The Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project is working to protect the outstanding wildlife interest of the Avon Gorge and the Downs. We also aim to raise awareness about the importance of this unique place for people and rock-cress wildlife. The Project is a partnership of:

Welcome to the Avon Gorge, Discover the wildlife of the and Durdham Down... Avon Gorge and Downs one of the most exciting We are also working in partnership with the National Trust who manage part places to enjoy wildlife of Leigh Woods on the North in Bristol! side of the Gorge and the Friends of the Downs and Avon Gorge.

For further information, copies of our natural trial leaflets or events programme please contact: Mandy Leivers, Avon Gorge & Downs Biodiversity Education Officer, The Learning Department, Gardens, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3HA Tel: 0117 9030609 E-mail: [email protected] www.avongorge.org.uk www.facebook.com/avongorge This leaflet is also available on

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By Train: By Bus: By station train nearest the all services following The Caring for Wildlife Discover the wildlife of the The Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Avon Gorge and Downs Project has three roles: • Surveying and monitoring Wildlife • management • Education

Gorgeous plants Common blue Bugs and beasties From Observatory Hill and Summer is also the time when Seawalls you can enjoy stunning you may come across some of views of the Avon Gorge. Just our more delicate inhabitants. below where you are standing, 27 species of butterfly live here. rare wildflowers grow on the Look out for marbled whites, craggy ledges. Two of them, common blues and meadow the delicate Bristol rock-cress browns. In the Gully you might and lollypop-like Bristol onion, also spot a rare small blue or aren’t found anywhere else in chalkhill blue. the UK. Brilliant birds Goat Unique to the Gorge We’ve counted 35 species of Four types of tree, Bristol, birds breeding on the Downs. Wilmott’s, Houston’s and Leigh Look out for unusual residents Woods whitebeams, grow wild such as green woodpeckers and here and nowhere else in the bullfinches whilst you’re here. world. Super speedy Cliff hanger From the Peregrine Watch In the winter you may see dare- point you may be lucky enough devil conservationists working to catch sight of a peregrine from ropes on the cliffs below. falcon. For the best chance of Peregrine falcon These specially trained workers seeing one of their spectacular protect the rare plants by aerial displays visit in May and clearing invasive scrub and June. non-native weeds. Bird café Goats in the Gully Many other birds also come In a specially fenced area of here to feed. Big flocks of rooks, the Gorge, known as the Gully, jackdaws and gulls can be seen we’ve introduced a small probing the football pitches for herd of goats. These ‘hairy juicy worms and grubs. conservationists’ are helping make room for rare wildflowers, Observatory hill Mammal magic by eating invasive woody plants An early morning stroll might like scrub and bramble. reveal some of our more secretive animals. Foxes, hedgehogs, Marvellous meadows weasels and roe deer have In summer why not come to the all been seen. Endangered Downs for a picnic. At this time horseshoe bats also roost in of the year the meadow areas the Gorge’s caves. The easiest are brimming with wildflowers. mammals to spot, however, are acrobatic grey squirrels. Many different kinds such as orchids, scabious, harebell and wild thyme all thrive here. Special designations – After the plants have had time what’s in a name? to flower and set seed we cut The Avon Gorge is such an important the meadows to make hay. place for wildlife, that it has been internationally recognised as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and nationally designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Downs are a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI).