About the Reserve Woodland wildlife All New and beautiful

This Local Nature Reserve beside the Local Nature Reserves are natural sites This is the diary extract of a holiday-maker, River Avon is mainly made up of three that have a legal status. Reserves help to 23 June, 1836. His delight in reaching the maturing broadleaved woodlands – protect wildlife habitats near towns, making natural environment of the Gorge Conham River Park, Hencliff Wood and an important contribution to the UK’s after industrial is striking: Bickley Wood. biodiversity. Bickley Wood is an SSSI (Site Once part of the old Kingswood Forest, most of Specfic Scientific Interest) because of its important geology. Look out for these The first two miles as far as Crew’s Hole of the site is oak woodland. Some semi- was flat, stale and unprofitable but from improved grassland can be found at the top common plants at Avon Valley Woodlands:

Paul Hulbert Paul Hulbert Paul the turn of the river beyond this place all of the slope and there are small areas of “ floodplain meadow, hedgerows and was new and beautiful, the banks of the scrub along the riverbank. Some stream assuming a bolder and loftier aspect, small areas of ash, wild cherry and being clothed with a richness of verdure and sycamore have developed contrasting strikingly with the tameness in the old quarries and on some and sterility which so generally prevailed of the grassland and scrub areas. between Crew’s Hole and Bath Bridge. The Bristol Record Office Record Bristol The Blackthorn’s The familiar sight of the scenery of this charming route was agreeably common name comes abundant Herb Robert – from its dark bark. The a member of the geranium diversed in many places by the works now bitter sloe fruits are an family and one of many important food plant for common wild flower in progress for the formation of a railway, birds. species. intended to connect the cities of Bristol Paul Hulbert Paul Hulbert Paul and Bath. ” Group History Hill Barton

This map is dated 1610. It shows few signs of the intense industrial activity that was to take place here in the following centuries. Wildflowers such as Bramble can be found bluebells, celandines and throughout the woodland. wood anemones. These If managed, it forms part of are flourishing as dense a scrub layer that protects woodland is opened up wildlife and birds. to let more light reach the ground.

Avon Valley Woodlands • Avon Valley Woodlands • Avon Valley Woodlands • Avon Valley Woodlands • Avon Valley Woodlands • Avon Valley Woodlands • Avon Valley Woodlands • Avon Valley Wood-

Things To look for getting there

John Morris John Pattison Sally Many new facilities, especially at Conham River Avon Valley I Park make parts of the Reserve fully accessible to wheelchair users and buggies. Corner Rosie On foot: Several public rights of way link up • Bat Conservation Trust Conservation Bat Woodlands By bicycle: From Bristol along the River Avon Trail Bus: Services are available along Memorial Road. Local Nature Reserve Then follow the footpaths.

The red Pennant The berries of the ‘wild Car: Parking is available at Castle Farm Road for sandstone on the quarried service’ trees in Hencliff walks around Bickley Wood and Hencliff Wood. For slopes of Bickley Wood Wood, commonly known walks around Conham and the Panorama Walk SSSI. as ‘chequers’. please use the car park at Conham River Park. Both Ruth Cloeman Ruth Cloeman Ruth sites are signposted along Memorial Road. Conham car park: Grid reference ST 629 721. Post code BS15 3AW Castle Farm Road car park: Grid reference ST 641 707. Post code BS15 3NN

become a friend This Monkey Puzzle Tree These and other ruins is one of two that marked near the 100 steps housed the entrance to Conham a copper smelter that was Much of the Avon Valley is owned by South Hall, nr. Conham River Park. advanced for its time. Council and is managed

Peter Milner Peter in partnership with the Friends of Hanham The black triangular- Nature Reserve. For information on events shaped coping stones on the walls on Ferry Lane. These and workdays ✆ 01454 863592 were cast from copper slag * [email protected]. – a byproduct of brass and Join in the fun! an example of waste material cleverly re-used.

For information on the Reserve use the This information is also available in search at: : www.southlgos.gov.uk other languages, in large print, Braille Two health walks and an audio guide or audio tape. Please phone ✆ 01454 relating to Conham River Park, its 868004 if you need any of these or any history and the bats you are likely find other help to access Council services. there is available from local libraries. Designed by Council Design + Print Services Printed on recycled paper S 3169 | 02 | 08 a rich heritage

There are many clues to the site’s past. Coal mining also took place here with So much took place here before the trucks called ‘drams’ taking coal down to woodlands became well established. There barges waiting on the river. The slightly were 12 small quarries busily extracting acidic spoil heap left over has now been Pennant sandstone between Conham vegetated with acid-loving plants including River Park and Hanham Mills. Hanham gorse. This provides an interesting variation stone was useful not only for building in plant life within the Reserve. the railway but for paving, kerbs and Derelict buildings in the woodlands include a powder Coleman Ruth gravestones as well as for general building. house at the bottom of Hencliff Wood. This housed the The river provided power and a means of dynamite for the quarries and nearby railway. The thick transporting the stone to Bristol and Bath. walls of some old smelter works near the 100 steps are still standing, along with the boundary wall of now- LNR Boundary demolished Conham Hall. These days, small thickets To Paths provide a good habitat for small birds and mammals. St Parking Anne’s Troopers Hill Park LNR Toilet Sally Pattison Sally D GUILFORD RD H R wild service tree CHURC BBQ area D

R

L H The Wild Service or Chequerberry Tree (Sorbus

I E M G E

L A ND L E I R ER torminalis) is a native European deciduous tree which

H R SO . N M R D R D A Conham H Panorama Walk D grows to about 25 metres tall. It is now relatively rare, N H O T C R but there are several between Hencliff Wood and O RD Conham W N 100 S TO Conham River Park. The tree’s small berries are called River Park K NK MEMORIAL RD W O

Ruins Steps A M H chequers, and English pubs called Chequers are Conham R DR D traditionally named after this tree rather than the board Spoil S S Ferry G N IN E Hanham Heap K E game. The berries were used to treat colic (torminalis U Q

Beese’s Bar & Memorial means ‘good for colic’). Old Chequers pubs would

B I

R EASTWOOD R Tea Gardens Cottage supply the berries to patrons to neutralise the effects

C Hanham High

H

W Schoolof beer. The tree grows best on limestone and at O Eastwood Farm

D O D J Local Nature woodland edges and in hedgerows where shade is ER G

R SE Reserve D

D Y A R only partial. Hanham Hall AV Y TH Christ E S EA Broom R H Eastwood Church D D D Hill R R

Farm Primary Group History Hill Barton TE S W HI K Y ConhamW C Hanham N EL U D fromMU Conham T Hall Farm H SA IT A H M Ferry – the W C D R oldest river R E MA S RIO N ferry crossing Hencliff on the Avon. AVON VIEW BR Wood O East O M Wood Cherry H IL Coleman Ruth Trees L D

R R D R N

O Memories i

W v M Ring the bell to call the e M H O accidental hero C r

IT A Heronry C ferry. The tea gardens P A G AY M W R R v E Hanham O F I were established by Mrs

A o V R IF

V L E n

C R

E E

EN S Beese in 1846. A H

V I

C D E

An express train on Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s R Poplar E : www.beeses.co.uk E H W S E ✆

Plantationo N A 0117 977 7412 C Y Great Western Railway hit and killed quarryman L IF A FE B W B John Chiddy, 31 March 1876. It is said that O Powder A Y D T R S After a drink at Beeses, Chiddy bravely removed a huge spherical rock Broomhill House M R R D explore Eastwood Farm Nurseries A F Local Nature Reserve. You from the track, averting a disaster. This incident E L Trading T Hanham can get close to wildlife on a S is remembered in a mounted stone at Memorial A Estate C Green 1.5 mile circular stroll along Cottage. Even Pit Road was renamed Memorial Heath the riverbank. Farm R Castle Inn Road to remember the tragic accident. iv The e Farm r Batch A v o n historic hanham T ra il Playing Field Foxes Riverside Long before the industrialisation of the area in recent Wood Cottages centuries, the Romans built a road through Hanham. Bickley Trading Wood It is thoughtEstate that the remains of a Roman villa lie A4174 Bickley beneath Castle Farm Estate. In the 1950s, a hoard Farm St Brendan’s of 4th century coins wereTraining found in WestfieldCollege Road. Bristol Record Office Record Bristol Memories Centre Hanham FERRY RD Mills Long Fox D The Old Lock A Old Lock Manor O Playing Field and Weir pub R & Weir

then and now. ING Not much has R Weir Chequers John Morris John N changed – until O Hanham Cricket Ground V Playing Field you look at how A Lock the quarried areas have been reclaimed by A4 woodland. Bristol Record Office Record Bristol A view of old cottages near Hicks Hanham lock c. Gate 1900. Hanham is listed in the n o HicksDomesday Gate Book DangerAv A4 er A further transport development in the area was the as Farm‘Hanum’ – Please keepRiv to paths. place of ancient BATH RD Keep away from dangerous structures, building of the Kennet & Avon Canal – completed quarry faces and cliff edges. kings/would-be Steep paths in places. in 1810. Hanham Lock is No.1 of over 100 locks. kings. A4175 Offices © Copyright South Gloucestershire Council 2006. All rights reserved. This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. 100023410, 2008.

DURLEY HILL Durley Avon Valley Woodlands • Avon Valley Woodlands • Avon Valley Woodlands • Avon Valley Woodlands • Avon Valley Woodlands • Avon Valley Woodlands • Avon ValleyPark Woodlands • Avon Valley Wood-