The Bradley Stoke Journal

Three carved wooden benches are set to be installed at locations in Bradley Stoke thanks to a environment grant worth £1,800 from South Gloucestershire Council.

Local chainsaw sculptor Andy O’Neill is currently working  in an area on Jubilee Green to carve the three benches from a recently felled sweet chestnut tree.

Andy hopes to complete the benches by Thursday 17th June, after which they will be installed at the following locations:

• Howard Davis memorial bench (swans and frog life cycle carving): by Davis Pond, Jubilee Green
• Bees and honeycomb bench – in the flower rich meadow, along the community forest path near Savages Wood
• Apple core bench – near the community orchard in the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve

The first bench is named in memory of ornithologist Howard Davis, who lived at the now-demolished Little Stoke Farm, and was instrumental in the founding of what is now the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust based at Slimbridge.

Cllr Brian Allinson, SGC’s executive member for planning, transport and strategic environment, said:

“The council is committed to enhancing the district’s natural environment and these fascinating pieces of public furniture, created thanks to a grant from the council, are sure to become talking points in Bradley Stoke.”

See more photos of the Bradley Stoke wood carvings on PicasaWeb.

Police in Bradley Stoke have raised concerns over the lighting of campfires in Savages Wood, part of the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve.

PC Steven Palmer told the April meeting of the Bradley Stoke Safer & Stronger Community Group (SSCG) that youths have been accessing the woodland via a gate near the skate park and have lit campfires in the ‘outdoor classroom’ in the middle of the woods. A recent incident saw the Avon Fire & Rescue Service being called to extinguish a fire, he added.

The ‘outdoor classroom’ was created in 2005 by the Three Brooks Nauture Conservation Group and is intended for use by groups of schoolchildren on organised visits to the nature reserve.

SSCG Chairperson Julie Snelling pointed out that a recently published government policy document had suggested that children be allowed to play with fire (presumably under adult supervision), but PC Palmer said the youths’ actions were “considered dangerous” and “should not be encouraged”.

Bradley Stoke Town Council discussed the matter at the February meeting of its Finance & Leisure Committee, where it was suggested that the lack of shelter at the skate park might be a factor in encouraging youths to enter the woods.

The Council is now looking into the possibility of providing a ‘teen shelter’ at the skate park and is even considering re-using some of its old bus shelters, recently taken out of service after South Gloucestershire Council upgraded shelters on the number 73 bus route.

Should young people be allowed to light campfires in the nature reserve? Use our comments facility to share your views.

Bradley Stoke has plenty of events to keep the children occupied this half term, with activities on offer at the Leisure Centre, Library and Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve.

Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre’s October Holiday Programme (for children aged four to sixteen) runs from Monday 27th Oct to Tuesday 4th Nov and includes activities ranging from trampolining to short tennis.

Bradley Stoke Library has a “Let’s go Batty ” session on Monday 27th Oct, with crafts and stories suitable for five to nine year olds, while Saturday 1st November sees a football-themed session aimed at “reluctant readers” aged eight and upwards.

There is an “Owl Prowl” in the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve on Monday 27th Oct (meet outside the Leisure Centre at 7pm), followed by a Fungi Foray on Tuesday 28th October (meet outside the Leisure Centre at 2pm).

Residents of Bradley Stoke are invited to join local police on a cycle trek around the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve, stopping at relevant points and identifying any issues or problems that require the attention of the community / partner agencies and discussing any probable solutions.

The ride takes place this Sunday (28th September), starting from the Three Brooks Lakes (duck pond) [map] at 4:30pm. You will need your own cycle in order to take part.

Following the trek, there will be an informal meeting at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre (5:30 pm start) to discuss any further issues. This meeting is also for individuals who do not ride bikes but wish to have an input into the discussion.

Issues likely to be discussed are nuisance motorcycling (highlighted in a recent report in The Journal) and dog fouling (raised at the Safer & Stronger Community Group meeting in June).

Related Links:

• Avon & Somerset Constabulary – Bradley Stoke Beat page
• The Bradley Stoke Journal – Police information and news page
• The Bradley Stoke Journal – Police stories

[Postscript: Apologies to anyone who turned up at the Leisure Centre for the 5:30pm meeting; we should have written that the meeting was at the Lakes, or at the Leisure Centre in case of poor weather]

Bradley Stoke’s new orienteering and nature trail got off to a flying start on Saturday with 180 people taking advantage of the fine weather to try out the 22-checkpoint course laid out in the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve.

Members of Bristol Orienteering Klub (BOK) and the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group were on hand to offer friendly help and advice to the many individuals and family groups attracted by the chance to discover unexplored corners of the nature reserve, which incorporates Savages Wood, Webbs Wood and Sherbourne Brake.

Volunteers from the Castlebeck CREATE project, who will help to maintain the facility, were also on hand to celebrate the launch and have a go at the course. The group is based at the Winterbourne View independent hospital, located in Bradley Stoke’s south-eastern corner.

Winterbourne View is a 24-bed unit specialising in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of men and women with a learning disability. The purpose-built facility, which has been open for almost two years, has a staff of 53 specialist nurses, carers and support workers.

The CREATE project, operating in partnership with South Gloucestershire Council, allows Castlebeck to provide a new form of active community-based therapy for patients/residents and helps to improve staff satisfaction and engagement.

The volunteer team, formed of staff and residents working together on an equal footing, visits the nature reserve once a week to carry out maintenance activities that include general litter picking and cleaning the newly-installed orienteering posts. Each post is topped with a steel “rubbing plaque” illustrating an animal or plant that can be found within the reserve, but ironically some of the birds in the reserve seem to enjoy perching on the posts and fouling the plaques!

Liz White, manager of Winterbourne View, said:

“Our residents and staff are very pleased to be able to help look after this new facility and look forward to exploring all the different parts of the nature reserve. This is the first of many projects we hope to undertake as part of our commitment to looking after our local environment through partnership working with South Gloucestershire Council.”

Hazel Southern, CREATE lead for Castlebeck, added:

“This is a positive project for both our staff and residents to take part in and work alongside each other. It is very encouraging for our residents, who are particularly vulnerable, to work with an established community in such a positive way.”

“It’s also a fantastic opportunity for the adults Castlebeck supports to really achieve something long-lasting and for us as a company to give something back to the community in which we work.”

Maps of the orienteering and nature trail, together with details of suggested courses, etching sheets and notes for teachers/group leaders can be downloaded from the orienteering page on the SGC website. Information packs are also on sale at Bradley Stoke Library or from SGC on 01454 863592.

More photos of the launch event may be viewed in the BOK PicasaWeb Gallery [album; slideshow].