Three Brooks nature reserve report for June

By Sara Messenger of Bradley Stoke’s Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group.

Apple bench

Photo of people standing around and sitting on a wooden sculpture.
Volunteers from the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group at the ‘apple bench’ behind Bradley Stoke Community School.

In the community orchard alongside the path behind Bradley Stoke Community School we have a beautiful ‘apple bench’ which was carved from a single piece of sweet chestnut by artist Andy O’Neil. Unfortunately, the structure leans backwards so the rainwater pools and rots the seat. Although we have repaired it in the past, I was keen on solving the root problem, so I suggested to the ‘boys’ that we could just lift the back an inch or so. “It will be easy,” I said. “It won’t take long,” I said. I cannot tell you what, after a couple of hours had passed and a fingernail or two had been sacrificed, they said! Who knew that like an iceberg there seemed to be more beneath the surface than above? We had to return the following week with more tools, but with equal parts of muttering and mattocking, the seat has now been tilted forward just enough for the water to run off. I am confident that the boys and I will soon be on speaking terms again!

Photo of two people knee-deep in water.
Clearing reeds at the Stoke Brook entrance to Three Brooks Lake.

For a rare change, we spent a session in the water as we spotted that, at the Three Brooks lake, the Stoke Brook entrance was clogged up with reeds, over hanging branches and general debris. Although the shoals of fish didn’t appreciate sharing their space with us, clearing it back has greatly improved the width and speed of the flow into the lake, as well as letting us have some fun!

ADVERTISEMENT
Kitchen & Laundry Appliance Care, Bradley Stoke, Bristol.

Water voles

Several of us have undertaken some water vole training and Green Gym are very keen to take forward some ideas on how to improve the brooks and the surrounding habitat for them. We used to have water voles in the reserve, but we haven’t seen any evidence of them for several years now. Although we don’t know what led to the decline of our colony, we are hopeful that with the right habitat they could return. Sadly, we also learnt that they have been lost from 94 percent of historical sites and that they are on the Red List as they are Britain’s most rapidly declining mammal. In 1989 there were an estimated 7.3 million water voles, but today we only have 875,000, with 30 percent of their decline being in just the last ten years. But we also learnt some fun facts: that they migrated from mainland Europe after the last ice age, the much darker Scottish voles coming over around 15,000 years ago and the English ones 12,000 years ago; and although they made their way to Wales, none are found in Ireland. And the best fun fact? Their poo is green and the size and shape of a Tic Tac!

ADVERTISEMENT

Other news

There is news regarding the lake desilting project but South Gloucestershire Council is keen to inform you of the update themselves. [Ed: The last we heard was that the project will start in November 2021 after being postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.]

The long-awaited Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group AGM was planned for Thursday 8th July at the Jubilee Centre but has now had to be rearranged. As soon as we have the new date, we will let you know.

• How to contact the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group…

t: 07497 006676
e: info@three-brooks.info
w: www.three-brooks.info
Facebook: Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group

A longer version of this article originally appeared in the July/August 2021 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine (on pages 10 & 11). The magazine is delivered FREE, nine times a year, to ALL 8,700 homes in Bradley Stoke. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.

Share this page: