Interested in wildlife in BS3? Join the group

Finbar Cullen and Ben Barker have set up a BS3 Wildlife Group on Facebook.

And don’t forget to join in the BS3 Winter Garden Bird Watch which runs from October to March. Download a recording sheet.

Over the years over 25 households have been keeping an eye out for which birds are visiting their gardens. Over 2000 records have been submitted to the Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre (BRERC). Here’s a summary for the 2016-17 season Winter Garden Bird Count for Greater Bedminster 16-17

And here’s some of our visiting birds Continue reading “Interested in wildlife in BS3? Join the group” →

Greater Bedminster Newsletter (01:17) – My Wild Bedminster: November

You will know that the Greater Bedminster Community Partnership is no more and has been replaced by a new network called Action Greater Bedminster. This newsletter replaces the GBCP Newsletter and is independent, but supportive, of the new structure. We also want to support other organisations across BS3 and nearby by helping to spread information and ideas.

Below is a Special Newsletter sent in by Matt of Avon Wildlife Trust as part of the on-going My Wild Bedminster project (see other posts on My Wild Bedminster). We will be circulating more information about My Wild Bedminster and other activities over the next few weeks. My Wild Bedminster will continue into 2018 and beyond.

Apologies to AWT for delay in sending this special out, but the change over has been a bit confused.

November is here and so are the first frosts which grip both the air and ground. Crisp leaves now litter the ground creating a golden carpet of yellow and orange, and spiders web glisten silver and white as they hang from shrub to shrub. Berries are still abundant but the competition is intensifying as every creature aims to get their fill.

WHAT TO SEE THIS MONTH

Birds
This month sees the return of our resident birds to the garden in greater numbers as they come in from feeding spots further afield. We also see the first of the winter garden migrant species making their way across from Europe to hang in the garden. Common species like chaffinch and blackbird will be much more visible now alongside the usual goldfinch and long tailed tits. But the bird to look out for is the redwing! (Please let us know if you spot a redwing and where and when) Continue reading “Greater Bedminster Newsletter (01:17) – My Wild Bedminster: November” →

Special NEWSLETTER on My Wild Bedminster (54:17)

From Matt Collis of Avon Wildlife Trust

October is the month of misty mornings and warm afternoons as we all enjoy the last of the suns summer rays. It also sees the last of the summer flowering plants give us their final blooms and final nectar for the year. Don’t be surprised to see them over-flowing with insects gasping for one last sugar-sweet drink!

WHAT TO SEE THIS MONTH

Birds Continue reading “Special NEWSLETTER on My Wild Bedminster (54:17)” →

NEWSLETTER (49:17) – Special on My Wild Bedminster

Organisations in Greater Bedminster/BS3 have been working with Avon Wildlife Trust on their My Wild City project since 2016. Our main contact has been Matt Collis and he will be editing special newsletters on wildlife about once a month. This is the first.

We also want to include information from YOU about wildlife activities in your school, back garden, local park or wherever in BS3, so keep sending them to gbcpnewsletter@gmail.com and paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk . Pictures and drawing too, please.

South Bristol Voice has been working closely with us on this project, so for even more news look at their monthly reports.

September sees the inevitable close of summer and the dawn of autumn. It’s a fantastic month for wildlife in gardens as many creatures make the most of the remaining nectar-filled flowers and the abundant fruits and nuts.

WHAT TO SEE THIS MONTH

Birds
Having hidden away for most of August, garden birds return with freshly grown feathers and are looking their absolute best. They are much more active and vocal again with bird song heard most mornings. Be prepared to hear some weird Continue reading “NEWSLETTER (49:17) – Special on My Wild Bedminster” →

NEWSLETTER (47:17) – Cafes, picnics, networks, pensions

Health & Wellbeing Café

Thanks to a grant from Liverpool Victoria, it is possible to bring those over 55 in Bristol a new type of event that is going to focus on health and wellbeing. The event will have three elements that will combine to create a fun, social and, most importantly, wellbeing boosting afternoon for over 55s.

These are: a combination of therapists (massage, chiropodist etc.) charging affordable rates; a social space serving refreshments and cake (surely cake is good for ones wellbeing!); group ‘wellbeing focussed’ activities that will be open to everyone.

The event will be free to attend and therapists will charge people directly at the event for massages etc. These will be around £5 for a 15 minute session. There are no bookings available in advance.

The group activities for the first event will be run by Paul and Monika from Twin Wave CIC, a community music and sound therapy organisation. They will be doing music based sessions including DIY music and craft sessions, celebrating songs old & new and sound mindfulness using gongs and singing bowls.

The Health and Wellbeing Cafe will take place on Thursday 12th October, 1-5pm @ The Southbank Club, Dean Lane, BS3 1DB.

Community Picnic

St Monica Trust, Way Out West and Acta are putting on a community picnic in South Street Park on Thursday 21st September, 12-2pm. (flyer attached)
The picnic is to bring people of all ages from the local community together in a nice setting where they can share food and conversation and enjoy some local entertainment together. The picnic will take place outside in the local South Street Park, a nice local green space that is accessible to all. Food, refreshments and entertainment will be provided. Also chairs (and shade if needed) for older residents and others in need will be provided.

The event will also hopefully be graced by some of the cast of Acta’s upcoming ‘Blood on the coal’ show which tells the forgotten story of the coal mines of Bedminster, the men who dug the coal, and the women who struggled beside them. They will hopefully be performing some songs from the production.
For more information please contact St Monica Trust’s community development team on 0117 305 2365.

Exhibition of 1873

The Bristol History & Archaeology Society have an event with Mike Hooper coming up at Monica Wills House, Bedminster on Saturday 9th September from 2-4pm, Conference Room. Cost: £3 to include buffet tea.

Vote for SCDA

Please vote for Chessel Centre, a brand new community space in the heart of Bedminster using the link https://www.mandsenergyfund.com/projects/improving-the-economic-and-environmental-sustainability-of-the-chessel-centre

The Deaner Café

This Café is situated in a container in Dame Emily Park. It is a venue for young people in BS3 to have a cuppa & a chat, meet friends and play sports with qualified coaches. For more information have a look at https://www.facebook.com/TheDeanerCafe/

City-wide Networks

As you may know, the 14 Neighbourhood Partnerships have come to an end. Some will be replaced by community led neighbourhood networks, but the pattern is, as yet, unclear. But, there is also some doubt about city-wide networks. Which will survive and which will not? Continue reading “NEWSLETTER (47:17) – Cafes, picnics, networks, pensions” →

GBCP NEWSLETTER (16:17) – 13th April 2017 Special on My Wild Bedminster

GBCP started to work with Avon Wildlife Trust (AWT) on their My Wild City project in 2016. The objectives of the project are two-fold.

Make people more aware of the wildlife around them, that’s plants and creatures great and small;
Make the environment more attractive to wild life. Dragonflies, foxes and people have much the same needs: food and water and somewhere safe to sleep and raise a family. It’s only the details that differ.

BS3 is amongst the most densely populated parts of the city and therefore it’s an area less attractive to wildlife. On the other hand, there’s still quite a lot of wildlife about, if you look for it. AWT and GBCP’s strategy has been to make the most of what we’ve got. Firstly, there are several major wildlife corridors that allow insects, birds and mammals to come in and out from the countryside. These include the Avon New Cut and the railway lines. Secondly, there are ‘islands’ of green. These include parks and other green spaces and also great chunks of back and front garden. Many homes in BS3 have very small back gardens and no front garden, but even a pot of flowers or a hanging basket can mean something to a butterfly, especially if you choose the right plants. The aim is to ‘improve’ these islands for wildlife and to link them up so that creatures can move more easily from one space to another. Continue reading “GBCP NEWSLETTER (16:17) – 13th April 2017 Special on My Wild Bedminster” →

Wish list for trees in Greater Bedminster

In October 2016 the Environment sub group of GBCP reviewed a presentation of work by Lorena Alvarez, Matt Collis, Guy Malkerson and Robert Marson on getting more trees into the area. As well as the report (Greater Bedminster Street Tree Wish List 20160905) there is also a map of where new trees might go on our streets, as shown in this picture, or online here. The Bristol Tree Forum has an excellent website, forum and social media presence for to support trees and those who love them across the city. The report included these points:

A new tree in a street £2,265 (tree and pit)
Each tree is three meters tall and protected with metal guards
Watering for two years is needed to make sure tree becomes fully established included
An aspiration for 50% local species which harbor far more wildlife than exotic species. For example, a native birch supports 266; a sycamore just 15.
Species should be selected from the BCC list of ‘proven adaptive species‘

The main Bristol Council mapping website also has a layer identifying possible new street trees with the purposes of getting sponsorship. This is where there is already a tree pit available. This includes planting, staking and two years watering to get it established, and cost about £300.