Last night saw another successful Friends of Horfield Common guided walk, this time as part of the Festival of Nature programme. Despite rain for much of the day, the weather cleared in time for us to set off around the Common and the Ardagh with local naturalist Steve England, following the Twelve Trees Trail leaflet route, with a few interesting detours along the way.
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The Twelve Trees Trail leaflet, which is available free from Café on the Common, introduces twelve of the Common's most notable trees. However, as anyone who has joined one of Steve's walks will know, the real magic lies in the stories behind them.​

Without giving too much away, we discovered which trees can be used to flavour gin, which have contributed to some of our most familiar medicines, and how trees can help you work out the points of the compass. We learned which species were prized for shipbuilding, which thrive after wildfire, and which have been part of the landscape since the time of the Domesday Book.

Perhaps most importantly, we also found out which trees you would want around you in the event of an apocalypse.

As if that was not enough, Steve treated us to a couple of practical demonstrations, including making soap from natural materials and lighting a small fire, while also sharing plenty of bonus facts about fungi and the hidden relationships between trees and the wider ecosystem.

One of the pleasures of these walks is that they change the way you look at familiar places. Trees that many of us pass every day suddenly become full of history, uses, wildlife value and surprising stories.

A big thank you to Steve for another fascinating and entertaining evening, to the Festival of Nature for funding the walk, and to everyone who joined us despite the uncertain weather.
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If you would like to explore the trail yourself, pick up a free copy of the Twelve Trees Trail leaflet from Café on the Common.

Our next walk with Steve is WALK ON THE WILD SIDE in July and can be booked here

For more Festival of Nature activities this weekend, please visit https://www.bnhc.org.uk/festival-of-nature/​

Last night saw another successful Friends of Horfield Common guided walk, this time exploring the Folklore of Wildflowers with local naturalist Eric Swithinbank.
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After a day of almost continuous rain, we were relieved to see the skies clear just in time for the walk, and it was wonderful to see such a good turnout. People of varying ages and backgrounds joined us to explore the hidden stories, uses and meanings behind some of the plants growing quietly around us on Horfield Common.

​And after all that deliberation and work there is still more to be done. We’re told that it might be a few years before the bats really start using the boxes but initially, they may use them as temporary shelters. The boxes will be monitored through the summer and autumn until the bats hibernate. Then next year the bat boxes will need to be cleaned by a bat specialist ready for the new season.
 
On our regular organised bat walks with Steve England, we will continue to note the species of bat that fly over Horfield Common. On previous walks we have identified Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle and Noctule bats, and hope that more might come now that we have two ponds (well... one and a half at time of writing) attracting the insects that bats like Daubenton's bats love to hunt.

​Is it worth all this effort? Of course. Safe roosting places for bats are becoming harder to find, especially as older buildings are repaired or altered. These boxes give bats more options, while our ponds and habitats help provide the insects they need to feed. These boxes will also help strengthen the wider network of bat-friendly habitats, linking Horfield Common with other known bat sites such as Badock’s Wood and Stoke Park Estate. A small but important step in making Horfield Common and north Bristol in general better for wildlife.

Find out more about bats.. book onto our September bat walk here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/autumnal-bat-walk-preparing-for-winter-at-horfield-common-tickets-1985647492101?aff=erelexpmlt

Following our recent Spring Bat Walk, it was clear just how active bats are around Horfield Common, particularly in the areas around the Lower Common Wildlife Pond and the surrounding trees. Seeing Common Pipistrelles and Soprano Pipistrelles at close range was a reminder of how important these habitats are. As a group, we are keen to build on this, and we are pleased to say that we will soon be installing bat boxes on the Common to provide additional roosting spaces. These boxes can offer safe places for bats to rest during the day and, at this time of year, may also support females looking to establish nursery colonies.

Why bats need our help
May and early summer are particularly important months for bats. As evenings become warmer, bats are more active, feeding heavily on insects. Female bats begin to gather in groups, forming nursery colonies where they will give birth to and raise their pups, typically in June. In urban environments like Horfield, suitable roosting spaces can be limited, and changes in land use and lighting can make it harder for bats to thrive. This is why both habitat management on the Common and small changes in our own gardens can make a real difference.

What you can do in your garden
Bats rely on a steady supply of insects, so anything that supports insect life will, in turn, support bats. Even small gardens can play a valuable role. You can help by: Planting insect-friendly flowers

Choose a mix of flowering plants that provide nectar and pollen through the seasons. Avoiding pesticides
Reducing or eliminating pesticide use allows insect populations to flourish. Creating habitat for insects
Leaving areas a little “untidy” with logs, leaf piles or long grass can provide shelter for insects. Reducing outdoor lighting

Bats prefer darker environments for feeding and moving around. Keeping lighting to a minimum, or using motion sensors, can help. A shared effort The installation of bat boxes on the Common is one small part of a wider effort to support local wildlife. What makes a real difference is the combination of well-managed public spaces and wildlife-friendly gardens across the area. Together, these create a network of habitats that allow bats and other species to move, feed and thrive.

If you would like to learn more, there is a useful guide by Wild About Gardens here:
https://www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-08/wild%20about%20gardens_stars%20of%20the%20nights_help%20bats.pdf Every small change helps, and it is encouraging to know that the bats we saw on our walk are part of a wider local population that we can all support.

We will share updates once the bat boxes are installed, and we hope they will become part of a wider network of habitats across the Common. If you would like to experience bat activity for yourself, we will be running an Autumn Bat Walk in September, focusing on how bats prepare for winter.

You can find more details and book here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/autumnal-bat-walk-preparing-for-winter-at-horfield-common-tickets-1985647492101?aff=erelexpmlt 

You can also explore our other upcoming walks and activities via our website, or get involved with Friends of Horfield Common to support our ongoing conservation work.