Chew Valley Lake

Features from Wildlife magazine Wildlife articles 2008 -- Spring 2008 -- ::Severn Barrage ::The Variety of life ::A year at Willsbridge ::Willsbridge comes of age ::Reaching out - Willsbridge ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2007 -- Autumn 2007 -- ::Thinking BIG ::Watery webs:the pond network ::Wildlife in the landscape ::Variety of life ::How to be a climate friend ::Seasonal stroll - Walborough ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2007 -- ::The Folly Farm appeal ::Weston Big Wood-biodiversity at its best ::The variety of life ::How to capture a butterfly ::How to get to know an orchid ::Seasonal stroll - WestonBigWood ::Reserves update -- Spring 2007 -- ::Folly Farm - a very special place ::Making a difference at Folly Farm ::How find the magic at Folly Farm ::Seasonal stroll at Folly Farm ::Magic spots at Folly Farm ::Batscapes ::Climate challenge ::Variety of Life - the Ponways project ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2006 -- Autumn 2006 -- ::The Severn Estuary ::Bird Watch results ::How to identify garden birds ::Making space for wildlife ::How does your garden grow? ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2006 -- ::Going for green ::Stand up and be counted ::Happy birthday NSLMP ::Holi day - a riot of spring colour ::Avon's species-rich grassland ::How to photograph dragonflies ::The Big Switch ::Round the reserves -- Spring 2006 -- ::How to identify winter water birds ::Make 2006 the year you... ::Invasive invasion ::Sowing the seeds: Willsbridge Mill ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2005 -- Autumn 2005 -- ::Indentify common funghi ::Build a hedgehog hideaway ::Big Bird Watch ::Champions for wildlife ::Round the reserves ::Seeds of the futre: Willsbridge Mill -- Summer 2005 -- ::Restoring Folly Farm ::How to become bee-friendly ::How to identify the butterflies of spring ::Save our seas ::The variety of life: hedgerows ::Round the reserves ::25 Ways to make a difference -- Spring 2005 -- ::The variety of life: water voles ::The Avon Biodiversity Action Plan ::How to take really good wildlife photos ::How to help your garden grow ::Round the reserves ::Seasonal strolls: Browns Folly ::Sowing the seeds: for wildlife for people ::Sowing the seeds: looking back

Round the reserves

Month by month, wildlife to look out for...

October
In the balmy days of an Indian Summer there's great delight in relaxing on the slopes of some our most species rich reserves. Dolebury Warren and Walton Common with their spectacular surrounding views are both rich in terms of their wildlife and archaeology. Sitting along the ancient ramparts of the hill fort at Dolebury the dense sward at your feet is full of the leaves of kidney vetch and thyme. In places across Walton Common the rose hips of some of the UK's rarer roses will be bright red as they mature into the winter. Field grasshoppers will still call from tussocks of grass and the lucky observer may well encounter dragonflies hawking for other insects.

November
As the autumn colours slowly advance, a visit to Tucking Mill will result in great views of the beautiful colours of the turning trees throughout the surrounding countryside. A stark contrast to these yellows and browns is the grey brick railway viaduct as it stretches across the valley linking up areas of this quiet part of North East Somerset with its cross country footpath. At Folly Farm fieldfares and redwings will be arriving to feast on the glut of hawthorn berries that this year has produced. Flocks of small birds, including long tailed tits and goldcrest are a real delight to see mixed in with warmth of the autumn colours.

December
A walk into Lower Woods will be a muddy one at this time of the year but well worth it if you're on the look out for signs of wild animals. Look for the slots made by deer in the path in front as they cross from one clearing to another. Roe deer are becoming extremely common throughout our region and their smaller dog-like cousin the muntjac is increasing in numbers as well. A prolonged cold spell across Eastern Europe will result in the large movement of wildfowl and the bleak views across Chew Valley Lake may well shelter some uncommon birds. Female smews are not that uncommon, but cold weather may bring in male smews, which are bold and bright in their black and white plumage. Their larger cousin the goosander is a regular visitor and it is worth watching the antics of these spectacular ducks as they dive, catching fish in their toothy bills throughout the lake.the coast at Blakes Pools and Walborough the wading bird numbers which feed across the mudflats begin to increase as birds such as dunlin and curlew leave their breeding grounds and start to migrate south for the winter.

Reserves Update

Limestone rarities
The hill fort area at Dolebury Warren is an important site for many plants that are uncommon in the area. This year Autumn gentian has been seen again, the first time in many years and small blue butterfly recorded three years after it was believed to have become extinct (Butterflies of Bristol Region, Barnett et al. 2003). However again a change in management may be the reason for this happening with cattle grazing the hill fort area for the first time since the Trust took over managing the site in 1983. Less selective grazers than sheep, it's likely that it is the cattle grazing that has allowed so much kidney vetch to flower this year, a plant which the caterpillar of the small blue feeds upon.

To graze or not to graze..?
Weston Moor has been subject to a change in management regime this year with the aimof controlling purple moor-grass, a highly vigorous species of grass that is becoming dominant in the sward. As it grows it forms a dense tussock, which both shades out neighbouring flora and is very tough and unpalatable to garze. However between April and early June this grass can be grazed when fresh growth makes it palatable to grazing animals, and this then reduces the vigour of the plant. This year for the first time in many years we managed to graze parts of Weston Moor in co-operation with our graziers who successfully managed their cattle in a way that is now improving the sward. The impact of this management change is being monitored and whilst many of the flowering plants were grazed off, they are perennials and will return to flower next year.

Better access to local nature
A new interpretation board has been recently installed at Royate Hill Local Nature Reserve. The design of this board was co-ordinated by Bristol City Council's Local Nature Reserve Office and it excellently compliments the refurbished entrance that was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. A similar project that will enhance local peoples understanding of the reserve is being developed at Lawrence Weston Moor.

Stop Press!

• It is likely that parts of Folly Farm may temporarily close to visitors during some of the early contract works during the Autumn/Winter. Further details will be posted when known.
• We're also delighted to let you know that the membership appeal for Folly Farm has reached just over £15,000.