Places in Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire

[chriscml]

Hi,

I know many people dont like to give up their wildlife havens very easily but i thought it would be worth a punt!!

Does anyone know of any good places in Gloucestershire or South Gloucestershire region?

I am interested in anything really so any suggestions welcome!

Im sure that there must be a whole lot more for me to see and that i have only just scratched the surface with what i have seen already.

Thanks

[WhiskyBottle]

Hi Chris

I would suggest Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust website would be a good place to start looking (and also Avon).

Try Midger Wood or Wet Moor/Lower Wood, both will need a good pair of boots this time of year.

The Avon Gorge is suppost to be good for plants, though I've not explored it myself.

Cotswold commons around Stroud are good for orchids and butterfies.

Oldbury power station has a nature reserve which is good for dragonflies & butterflies.

Slimbridge of course for wildfowl & waders.

Deer can turn up in any of the cotswold woodlands, or try Berkeley deer park for a better chance.

Martin

[chriscml]

Hi Martin,

Thank you for your ideas. There are some places that I would never have thought of and will definately make sure i pay a visit sometime soon.

Thanks again.

[eigg head]

Wetmoor Woods/Inglestone Common, near Wickwar, (grid ref 745880) is excellent for White Admiral butterflies, July time.

[solus]

Whereabouts are you Chris?

Depending on your Wildlife interests and location there are lots of woods for plants and fungi; the Cotswold Water Park (Gloucs./Wilts borders) for water birds; Slimbridge WWT of course; the Forest of Dean; and the GWT has some good reserves for wild flowers etc. (you'll need their book rather than relying on the limitations of the website.) Don't know much about South Gloucs./Avon-as-was.

Not sure if the interweb links are allowed, if not can a Mod please remove them while leaving the basic info from which a bit of judicious 'googling' should soon bring you to the sites anyway.

The Gloster Birder is an excellent site for local birding stuff - (http://www.birder.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/); the Cotswold Water Park has a regularly updated bird sightings page, there are also maps which you do need as everyone refers to locations by pit numbers - (The Cotswold Water Park Slimbridge has a wildlife sightings page too (Wildlife sightings - Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT))

Plenty to keep you occupied for years!

[chriscml]

Thanks for the good ideas - ive added to my favourites and will have to do some reading!!

At a glance it looks like there are a lot of animals local to where i visit that i didnt know were there and will definately have to keep an eye out for.

Thanks again for your ideas and help.

[WhiskyBottle]

Have we got the start of a Gloucestershire group here

[chriscml]

Originally Posted by WhiskyBottle

Have we got the start of a Gloucestershire group here

Speaking of Gloucestershire groups - does anyone know of any wildlife groups in the area?

[WhiskyBottle]

Originally Posted by chriscml

Speaking of Gloucestershire groups - does anyone know of any wildlife groups in the area?

You could tryDURSLEY BIRDWATCHERS

I've been a member for many years, though I'm not this year. They have in the past had a very broad range on interests within their membership, though I believe the focus in mostly birds now.

Of particular value to me was the winter indoor meetings, twice a month on Monday nights, which would often feature top wildlife photographers or other experts in their particular field. These are free, for the annual membership of £10. There are also field trips most weeks, some local, others are minibus trips to farther afield. They also used to do long weekends and weeks away, some to remote locations (like South America), don't know if they still do this though.

The next indoor meeting is 9th March at Redknock school sports centre. It's the AGM though, so probably not the best meeting to sample the club. It may be the last meeting before the Summer break when there are only field meeting.

Just turn up at one of the meeting, you'll be made welcome (signed up)