Friends Of The Downs + Avon Gorge

The Bristol onion is in full bloom at the top of the gulley.

Seen today near the Observatory. Painted lady,Spiked speedwell and a Wall Lizard.

Further deails on the new parks funding Bristol City Council fought off tough competition to be one of only eight places across the UK selected by the National Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund to take part in its ground-breaking Future Parks programme.
In the first project of its kind in the UK, Future Parks is designed to help councils find sustainable ways to manage and fund parks and open spaces across entire towns and cities.
... The prospectus will outline Bristol’s green spaces, setting out areas of opportunity to enhance health and wellbeing and sustainability. It will also explore the potential of parks and green space to accommodate business activity, including pay-to-use services considered to be compatible with the character, role and use of a particular site. There is no intention to use this process to ‘sell off parks’.
Councillor Asher Craig, Deputy Mayor with responsibility for parks and green spaces, said: “Bristol has great ambitions for our parks and green spaces, but as a council we recognise that we cannot realise these without working closely with our partners.“In facing the challenge presented by budget cuts, we need to explore new ways to generate income to support parks. “The opportunity is to find partners who can add value to the parks experience within a service which is free to use and of benefit to all.Visiting a park, whether to exercise, meet friends, or simply relax, is good for our health and wellbeing. But not everyone can access a park easily, and consequently too many people are missing out. The Parks Prospectus will identify the potential of parks to deliver health benefits matched to areas of greatest need and invite partners to provide health-based programmes from parks including mental health and physical exercise programmes.”
Bristol, and the other seven selected places will now join Newcastle, a founding city of Future Parks, which has successfully developed a new parks and allotments trust to look after the city’s green spaces.
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Good news for Bristol's Parks. https://www.bristol247.com/…/900k-award ed-for-bristol-par…/…

A chance to see the Avon Gorge Peregrines at the Peregrine Watch on Clifton Down on Saturday 22nd June and Sunday 23rd June and Saturday 13th July and Sunday 14th July, 9am-5pm. The Bristol Ornithological Club will be there with their telescopes so you can a brilliant view of the birds. They will be by circular road on the Downs overlooking the Avon Gorge near Ladies mile end of the road. Grid reference is ST 564741

Two members of FODAG renovating the White Tree Shelter.

A new tree trail has been launched. An under-explored corner of the Downs will be looking its best this month as a host of native and exotic trees will be blossoming on an area of Durdham Down near White Tree roundabout. Known locally as ‘the Granny Downs’, it is said to have been where the residents of a nearby old people’s home were brought out on sunny days to sit and enjoy the trees.The trail takes visitors on a gentle 1.1km (0.7 mile) route to discover 17 trees, includin...g familiar natives such as the English oak and ash, to the more exotic tulip tree, silver maple and red chestnut, with the laburnums, horse chestnuts, hawthorns and cherry trees, now in flower. Robert Westlake, chair of the Friends of the Downs and Avon Gorge said: “The Granny Downs Tree Trail has been very much a labour of love for all concerned. Sadly, one of those who laboured long and hard to bring this project to fruition is no longer with us. Richard was our vice chairman and founder member of the Friends of the Downs and Avon Gorge - he was instrumental in the development of this tree trail. His love of the Downs and its wildlife is enduring. I’m so very pleased that we have been able to collaborate with the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project to complete the trail in Richard’s memory, thereby sharing Richard’s passion for trees with visitors to the Downs.” The trail was completed with funding from the OVO Foundation and Friends of the Downs and Avon Gorge, and is the fifth in a series of nature trails for the Downs. A pdf copy of the Granny Downs Tree Trail can be found under 'associated information' in the 'home' section of the FODAG website and and can also be picked up from Café Retreat on the Downs. You can also request a postal copy by emailing mleivers@bristolzoo.org.uk or call the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project at Bristol Zoo Gardens on 0117 903 0609.
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There is a board on the Downs with a display of litter found in the last litter collection by FODAG. Please take your litter home if the bins are full.

From a FODAG member; April 2nd, and in just 2 days there have been wild fluctuations of temperature, bright sunshine and torrential rain, scudding flotillas of cloud and skies blue from horizon to horizon, breathless stillness and buffeting westerly winds.
March went out on a sad note for FOD+AG with the death of another of the Gully’s feral goats, although this time the result of natural causes or old age! So now there are 3. If you haven’t yet met them, they are a handsome... sight and represent an unusual attraction for anyone interested in wildlife and in the waysin which it is possible to work with nature to our mutual benefit. Please note, however, that these animals are not domesticated and that if you are accompanied by a dog on a walk through their enclosure the dog should be on a lead and under close control.
April 1st is the first day of the official butterfly monitoring scheme nationwide. This year (FOD+AG’s 10th consecutive year of data collection for UKBMS) the beautiful weather, and the prospect of significantly cooler, cloudier and wetter conditions for the remainder of the week, allowed me to enjoiy a spectacular parade of these delightful harbingers of spring. In contrast with April 1st 2018 when no butterflies were recorded, you can already see all 5 of our native species which overwinter as adults – red admiral, comma, small tortoiseshell, peacock and brimstone - in residence, together with speckled wood, large white and orange tip On my transect walk through and around the Gully, brimstones took pride of place numrecally with both males (an intense sulphurous yellow) and females (a much more demure creamy yellow) flickering across the stil-wintry landscape.
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Saturday 4th May Trees of the Granny Downs! Explore the new ‘Granny Downs tree trail’ with Robin Haward (Friends of the Downs and Avon Gorge) and Mandy Leivers. Along the way learn to identify the trees, find out fascinating facts about them and enjoy Laburnums, chestnuts and hawthorns in flower. 2.00pm - 4.00pm £5.00... On the Downs This walk is being run as part of the Bristol Walk Fest, see www.bristolwalkfest.com for details of other walks running during May.
Book with the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project, at Bristol Zoo, on 0117 9030609 or e-mail mleivers@bristolzoo.org.uk
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The app is available free from the google store

Don't forget if you want to find out more about the Downs, download our free app which is great for walks.