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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

Seasonal stroll at Folly Farm

From the first flowers of the springtime through to the colours of the autumn leaves, a visit to Folly Farm at any time of the year is always very rewarding. With recent developments around the farm buildings the delights of the reserve remain open even if the new route leads you to areas that aren't usually explored. Why not shake off the winter cobwebs and set out to see for yourself!

1. From the entrance car park (clearly marked for visitors, to replace the previous car park further up the track which is now solely for contractor's use) walk up the dirt track that takes you through the main farm gate and along a hedgerow lined with tall dead elms, a perfect habitat for dead wood invertebrates.
2. As the track bends to the right, turn left through the hedge and into the first plantation of the walk. Planted during the mid 1990's this newly developing woodland is good for small birds and echoes with song in the early spring. Follow the woodland path until it bends to the right and leads you through an old established hedgerow that is now within the growing wood. Continue on until you come out into a large open ride with a fence and deer gate on your left. Either open the gate or climb the ladder stile that takes you into the cattle pasture. Cross this field heading towards Round Hill, which reaches up in front of you. Through a kissing gate and follow the path to the left, slowly rising round to the back of the hill and eventually to the summit. Here a memorial planting is commemorated through the re-establishment of the beech ring and surrounding hedgerow. The views form here are commanding and on a clear day you are rewarded with a wide landscape that takes in the Mendip Hills, then north across the expanse of Chew Valley and over to the southern slopes of Dundry.
3. Turning your back to the view follow the crest of the hill back towards Folly Wood. Pass through the kissing gate and on entering another extensive plantation bear to the right, following the wide ride as it runs through the wood. Before reaching the gate, turn right again, with the small conifer plantation on your left and leave the wood via the large deer gate. Turn left and then right, following the path that takes you through another kissing gate and into an open field. Turn left and follow the hedge to the end of the field, which along with its neighbour on the left is slowly becoming more flower-rich through grazing practices supported by a Natural England agri-environment scheme. After you pass through another gate you find yourself within the most flower rich grasslands of the farm where as spring progresses into summer you'll see drifts of purple devil's-bit scabious and black knapweed.
4. Continue along the ridge with the slope to your right, an area recently restored to grassland from dense scrub. Pass the cottages on your left until the path divides - you should bear right. At the top of the hill you can look across the farm to the buildings with the backdrop of Chew Valley Lake. Follow the path down the hill, gently bearing right and then left alongside the scrub of the woodland edge that remains on your right until you cross a small culvert, pass through the bottom of another field and reach the kissing gate of the Access for All Trail.
5. This circular trail has recently been revamped with support from BaNES's Batscape Project (see p.16) giving disadvantaged people a chance to experience an area where bats can be found and where badgers can be watched emerging from their sett at dusk.

Turn right and following this surfaced path along the edge of Folly Wood, firstly passing over a small brook and then the badger watching platform to your left. Pass under the gladeof hornbeam trees and before crossing the bridge turn right and down a flight of steps that take you over another stream and into the main part of Folly Wood. Bluebell and wild garlic carpet the woodland floor here in the spring and along the coppiced slope to your left, early purple orchids can be found growing in the leafy shade. At the end of this path which is being upgraded by our team of Folly Volunteers you enter another smaller plantation. Turn right at the junction heading back up the hill and then after 25m turn left and head towards the kissing gate. Passing through this, head across the grazed field and after crossing an open gate you will see the high deer fence of the first plantation on your left. Return back to the entrance of the farm by retracing your steps through the new woodland and down the track.