Leap Valley is Part of this Pollinator Pathway Project

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What is a pollinator pathway and why is it important? 

Habitat fragmentation is one of the biggest threats facing wildlife in the UK. Lots of species will require different habitats depending on the time of year and their life stage. So, being able to move between habitats to find different food sources is vital. Many crops rely on pollination by solitary bees, bumblebees, wasps, hoverflies, butterflies, moths and beetles. In fact, insect pollination is worth an estimated £690 million to food production in the UK. However, in the last 20 years we’ve seen a 60% decrease in the number of flying insects in the UK, with habitat loss and fragmentation being a major contributing factor. 

Pollinator Pathways will connect different habitats and allow wildlife to traverse the landscape and access different habitats and by doing so increase the abundance of our struggling pollinator species. Reversing the decline of pollinators in Avon Pollinator Pathways is an innovative two-year project to create and improve pollen-rich habitats and provide a more positive future for pollinators.

By improving the connectivity of pollinator habitats, the project aims to increase the abundance and diversity of pollinators and the availability of well-managed habitats. This will be essential to building resilience for pollinator species as our climate changes.

The Leap Valley Pollinator Project

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On Tuesday September 8th the Avon Wildlife Trust Pollinator Pathway Team will be in Leap Valley and work will take place in the areas shown on the map to sow wild flower seeds to increase the number of flower species and that way to help the pollinating insects such as bees.

The areas will first be scarified and then seed will be sown and rolled in.

If you would like to volunteer to help with the project by sowing seed after about 1pm please send an e mail message to friendsofleapvalleysecretary@gmail.com  

To find out more about the wider project see avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

A New Wooden Bridge

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As many of you were aware, the existing wooden bridge had started to suffer. Although it was thought just some parts would be replaced it was not viable. SGC decided a new bridge was needed and three great guys worked over two days to create a replacement. We are very grateful to them and SGC for funding it.

A Replacement Bench by the Stream

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We are very pleased to have the seat near the stone bridge back. It is a favourite place to sit for so many people. This one is made of aluminium so hopefully cannot be set fire to like the previous one. We are very grateful to Dave Buchan, Facilities Manager at Downend and Bromley Heath Parish Council, for fitting it. We are also extremely grateful to the Parish Council and the Heathfest Committee who have each funded half the cost of the new seat.

BRISTOL AVON RIVERS TRUST FIXED PHOTOGRAPHY

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If you have been out in the Valley recently you may have noticed laminated boards at the fence overlooking the Wetland and on the Wooden Bridge. These have been erected by BART to hopefully get the users of the valley to participate in monitoring the effect the Leaky Dams and Berms installed last year are having. Our Wetland is one of the areas chosen by the Resilient Frome Project. The remit is to restore more natural flow patterns in heavily modified urban tributaries and implement nature-based flood management solutions across North Bristol.

I encourage you to take part. Put your camera into the metal fixed point alongside the poster. Take your photo then move your camera to the QR code on the smaller info board. You will be able to upload your photo there. The information will be linked to the RiverHub dashboard.

Wanton Vandalism

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I very sadly have to report that on Saturday the 20th of December, around 18.30, some very selfish individuals destroyed the bench we installed by the stone bridge. It was used and loved by young and the elderly as a place to rest and have some quality time. One cant imagine why anyone would want to do that. It had taken a good deal of effort and the benevolence of the Downend Round Table to help us put this bench in place only last year.