silver-washed fritillary © Mike Dimery

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

Weston Big Wood

Biodiversity at its best

Weston Big Wood has always been a flagship nature reserve, where high wildlife value coexists with public interest and visitor pressure.

Much of the reserve is deliberately left unmanaged, especially where the woodland habitat has reached maturity. Here a well-balanced community of wildlife thrives, where woodland plants such as wood anemone and toothwort survive alongside ancient English oaks and small-leaved limes.

An increased understanding
In other parts of Weston Big Wood however, active management is carried out for the benefit of the woodland and visitors to the reserve. Two years ago we were extremely fortunate in taking this forward through an award from Natural England of a £140,000 grant to deliver a two year project with support from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund. Designed to enhance the unique and diverse wildlife interest, improve public access and develop community engagement this project has gone further by increasing people’s understanding of this fantastic ancient woodland, with its hidden industrial heritage. This funding has also enabled us to work to ensure the survival of the traditional woodland craft of coppicing, producing hedging stakes, charcoal and a home grown source of material to surface the paths. The knock-on effect of this is that with a varied woodland structure bat species such as brown long eared bat are able to forage further into the wood. A bat hibernaculum is being built in old buildings on the edge of the quarry to provide the stable conditions required by hibernating bats. It is also hoped that common dormice will find this woodland management to their liking as well as silver-washed fritillary butterflies which will be able to exploit renewed habitats to both feed and lay eggs. Working with local schools has also led to a greater interest from the local communitiy learning more about the wood as you can read below.

Securing the future
The Trust has also been able to improve public access throughout the wood and one of the benefits of this project has been the upgrading of the path along lengths that become very wet after prolonged periods of rain. Using wood chips from areas of the woodland where coppicing management has taken place, these path improvements have taken place in tune with the natural environment of the wood itself.

But above all we have celebrated the quarry that lies at the southern boundary of the site. Working closely with the British Mountaineering Council we have been able to improve the safety of quarry face by removing unsafe areas of rock. Interpretation of the historical heritage will enable visitors to the site understand how wildlife has re-colonised this past industrial area.

The generosity of Natural England has enabled the Trust to achieve many initiatives at this site that were formerly out of reach. Enhancing public awareness and appreciation of this site that has survived for generations will help secure its wildlife and industrial interest well into the future. LOGO

Black Rock Quarry

The Black Rock story

Over 300 million years ago Weston Big Wood was underwater. Its rock, a particular type only present in this area and known as Black Rock carboniferous limestone was formed under a warm tropical sea.

Clues to this fascinating past are revealed in the fossils at the quarry with examples of crinoids such as ‘sea lily’ stem pieces, and ice-cream wafer shaped brachiopod spirifer.
The rock has been a key foundation to the area’s economy, providing a diversity of uses - finest particles used in lime washes and mortars, gravel grades for road construction and larger pieces for building stone. Quarrying has been carried out since early man walked the valley, with flint axes being made from stone quarried from the bed of the river Avon. In the early 19th century the quarry was a bustling, dusty and dangerous industry, and a significant employer for Portishead. Earlier rock extraction techniques were entirely manually and incredibly laborious but following the advent of steam engines in the late 19th century, the holes were drilled with steam powered mechanical hammers. From the 1860s, mechanical rock crushers in the shape of flat faced hammers which broke down the stone into finer particles also took advantage of the new age of steam.
Large chunks to be dynamited into small pieces were often put in old WW1 torpedo nets (reclaimed from the Severn estuary, where they had been used to trap enemy torpedos).

The net would contain the impact of the explosion.
Grading of particles took place through revolving drums with punched holes and screens. In earlier times however, to achieve really fine particles workhouse inmates were employed and paid a pittance on piece rate - they used mallets to pound away at the rock and they were paid by the pile. The rock was transported by trucks from the quarry face and loaded into hoppers which in turn transferred the rock to freight trains which used the now disused Portishead

Clevedon railway line.
Black Rock quarry ceased production in 1938, when production was transferred to the Valley Road site. Bob Free was Manager of this quarry from 1963 to 1988 and recalls above all the noise and dust of this site which is now a quiet refuge for bats and butterflies. “The old quarry employed 40 to 50 workers,” said Bob, “The building that is being converted to the bat hibernaculum dates from the time when Black Rock quarry was connected to the Weston to Portishead light railway which went across the bottom of the valley. Most of the stone excavated at the quarry was sent out by rail, and this building housed part of the loading equipment.”

art workshop

School’s out

Access in its widest sense has been the underlying theme for a remarkable education project which has been running alongside the programme of practical improvements at Weston Big Wood nature reserve.

Last year our education team embarked on an ambitious challenge to engage all schools in Portishead with the nature reserve. After a series of visits throughout the past year they have all assisted in the creation of a sculptural waymarked trail, with interpretative entrances and information points. Much of their work will also be incorporated into a website devoted to the woods which is now in development.

Wild midwinter
As the sun broke through on a frosty January morning in 2006, the first school arrived at Weston Big Wood. Thirty two intrepid five year olds from nearby Highdown Infants School were thrilled by the magic of nature on their doorstep and despite the season, the adventurous children had no difficulty in discovering this ancient woodlands many wildlife wonders.

“It looks like the tree has a little door,” “The trunk feels like stone,” “Wood’s dull in winter, but lots of colour if you look for it,” were some of their observations on what was for many their very first visit to a woodland. ‘“Nature is an artist, things created naturally,”
a parent observed.

Skilled up
After the reserve walks the children were bursting to share their new found knowledge. “I couldn’t believe there would be all those different types of minibeasts in just one area,” said Zachary. “The walk was great. Now I know more about plants,” Back in the classroom we held follow-up environmental art workshops which included teaching new art, design and technology skills to students of all abilities. This non traditional classroom learning experience is often well received by the less academic, who excel in this situation and as a result produce outstanding artwork giving them a real sense of achievement.

Sculpture trail
Wildlife discovery walks in the reserve truly inspired all and fired young imaginations to create impressive designs before using them in the sculptures the school workshops culminated in a performance which included shadow puppets, poetry and storytelling.

Working with project artist, Peter Margerum, the designs were then carved into six rustic green oak waymarker posts and kissing gates. These were all sourced from a local sustainable timber supply at a nearby nature reserve. The posts and gates have now been transformed into works of art celebrating the wild delights of the reserve, from beetles to bats and from buzzards to butterflies. Brass plaques depicting typical tree and flower imagery of the site have been specially commissioned. Even the new kissing gates for improved access have been carved with wildlife imagery and words.

Sharing secrets
The project has benefited enormously from local people, and this has added even greater meaning to the experiences of many of these children. Bill Dixon, volunteer reserve warden has assisted in leading some of the Highdown Junior School visits and enchanted children and adults with his stories of managing the woodland over the years and the diverse wildlife seen. “I learned a lot today and it will all be used in the future. When I am older I will look after the woods for you Bill,” offered Jemma, from Highdown Juniors.
Nocturnal secrets were revealed, when Claire Shellis, the local volunteer bat warden led teenage members of the Portishead Youth Project on a bat detecting walk on a balmy October evening. The greatest number of species recorded to date were picked up on the detectors that night including noctule, brown long eared and natterer bats. Children have also enjoyed glimpses into the past workings of the quarry thanks to fascinating archival material and photographs shared by Bob Free, former quarry manager, Chris Richards, local geologist and Sandy Tebbutt, local historian.

Mudlarks
As the project drew to a close in March this year, the last school to be involved was St Barnabas at West Hill, Portishead, but that was planned before a period of torrential rain. On what had to be the muddiest day yet of 2007, we were all set to cancel the site visit. Enthusiastic class teacher Jane Barker-Doe, flatly refused. “I can’t return to the classroom,” she explained “I’ll be faced with a sea of very sad faces. For many of the pupils, some of who come from the more deprived estates of the town, it will be the first encounter with nature. We can’t let them down.” And despite (or perhaps because of) the mud, another hugely successful visit took place.

Wildlife, it’s all about us!
The project has provided a great opportunity for schools and community groups to celebrate the heritage (both natural and industrial) of Weston Big Wood through outdoor environmental education activity days.

These events involved children, teachers and parent helpers in the great wildlife learning curve, and further celebration events were shared by the local community. The Trust firmly believes that community involvement is vital in the long term sustainable management of its sites. Through these interactive education site visits, a sense of ownership of the woodland is passed on to the local community. This was heightened further by active involvement in some of the site improvements. Inviting participants to influence the design of improvements such as waymarkers, signs, and entrance information points is invaluable in achieving a sense of pride and ownership of
the site.

Join us at the launch of the trail!