 As you may have seen, the signs have been up for a while saying that there were plans for the small fenced-off area where the children’s playhouse used to be. We wanted to improve the habitat to provide food and shelter for a range of mammals, birds and insects so we’re increasing the number of native trees and shrubs; in 2026 we’ll be working on the wildflower patch. Already there are several tree species there, though many of them are not native to the UK. There is a fully-grown horse chestnut, four Scots pines, two black pines recently planted by the council, the fallen Lombardy poplar (happily sprouting again from the roots), several ash saplings and an osier willow sapling.  Prior to the work, these metal cages protected the Black Pines from damage (above), but have now been removed to enable the pines to flourish (below).  The hedgerow marking the Ardagh boundary has hawthorn, elder, hazel, dog rose - and brambles. The council has just responded to our request to take away the mesh tree guards which had become straitjackets round the black pines.  You can clearly see here that the fallen Lombardy Poplar is sprouting from its roots. The most noticeable mammals on the common, of course, are the grey squirrels. They don’t hibernate so will have been “squirrelling away” nuts, fruits and seeds on which they will feed during the winter. With our new plantings they will hopefully have a lot more to choose from in the years to come!     
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 A major milestone for Friends of Horfield Common took place this week with the creation of the new Quab Pond. On the first day, the Bristol City Council Parks Team undertook the main excavation. The arrival of the mini digger generated considerable interest, particularly among the under-4s. Local wildlife responded immediately - the freshly excavated soil proved irresistable to the resident Pied Wagtails, which were soon hopping around the site in search of food. Day two brought welcome sunshine and an excellent turnout of Friends of Horfield Common volunteers, who joined forces with the Council team to shape the pond and build up its banks using the heavy clay soil. It was hard, muddy work, but progress was rapid and spirits stayed high, helped in no small part by Dave’s well timed supply of snacks. Although the heavy clay soil made excavation challenging, it also removed the need for an artificial liner. As a result, the pond filled naturally and remarkably quickly, taking just three hours during recent heavy rainfall. This process also revealed the location of the underground water source feeding the pond. The fencing around the pond is now in place, with a gate to be added soon to allow for ongoing maintenance. Over the winter, the clay will continue to settle and the surrounding area is likely to remain muddy for a while, so we ask for your patience. Some small adjustments may be needed if any leaks appear, and a further dig is planned for the summer, once the ground has dried, as the rapid filling made it difficult to reach the full intended depth this time. One of the questions we are asked most often is what will be planted around the pond. For now, the answer is nothing. We are deliberately taking a hands off approach to see what plants establish naturally now that the soil has been disturbed. This is very much a work in progress and part of the excitement lies in watching how the pond evolves and which species choose to move in. Another common question concerns water flow to the existing wildlife pond. This will be unaffected, as the two ponds are fed by entirely separate underground springs. The common is full of springs and the Lower Common Wildlife Pond is fed by the ditches that come down the side of the garages, whereas the Quab Pond water source runs down in line with the other path. We are looking forward to sharing how this new habitat develops over the coming months.         After a soggy start to the day, we weren't sure we'd have anyone brave enough to join us for the November Litter Pick, but no - we had our dedicated pickers waiting for us and raring to go! And we were all rewarded by the sun bursting out as soon as we got started - what a lovely way to finish the 2025 Litter Picks. A big thank you to our wonderful pickers who came along. I'm always so impressed with the amount of litter we manage to haul back with a smile!  And a thank you to all those who have come along to the Litter Picks throughout the year - it's been wonderful meeting and chatting with old and new friends, while helping to tidy up the Common for people and wildlife to enjoy!
Our next Monthly Litter Pick will be 31st January 2026, 10am - 12pm. Full details and other dates will be released soon. Come along and join in! |
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