Local Woodlands Conservation Groups

The Splatts Abbey Wood Conservation Group is planning new projects and developing existing partnerships and plans in the historic woodland based beside the MoD and Cheswick Village. There are three Bradley Stoke residents on the Group’s committee – Jenny James, Andy Ward and Fred Hillberg. 

There are plans to build a Pond at the site as an exciting new feature and to encourage biodiversity and also to provide greater diversity within the woodland site. Splatts Group Chairman David Bell emphasised the importance of the project saying that in the twentieth century two thirds of the ponds in the country disappeared, so developing new ponds is vital nationally and for the Splatts Woodland in particular.

Long term Splatts Committee members Fred Hillberg and Andy Ward, excited by the project said: –

“The pond is a project that has been on  the radar at Splatts Woodland for quite some time, the area of woodland where the pond is to be created has always remained wet and boggy whatever the time of year so it is an ideal spot to create this new feature.  It is hoped that given time the new pond will become naturally populated by plant life as well as species native to this type of environment replacing one of the many naturally occurring ponds that have been lost due to construction projects, road building etc.

A massive thank you to South Glos Council who have agreed to cover the cost associated with installing the pond, also to the team from UWE Greenspace team who are student volunteers kindly supporting the project and without whom we would not of been able to achieve as much as we have done, as we continue to conserve the woodland for the use of future generations. Many thanks to all involved in the project.”

South Gloucestershire Council is strongly supporting the woodland’s plans to build the pond and their support has been essential to its development.

Splatts Abbey Conservation Group works in Partnership with South Glos Council and its sister woodland Sims Hill, and student volunteers. This year the UWE Student volunteers were joined by student volunteers from the University of Bristol.

UWE Students John Hoyos and Tom Day said: – “From a student’s perspective being able to participate in the project planning and later building the pond shows our commitment to mother nature and to our common goal of tackling the climate emergency. Although it is a small project, what would happen if such small projects were replicated worldwide?

Secondly, students who volunteer come from all walks of life and from a wide variety of degrees yet we all want to take action, create new habits for wildlife, network and gain skills such as how to fell trees, plant trees, and in the near future how to build a pond.  These volunteering opportunities are beneficial for our personal wellbeing along with providing skills that can be applied in our day-to-day lives now and upon graduation.”

Splatts Abbey Wood Conservation group can be contacted at  –  [email protected]

Sims Hill Community Woodland can be contacted at  –  [email protected]

Please Follow us on Facebook (Splatts Abbey Wood Conservation Group) and 

Twitter (@SplattsG) for the latest updates and to get involved.

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