AGENDA ITEM NO.6

DOWNS COMMITTEE

30th March 2009

Report of: Director of Neighbourhoods

Title: and Downs Wildlife Project - ninth annual review

Officer presenting report: Helen Hall, Nature Conservation Officer, Parks, Neighbourhoods

Contact telephone number: (0117) 9223750

RECOMMENDATION

That the report be noted

Summary

To report for information on the ninth annual review of the Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project

The significant issues in the report are:

• Conservation Management Programme - progress • Education Programme - progress • New project partner - Bristol University

1. Policy

N/A

2. Consultation

Internal

None

3. External

None

- 1 - 4. Context

The Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project was launched on 23rd October 1999. It is a partnership of Bristol City Council, Bristol Gardens, the Downs Committee, Natural England, Bristol University, and the Society of Merchant Venturers.

The aim of the project is ‘to secure the future of the outstanding wildlife interest of the Avon Gorge and Clifton and Durdham Downs and to raise awareness and understanding of this unique location and its importance to people and wildlife’

Annual Review

This report provides a review of progress, and the key achievements of the project, between January and December 2008.

Management of the Gorge

The Project continued the programme of conservation management works in the Gorge. Works focused on scrub removal on key areas of limestone grassland at St Vincent’s Rocks and Great Quarry.

Restoration of limestone grassland in the Gully also continued. Shrubby undergrowth and invasive plants that had grown back since last year’s work were removed and hazel was re-coppiced. Monitoring work revealed that limestone grassland plants have started to colonise the cleared areas, with species such as kidney vetch and wild marjoram beginning to become established. Other species such as dwarf sedge, which were previously restricted by heavy shading, have also started to increase in numbers.

Silky Wave Moth Survey

The Curator of Invertebrates at Bristol Zoo Gardens took on the annual monitoring for the silky wave moth, guided by the national conservation charity Butterfly Conservation. The Avon Gorge is the only English site for this very rare species. During the surveys moths were recorded in nine areas of the Gorge with good numbers in the Gully and Black Rocks Quarry.

- 2 -

Events and Activities

The events programme was as popular as ever. Despite a wet summer, there were more people than ever participating in the walks, talks, courses, children’s and family events held during the year. Due to high demand, popular events were repeated. The programme was also expanded and developed to include new activities such as: 'The private life of hedgehogs', 'owl prowls', 'get to grips with grasses' and 'Mini- beasts and mud paintings'.

Summer Education Assistant

For the first time the project employed an Avon Gorge & Downs Summer Education Assistant. Her role was to help meet demand over the peak summer period and to increase the number and diversity of people participating in education events and activities.

During the early part of the summer the assistant focused on encouraging new school groups to visit the Downs. Later in the summer the focus switched to summer play schemes, who the project worked with for the first time.

Bristol Carnival of Creatures Project

This exciting project, funded by BBC Breathing places, gave a Year 4 class from St Michael’s on the Mount (a central Bristol school) the opportunity to find out about local wildlife and explore ways they could help nature.

The project involved a fact-finding day on the Downs, followed by workshops to create performances and make costumes for a special show at the Bristol .

Over the Bristol Festival of Nature weekend, over 500 wildlife masks were made with children visiting the event. Children also help to create five mascots for the Bristol Carnival of Creatures procession and performance which took place on the Sunday. Through their performances the school children shared what they had learnt about the wildlife on the Downs with members of the public in a fun and imaginative way.

- 3 -

Community Groups

The Education Officer gave a talk or guided walk to 644 people from 19 different community groups. These included a family bird walk as part of ’s ‘Sound of Many Waters Festival’, a guided walk for the Bristol Branch of the Parkinsons Society and walks and talks for a number of wildlife groups, WIs and gardening clubs.

The Bristol Downs – a natural history year

Published in October, The Bristol Downs – a natural history year, was written by local author Geraldine Taylor. The Project’s Education Officer acted as natural history advisor for this book. It’s already proven to be very popular with the public and includes information about the Project.

Spreading the word

The Project was promoted at a number of public events. In May, it participated in the International Plant Conservation Day events at the Zoo and in June it was at the Bristol Festival of Nature. In July, the project took a display to the University of Bristol Botanic Garden open day.

August saw the project spending four days running a mask-making tent at the Children’s Festival. And in September, it took a display to the Sneyd Park Nature Reserve open day.

During October, the project also contributed to the Avon Biodiversity Partnership’s wild waters family fun day by taking along an interactive display and leading a family walk.

New Project Partner

The project was delighted that the University of Bristol formally joined the Project as new partner. The University regards the gorge as a unique location for teaching and research, and will be working with the project to carry out research projects to guide our conservation work on rare species. They will also be encouraging students to learn about the gorge and its special wildlife.

- 4 -

5. Proposal

None

6. Other Options Considered

N/A

7. Risk Assessment

N/A

8. Equalities Impact Assessment

N/A

9. Legal and Resource Implications:

Legal The Clifton and Durdham Downs ( Bristol ) Act 1861 provides that the Downs should remain as a place for the public resort and recreation of the citizens and inhabitants of Bristol, and that a committee should be appointed to manage them.The recommendation contained in this report is within the powers conferred by this statute.

Legal advice given by: Frances Horner, Senior Solicitor

10. Financial (To be completed by the designated finance officer)

Revenue Type Revenue here

Capital Type Capital here

Financial advice given by: Type name and job title of relevant finance officer

11. Land

None

- 5 - 12. Personnel

N/A

Appendices:

Appendix A - Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project education programme statistics 2008

ACCESS TO INFORMATION Background Papers

Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project Ninth Annual Review Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project education statistics 2008

- 6 - Appendix (6) A Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project education programme statistics January – December 2008

Summary 1. Guided events 2,004 participants, broken down as follows: 313 came to one of the event programme walks 115 people attended one of our courses 1,236 people came to a children’s or family event. 179 people came on a guided walk with their community group 161 children attended a summer playscheme session. 2. Self-guided nature trails / other The Downs’ bird, tree and meadow trail leaflets were publications all re-printed. ‘The Bristol Downs – a natural history year’ book was written, edited, printed and launched. 3. Formal education sessions 551 students were taught in 22 education sessions 4. Talks about the wildlife and 887 participants, broken down as follows: landscape of the Avon Gorge & Downs 243 experienced a talk as part of the events programme 644 came to a talk given to their community group.

Total number of people attending informal education events and formal education sessions – 3,442

Break down of stats

Walk Title Date Number of Number of Number of places places attendees on booked available the day Tree gazing on the Avenue 9th March 27 25 24 Gorgeous plants 5th April 26 25 30 Paradise bottom in spring 13th April 29 25 27 Paradise bottom in spring 19th April 25 25 18 (horrid rain) Early birds and bacon butties 20th April 25 25 24 Meadow medicine 14th May 32 30 25 Going batty 31st May 40 40 30 Wild words 24th June 16 25 10 Silky wave walk 8th July 38 25 18 Postcard promenade 26th Oct 30 25 22 Owl prowl on the Downs 13th Nov 45 45 31 Owl prowl 2 19th Nov 47 45 36 Dinosaurs and diamonds 23rd Nov 20 25 18 TOTAL No – 13 walks TOTAL - 313

Talks Date Number of Number of Number of places places attendees on booked available the day It’s a bird’s life 5th Feb 55 55 51 Peacocks and scarlet tigers 4th March 55 55 49 Private life of hedgehogs 7th Oct 62 55 56 The conservation of British owls 5th Nov 63 55 52 A natural history year on the 2nd Dec 56 55 35 Downs TOTAL No – 5 talks TOTAL - 243

Courses Date Number of Number of Number of places places attendees on booked available the day Identifying mosses and 23rd Feb 13 12 10 liverworts Birdsong on the Downs 11th & 12th 25 25 25 April Get to grips with grasses 5th July 12 12 12 Winter bird identification 10th & 11th 20 20 20 Oct Autumnal silk painting 25th Oct 12 12 9 Identifying fungi 31st Oct & 1st 20 20 19 Nov Identifying fungi 2 21st & 22nd 20 20 20 Nov TOTAL No – 7 courses TOTAL - 115

Children’s / family events Date Number of Number of Number of places places attendees on booked available the day Bird box bonanza (children’s 21st Feb 21 25 20 event) Spring has sprung 20th April 29 25 35 (17 adults and 18 children) Minibeasts and mud paintings 29th May 23 25 23 Tree-mendous tales 31st May 27 25 23 Going batty in Leigh Woods 31st May 40 35 30 Bristol Festival of Nature 7th & 8th 500 masks June made plus 5 giant mascots constructed Brilliant birds family walk 21st June 26 25 22 Brilliant butterflies 31st July 18 25 16 Symphony in summer 7th August 9 25 9 Children’s Festival 15th – 18th 526 masks August made Tree tribes 21st August 22 25 22 Autumn stories 30th Oct 10 25 10 TOTAL No – 12 children’s / TOTAL – family events 1,236

Walks for Community Groups Date Number of attendees on the day Sound of Many Waters bird walk 6th April 18 (it did snow!) Bristol Branch of the Parkinsons 9th April 20 Society BIAZA (British and Irish 17th May 19 Association of and Aquariums) delegates early birds walk Rotary Club of Sedgemoor 12th June 20 Winterbourne Down WI 19th June 14 Pucklechurch WI 23rd June 20 Clifton Gardening Society 25th June 13 Southville Gardening Club 1st July 25 BIAZA (British and Irish 10th Sept 30 Association of Zoos and Aquariums) plant group walk Total No – 9 community walks TOTAL - 179

Outreach talks to Community Date Number of attendees on the day Groups Compton Martin Gardening Club 9th Jan 22 Rotary Club of Sedgemoor and 31st Jan 42 Bridgwater Winterbourne WI 7th Feb 31 Westbury-on-Trym Society 25th Feb 67 Talk to teachers as part of the 17th March 25 ‘Growing schools’ conference Backwell Gardening Club 19th March 57 Bristol Corn Trade Guild 10th April 41 St Johns Residents Association 23rd April 42 Clevedon Ladies Fellowship 24th Sept 20 Stoke Bishop Townswomen’s 2nd Oct 22 Guild Staple Hill Probus 7th Oct 28 Wick Valley Local Nature 11th Nov 28 Reserve Westfield House (St Monica’s 12th Nov 29 Trust) Bristol University careers 18th Nov 90 evening Severn Counties Foreign and 20th Nov 52 British Bird Society Portishead branch of Avon 28th Nov 48 Wildlife Trust TOTAL – 16 community talks TOTAL - 644

Education sessions Date Number of attendees on the day Christchurch CoE School 15th May 31 (Year 5 – Peregrine falcons and foodchains) Christchurch CoE School 19th May 27 (Year 1 – Mammal tracks and signs) Christchurch CoE School 20th May 28 (Year 1/2 – Minibeasts) Christchurch CoE School 21st May 28 (Year 1/2 – Brilliant birds) St Michael’s on the Mount primary school 22nd May 28 children (plus 8 (Year 4 - Range of activities so that the children parents) could get to know the wildlife of the Gorge and Downs for the Bristol Carnival of Creatures) St Michael’s on the Mount primary school 4th June 28 (Year 4 – (Workshops to prepare Bristol Carnival of Creatures performances) St Michael’s on the Mount primary school 5th June 28 (Year 4 – Creating costumes and practising the Bristol Carnival of Creatures performances) Christchurch CoE School 11th June 30 (Reception – butterfly lifecycles) Christchurch CoE School 17th June 34 (Year 3 – and foodchains) Christchurch CoE School 18th June 29 (Reception – butterfly lifecycles) Christchurch CoE School 19th June 34 (Year 4 – Habitats and foodchains) Westbury Park 24th June 30 (Year 1 – Discover the Downs) Westbury Park 25th June 30 (Year 1 – Discover the Downs) Westbury Park 1st July 30 (Year 2 – Butterfly lifecycles) Westbury Park 2nd July 30 (Year 2 – Butterfly lifecycles) St Peters and Paul 10th July 26 (Year 4 – Comparing habitats) St Peter and Paul 16th July 28 (Year 2 – Butterfly lifecycles) St Peters and Paul 17th July 28 (Year 1 – Discover the Downs) Rocking Horse Day Nursery 11th September 8 (Pre-school – Intro session) Rocking Horse Day Nursery 18th September 5 (Pre-school – Bug hunt) Rocking Horse Day Nursery 17th October 6 (Pre-school – Trees and autumn) Rocking Horse Day Nursery 27th November 5 (Pre-school – Bug hunt) TOTAL – 22 sessions TOTAL - 551

Summer playscheme groups 84th Bristol Brownies 3rd July 23 Peachy playscheme (Knowle) 30th July 12 Sparks (Sefton Park) 5th August 20 Redland Rascals 11th August 16 Peachy (second group) 12th August 12 Southville Centre 20th August 12 Hartcliffe Health and Environment Action Group 22nd August 26 Felix Road Adventure Playground (Easton) 26th August 8 UBHT (United Bristol Healthcare Trust) 27th August 18 South Street Play Scheme (Bedminster) 28th August 14 TOTAL – 10 sessions TOTAL - 161

Special events Date Took part in Clifton Cathedral’s ‘Sound of Many Waters’ festival April International Plant Conservation day – awareness raising weekend at the Zoo. 16th – 18th May AGD display staffed by Mandy over the weekend. Plus walk lead by Libby on Sunday. Bristol Festival of Nature – Bristol Carnival of Creatures - project display and 7th & 8th June leaflets taken, 5 giant pieces of artwork created, 500 masks made plus the procession and performance. Peregrine watch weekend – Mandy talked to the public about peregrines on 21st & 22nd both days. June University Botanic Garden open day and evolution garden launch – Alice took 5th July the travelling display and leaflets Children’s Festival on the Downs – Alice and Mandy plus volunteers ran the 15th – 18th mask-making tent. 526 masks made (Very poor weather so numbers of August children / masks made were down on previous years). Sneyd Park Nature Reserve open day – Mandy took the project display and 20th Sept leaflets. Wild waters family fun day – Mandy took the project display and co-lead a 12th Oct family walk in the Gorge with Bill Morris as part of this Avon Biodiversity Partnership festival event. Bristol Biodiversity Action Plan launch – Project display and leaflets taken and 12th Nov attended by Mandy

Interpretation / exhibits Date Three signs explaining the winter works were placed at points overlooking St January Vincents rocks. Meetings to plan the Peregrine camera project (Jan, Feb, March, May), trip to Jan - May Wick quarry a and Derby Cathedral nest sites (Feb), Bristol branch of the British Mountaineering Club did a reconnaissance of the peregrine nest, abseiling down to take pictures and video (Feb). Editing of Geraldine Taylor’s book ‘The Bristol Downs – a natural history year’ March, April, (March and April), wrote a section on rare plants and an introduction (August), August and launched (October) and talk (December). October Up-dating and re-printing of the Downs’ Bird (3,000), Meadow (3,000) and May Tree (1,000) trails Re-reprint of the large print version of the ‘Discover the wildlife of the Avon December Gorge & Downs’ leaflet. The Downs diary – a monthly guide to wildlife spotting on the Downs. All months Researched and produced by Emma Davis (volunteer) and posted in the during the notice board at the top of Black Boy Hill. Members of the public occasionally year. phone or e-mail with their wildlife sightings. Input into drafting the Avon Gorge Management Plan proposals for the public Throughout information and feedback sessions. the year.

Press releases / radio / TV Date Result Press release issued about January Articles in the Evening Post, plus listings in the spring – summer events Bristol magazine, Zoo matters, Somerset programme Life, Area magazine, Avon Wildlife Trust magazine and Venue. Also posted on Destination Bristol, The Zoo and AGD project website. BBC reporter came along to April He created a picture story which was the early birds walk available on the BBC Bristol website. A reporter came along to the April Photos and an article appeared in the Parkinsons Society walk Evening Post and the Observer. Press release issued about May An article in the Evening post, plus listings in the summer – winter events Primary Times, Bristol Magazine, Avon programme Wildlife Trust magazine. Also posted on Destination Bristol, The Zoo and AGD project website. Article for ‘Conservation bites’ May section and events page of Zoo Matters. BBC Radio Bristol did a 2- July It was a live interview. hour special programme about the Downs. Mandy was interviewed about the wildlife. ITV did a piece about the silky July It was shown on ITV evening news. wave moth surveys. Warren Spencer (Curator of Invertebrates at the Zoo) and Mandy were interviewed. Interview with a reporter from July The plants and animals of the Gorge and Venue magazine about urban Downs as well as the work of the project wildlife. were featured as part of the article. Press release issued about July Article in the Evening Post. the summer holiday children’s events Event details for Zoo Matters August Events promoted in Zoo Matters Request for project October / Feature in Somerset Life and events listings information and events listings November in Area Magazine from Somerset Life and Area Magazine. Reporter from Bristol November Aired on the community radio station. Community Radio came along to one of the owl prowls. He recorded the night’s activities and interviewed participants. Articles about ‘A natural October - Articles in the Evening post and a review in history year on the Downs’ December the Times. book.

Training received Date Learning outside the classroom conference (Mandy) March Project and Zoo Induction (Alice) May Bird Identification (Alice) May

Network meetings attended during the year Avon Biodiversity Action Plan communication group meetings Bristol Festival of Nature planning group meetings Forest Education Initiative

The Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project is a partnership of Bristol City Council, Bristol Zoo Gardens, Natural England, the Society of Merchant Venturers, the Downs Committee and University of Bristol.