Our beautiful open space of Leap Valley has been a respite to many who are using it for daily exercise and soul lifting. In these frightening and frustrating times it does us good to get out and hear see and smell nature and know that normal spring events are still happening. There is so much bird song, enhanced by less noice pollution I think. Bluebells in the wooded areas are beautiful as are the Marsh Marigolds in the Wetland. 

I have never seen or heard so many people in the valley and I am concerned that not everyone is staying within government guidelines of safe distancing. It has also been recommended by South Glos that dogs stay on leads at this time to prevent unintentional close contact with other valley users when they have to be retrieved. This is not being done by most of the dog walkers so perhaps take this on board if you can so that everyone may feel safe. 

Our three volunteer hard working men who do such a good job of caring for our valley are unable by council requirement not to be holding work days during this crisis. Please everyone take care of this beautiful area of ours. Take home any litter, use the dog bins and please dont break the trees as has happened for no apparent reason. 

We do so hope that this crisis is soon over and we can go about our lives more normally. Please keep safe everyone and do as we are required by the government and the council who have our best interests at heart.. 

If you have been up to the orchard you may have seen the new kissing gate where the stile was. The stile had rotted and was unsafe so the Friends removed it but it then became a concern that children or dogs could easily go out through the gate from the orchard to the road which does carry quite a lot of resident’s traffic plus some fast cars cutting through who shouldn’t be.

We reported this to South Glos. Council and we are very grateful that they have now installed a kissing gate. We hope this will make it easier than climbing over a stile and safer than an unprotected opening.

Angie has been working on a new map of the orchard. There are still 3 cider apple trees that we don’t know the names of but hope that the Bromley Heath Cider Collective might be able to help. All the trees have been relabelled as the copper labels were not successful.