Green Capital / avon nature reserve
Green Capital 2015:Derelict site transformed
A derelict sports ground and former World War Two dump in the Avon Gorge has been transformed into Bristol’s newest nature reserve, thanks to the help of nearly a thousand local people.
Bennett’s Patch and White’s Paddock was used to dump spoil from the Blitz and has also been a former brick works, timber yard and sports ground.
is needed now More than ever
Bevis Watt, CEO of Avon Wildlife Trust said the 12-acre brownfield site had a number of challenges to overcome: “The spoil means there are four metres of rubble under most of the site.
“It had 1.5km of derelict fencing, derelict buildings, soil contamination issues and many more challenges including two unexploded World War II bombs.”
“Despite all of those challenges there are already exciting signs of wildlife to be encouraged – a huge slow worm population and Kestrels and Weasels have already been seen hunting on the site,” he added.
Volunteers have spent two years transforming the site and have planted more than 4,000 trees.
Wildlife broadcaster Simon King said: “The transformation of this incredibly challenging brownfield site not only connects up wildlife habitat in the Avon Gorge, it is helping to inspire a whole city.”
Avon Wildlife Trust are holding a community open day at the site on Sunday.