Vital conservation work to restore Bristol’s historic Stoke Park

Vital conservation work at the historic Stoke Park can start in the New Year, thanks to a £1m funding pot.

Looking down over Bristol, the Grade II-registered estate is a popular public space for people across the city, but significant investment is needed to restore important features, including a World War II anti-aircraft gun battery, and support a wider diversity of wildlife.

The park has secured around £500,000 of Countryside Stewardship funding from Natural England to carry out work over the next two years. This money is match-funded by the Stoke Park dowry money which can only be used for work on the estate.

Ian Barrett, CEO of Avon Wildlife Trust, said: “We are delighted that Bristol City Council has been successful in this funding which allows Stoke Park’s historic and valuable landscape to be managed sensitively for people and wildlife.

“The work to restore and improve grassland is vitally important. Wildflower grassland is not only a beautiful landscape to enjoy, but a rich habitat for many species including butterfly and bee populations. Yet we’ve lost 97 per cent of the UK’s wildflower-rich grasslands since the 1930s.

“We support the work Bristol City Council is doing in Stoke Park to reverse this decline locally and restore a grassland landscape within the city.”

Improvements due to take place include clearing scrub and young woodland, introducing grazing, the restoration of a heritage wall, planting of 70 new parkland trees to replace those that have been lost, hedge laying, planting an orchard and establishment of species rich grassland.

Work to protect the popular anti-aircraft battery, known as Purdown Percy, will help safeguard it from further vandalism and disrepair.

The plan is to clear the area of trees and scrub, protect the battery from damage with security fencing and graze the area with sheep or goats. Further funding is also being sought to turn the site into a key educational resource.

Asher Craig says the work will ensure the park can be enjoyed by future generations

Deputy mayor Asher Craig said: “We are delighted to have received this funding to help protect and enhance the fantastic Stoke Park Estate.

“The estate has many important historical features. It is also a diverse and interesting landscape, enjoyed by local people for a range of leisure activities.

“The estate is a hugely popular green space within the city, and we want to carry out these improvements to make sure that people can continue to enjoy it for generations to come.”

There will be disruption to some normal walking routes whilst scrub and young woodland removal takes place.

This work will start in January and February 2018 around the World War II battery and the surrounding areas. The council will be finding new places for woodland to ensure no overall loss of woodland takes place.

Once grazing is established, people will still be able to walk through grazed areas (apart from the area around Purdown Percy) but some rules will apply, and in areas that are grazed, dogs will need to be kept on leads and away from cattle.

The council’s parks team will be holding a walk and talk on January 11 and 12 2018 at 1.30pm to explain the restoration work taking place. They will meet at The Vench, Romney Avenue, BS7 9TB.

For information about the location of work and proposed grazed areas, visit: www.bristol.gov.uk/stokeparkimprovements

Main image by Jess Connett

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