks such as pochard and tufted duck. The shallower pool, known as Teal Pond, has a thick growth of water plants at its edge, and provides plentiful food and cover. From the bird hide overlooking this pond you can watch out for dabbling ducks such as teal and shoveler.

Rough tussocky grassland provides a refuge for voles and other small mammals, which are preyed upon by kestrels and barn owls.

Whatever the time of year, there is always something to see. Winter is the best time with up to 200 ducks in their breeding plumage. By April/May, a variety of waders appear. Summer is relatively quiet, though there is a surprising variety of dragonflies including emporer and hairy dragonfly. By July, green sandpiper, snipe and other waders have returned on their migration south.

A trail, a bird hide and a screen are also maintained.

Other points of interest
Two of the lagoons are filled with treated effluent and are used for fish-rearing. The third is a reservoir for the incinerator.