Avon Wildlife Safari Day 27 - Go ladybird spotting!

Seven spot ladybird

Another fantastic event run by the Avon Gorge and Downs Project  is 'Ladybird Spotters' on Thursday 15th August. Children will spend the morning searching for lovely ladybirds (there are 46 species now found in the UK) and playing ladybird games. Ladybirds are beetles, which, by definition, means that they have hard forewings that meet centrally, covering their abdomen and biting mouthparts. The most common ladybird in Britain is the 7 spot ladybird and many ladybirds have bright colours to warn off birds and other predators. The red colouring basically means 'don't eat me because I'm not going to taste very nice!.'

The invasion of the Harlequin ladybird is threatening our native species though as they are very effective predators and can disperse rapidly across large areas. There is some great advice on how to tell the difference between a harlequin ladybird and a native ladybird on the Harlequin ladybird survey website. But all ladybirds have a fascinating lifecycle, producing spiky alien looking larvae in the early summer before going on to pupate into adult ladybirds.

http://www.ladybird-survey.org/lifecycle.aspx

So if you're not booked on get yourself booked onto the ladybird spotters event on the Downs by ringing Mandy Leivers on 0117 9030609 or e-mail mleivers@bristolzoo.org.uk. 

Avon Wildlife Safari Day 26 - Get wet and wild!

A quick reminder about the Waterside Wildlife boat trips with local expert Ed Drewitt as mentioned on Day 11 of the Avon Wildlife Safari. This is a chance to learn about the nature along an urban river, with trips going out on 14th August, 28th September and 12th October, you can  book now to ensure your seat by calling 0117 9273416.

Ed Drewitt

As you travel down the harbour, past the SS great Britain and out onto the River Avon look out for the resident otters. Then head out towards Avonmouth and keep your eyes open to spot redshanks, herons,ravens and peregrine falcons and admire the unique habitat of Avon Gorge. Binoculars are advised but Ed is a really engaging guide and will point out interesting things along the way.

If you've already been on the waterside wildlife boat trip you might want to take a stroll a little further down the river. Conham River Park is part of the Avon Valley Woodlands Nature reserve and is a lovely spot to start your walk. There are spectacular views from the Panoramic Walk and in the summer you can take the ferry across the river to Beese's tea rooms. For more information download the River Avon trail map.

photo: www.beeses.co.uk

Avon Wildlife Safari Day 25 - Make Sweet Music

Lawrence Weston City Farm is a community managed project that provides opportunities for local people to get involved in farming, learn new skills and meet new people. It sells fresh, affordable local food, hosts cooking events, provides accredited training and promotes environmental awareness. It also has a whole range of animals for you to get up close to and a lovely woodland for you to explore.

photo:pocodrom.com

Throughout the holidays the farm is hosting a great selection of activities including a music making workshop on 13th August from 2pm - 4pm with the wonderful Poco Drom. This musical duo have played at many Avon Wildlife Trust events, with their original songs about badgers and birds, grasshoppers and dinosaurs, their love for wildlife and nature shines through every performance.

The farm is also hosting Wild Art sessions throughout August, but whatever day you go you can be sure that they'll be something interesting going on!

Avon Wildlife Safari Day 24 - Go see a wolf

There's nothing like an outdoor theatre performance and following the success of 2011's performance of Treasure Island, Bristol old Vic is doing it again. This year it's 'The Boy who Cried Wolf', showcasing a selection of some of the nations favourite parables, adapted by Michael Morpurgo (War Horse) created by a team that includes director Sally Cookson and composer Benji Bower.

A mixture of old favourites and plenty of new ones in 'a summery whirl of colour, music, song and mischief', this sounds like an event not to miss. Described by The Post as "another example of the richly inventive, risk-taking and genre-straddling theatre that Bristol does, arguably, better than anywhere." Book your tickets now at http://www.bristololdvic.org.uk/wolf.htm
Watch a tempting trailer here

Avon Wildlife Safari Day 23 - Will you see the hairy dragonfly?

If you've never been to Portbury Wharf then this is a great time of year to go and explore this wetlands nature reserve. With the Severn estuary on it's doorstep and large pools and ponds on the reserve, this wildlife haven provides invaluable wetlands habitat for rare species such as the otter and water vole. You can download a guide of what to look for here to you get the most from your trip. 

photo:Water vole at Portbury Wharf -Steve Hale

The ponds also attract a wide range of invertebrates like the hairy dragonfly, which provide food for bats, including the greater horseshoe bat that can be found hunting across the fields. The hay meadows and hedgerows also provide food and shelter for small mammals, which in turn provide food for birds of prey such as owls and buzzards. 

Due to it's mosaic of habitats and position on the Severn estuary, this is a great place to spot wildfowl and wading birds such as curlew, dunlin, cormorants, little grebes and redshank. You can read a full species list of birds recorded on the reserve since 2005 here and you can even download your own Portbury Wharf bird spotting guide to take with you.

There are several walks and  three different bird hides for you to enjoy so download a reserve map and get planning!

Avon Wildlife Safari Day 22 - 3000 different species of tree all in one place!

Westonbirt Arboretum is a huge natural playground! Become a young adventurer on one of the natural play trails or in the under 5's play area 'Exploratree', take part in family events or download the self-led activities available for each season. During the summer holidays kids go free too so this is a great time to visit and learn about this wonderful natural environment.

photo: http://www.guide2bristol.com

This weekend there's a free (after general admission)  Water World event run by the RSPB for families which provides a great chance to see up close, what lives beneath the water.
It's not just the woodlands that provide a fantastic habitat for wildlife but the grasslands are full of wildflowers too. Between them they create a wonderful  environment for wildlife. The arboretum provides a habitat for the dormouse, a European Protected Species, 1,218 species of fungi and 136 species of moth, including the rare Mocha species. Westonbirt's tree collection includes 77 species that are declining, with 8 species that are classified as 'critical', 20 species that are'endangered'  and 49 species that are classified as 'vulnerable'. There's even a 2000 year old small leaved lime, Tilia cordata, possibly one of the oldest living things in Britain and a new sculpture by artist Richard Harris.

Image of Richard Harris sculpture from Friends of Westonbirt blog

Avon Wildlife Safari Day 21 - Visit the balloon fiesta

This weekend hosts the 35th annual spectacular Bristol International Balloon Fiesta with four days of family fun at a stunning location. Ashton Court not only provides fantastic views across the city but can also be seen from multiple places around the region, providing great opportunities for watching  balloons of all shapes and sizes lift off.

photo: www.eventindustrynews.co.uk

With Balloon Shuttle buses running every 10 minutes across the four days from bus stops that will be specially marked, with prices starting from £2.50 for adult single fares (£2 child single), it's easy to access and you can leave the car at home.

This year Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm will be visiting the balloon fiesta accompanied by some of their smaller zoo animals including our birds of prey, reptiles, reindeer, rabbits and guinea pigs. You will be able to meet and greet the animals and get up-close to them. Staff will also be walking around the fiesta taking the animals to meet some of the other participants and stalls on over the weekend. Don’t miss out on a chance to enter their competition and win a Keeper Experience at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm.

But you don't have to stay within the confines of the festival, Ashton Court is a wonderful estate, designated a Site of Nature Conservation Interest, with a 850 acres of woodland and grassland to explore including a deer park, wildflower meadow, and the Domesday Oak. This 700 year old tree was named as one of the 50 Great British Trees in 2002. In 2011 a crack appeared in the trunk and oak support beams were fitted to support the tree. The supports were only partly successful and a section of the tree collapsed, and the remaining part of the tree was pruned to reduce the weight of the surviving section.




If you loved this tree then why not get involved in the Woodland Trust's Veteran Tree hunt and see how many more you can find.