Avon Wildlife Trust

Which grey heron are you today? 🤔 These distinctive, almost prehistoric looking birds are known for their long legs and beak, which they use to wait on the edges of water for their next meal 🐟 Their legs help them to wade into water without getting their body wet, while their beak lets them hold on to their slippery fish dinner! Adults in breeding plummage have a dark stripe above the eye and a long black plume that extends from their head 🎩 Anglers used to believe that herons' feet released a scent that would help attract fish - they would often carry a heron's foot with them to bring them good luck! 😳

Surveying in one place, over time is powerful and insightful 💥 It builds a clear picture of biodiversity and provides evidence of increases or decreases in species. Grow Wilder has used iNaturalist (with the settings changed) to learn more about the site and see an increase in biodiversity as a result of wildlife gardening. Eg. Planting honeysuckle is amazing for attracting long tongued moths, such as the honeysuckle moth and the hummingbird hawkmoth. By also planting Lady's bedstraw, their full life cycle is supported as it provides food for the caterpillars of these moths. More about wildlife reporting: https://lnkd.in/ecPjW6vq #citizenscience #wildlifesurvey #wildlifereporting #lovenature #brerc #inaturalist #TeamWilder

Today, The Office for Environmental Protection, who exist to hold the UK Government and other public authorities to account on nature issues, has published their review on progress towards meeting our country’s legal environmental commitments. The UK Government is committed to a number of environmental targets and goals, such as reversing the decline in nature, and water and air quality. These commitments are set out in their Environmental Improvement Plan. The assessment published by the Office for Environmental Protection reports that progress towards improving the environment has slowed down and that UK Government is still largely off track in achieving its commitments. Joan Edwards OBE, The Wildlife Trusts’ director of policy and public affairs, has commented that “getting farming right is the key to unlock landscape-scale nature recovery in the UK but this cannot be done without sufficient budget, policy changes and support for farmers”. She adds that nature is the foundation of our food supply, climate resilience and well-being, and “yet the Office for Environmental Protection is clear that progress on nature-friendly farming is lagging behind and time is running out. The UK Government must ensure policies and public finances turbocharge a transition to nature-positive farming”. This needs to be a high priority, with farming taking place over 70% of the UK’s land area. For more on today’s report, visit the Office for Environmental Protection’s website: https://lnkd.in/egY7_KK3

Last month, BS36 Wildlife Champion David hosted a wildlife walk and pub lunch in Frampton Cotterell 💚🥾 It was a bright, crisp winter day and the group got to appreciate and notice all the little things around them, like mushrooms growing out of haystacks 🍄 goldfinches feeding 🐦 and slimemoulds growing on a leaf! 🍃 Emma, our Wildlife Champions Coordinator, said: "It was a beautiful reminder to stop and enjoy the slower pace of winter, and to take the time to notice things that others might overlook!"

We're looking for three volunteer trustees to join our Board of Directors. Ideally, we are seeking individuals who have some specific experience or expertise in one or more of the following areas: 💷 Fundraising and income generation 🧑⚖️ Legal 📈 Finance The Partnership is entering into delivery of our new 2025-2027 strategy, where we will expand our work across Bristol and the West of England region to catalyse a fast and fair transition. Our new directors will play an important role in helping the organisation deliver against our strategy and business objectives. More info and how to apply 👇 https://buff.ly/4h6GCfD

BS35 Wildlife Champion Emma is an integral member of the Thornbury Community Permaculture Project. The group run weekly permaculture gardening sessions every Friday from 9:30-11:00 am at Alexandra Way Care Home. The land is owned by South Gloucestershire Council, who put together this video about the permaculture garden, showcasing some camera trap footage of wildlife captured on site 🌱🦊📸 As well as featuring in this video, Emma has also been nominated for the Mayor Award, with her nomination showcasing her incredible contributions to her local community as well as her dedication to a wilder, more sustainable future. "Emma is a one-woman wonder and an incredibly important member of Sustainable Thornbury. She is the driving force behind the Plastic Free Thornbury movement, which collaborates with local businesses and community groups all over Thornbury to help them - and all of us - reduce our dependence on single-use plastics. As part of this work, Emma regularly helps the Thornbury Litter Pickers, helping to keep our town tidy. "Ever thrifty and resourceful, Emma runs a seed bank at Thornbury Library and she established a green book exchange at Hawkes House. As a member of Sustainable Thornbury, she supports the Thornbury in Bloom team by looking after a flower bed in Castle Court which is home to drought-resistant and perennial flowers and plants. Emma is Sustainable Thornbury's Transition Town representative, and our regular spokesperson on Thornbury Radio, where she gives weekly updates about what Sustainable Thornbury is doing or on current environmental issues. "In all, we'd be quite lost without her, and we feel the Thornbury community benefits a great deal from Emma's untiring efforts and dedication.” Thank you, Emma, for everything you do for nature 💚

Some amazing footage of greater horseshoe bats at Goblin Combe 🦇 As part of the Wilder Woodlands restoration, bat surveys have taken place to evidence the impact of biodiversity change and increase the undertanding of the area 🌲🌳 This recording shows the bats 'light sampling' at the entrance of a Kingswood Mine. It was taken using a thermal imaging scope and is playing at half speed. Learn more about the amazing species restoration work happening at Goblin Combe: https://lnkd.in/e-DV6g58

Get to know our species of the month ✨the grey heron✨ January's short, midwinter days are great for a spot of heron watching, as they hunt for fish in the half-light of dawn and dusk 🐟 We look after Cleeve Heronry (BS49 4PW), and while there's no public access to the reserve itself there's good viewing from the layby, so bring your binoculars 👀

The launch of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy is featured in the latest Bristol24/7 magazine, featuring some of the exciting projects being delivered by partners in the West of England Nature Partnership. Read about how the nine priority programmes will help to focus action for habitats and species, and the plans for our Pollinator Pathways project this year. Printed copies are available around Bristol, and here’s a link to the online version 👇 https://lnkd.in/eGZkxHtb #NaturesRecovery

Become a Grow Leader 🌱 If you are thinking of switching careers or starting a new food growing project in 2025, our Grow Leader course is back this February and could be just what you're looking for 💚 You'll develop an understanding of fundamental growing techniques and holistic landscape management, which will prepare you to grow food at an allotment, community garden or small market garden scale. Starting on 28 February at our Grow Wilder urban nature hub, the course will run for eight weeks and is taught by a range of tutors who are experienced practitioners in their field and passionate about agroecological food growing and landscape management🌱 Grow wilder in 2025 - become a Grow Leader! Book your place today 👇 https://lnkd.in/eaUVnkgp