Nature in and around Nailsea

Near Bristol, in North Somerset, England

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The town of Nailsea (population about 20,000) grew from a small village in the 1980s. Many of the inhabitants work in the city of Bristol that is about 12km away. Although much of our countryside was used for building new houses, some areas are still relatively undisturbed and remain as havens for wildlife. At the time of development, many trees were planted in Nailsea and these are now enhancing the appearance of the Town. For an account of some of these trees click here Trees in Nailsea

Nailsea Environment & Wildlife Trust (NEWT, registered charity no 1132465) was formed in 2008 to purchase land with high wildlife value in the vicinity of Nailsea. In December 2009 the Trust acquired 6 acres of land at Moorend Spout with finance provided by YANSEC, the local distributors of the Landfill Communities Fund.

NEWT is now developing this site as a nature reserve and as a public amenity.

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Nailsea Wildlife Wardens are volunteers sponsored by North Somerset Council and by Nailsea Town Council who help to preserve and monitor

our native plants and animals.

North Somerset Tree Wardens The tree warden scheme helps people to look after their local trees and woods. It is run nationally by the Tree Council charity and co-ordinated locally in North Somerset by a management committee, which includes North Somerset Council’s tree officers. Tree wardens are volunteers who are passionate about trees, their local environment and local community. Tree wardens are supported by the committee, and will be provided with advice and guidance, information and training.

The in-filled quarry in the centre of Nailsea has been converted into a nature reserve with the installation of a pond and bird nesting boxes and by planting trees. This reserve is managed by the Friends of Stockway North Nature Reserve, a group set up in 1998 with financial support from the local Councils and the administrators of the landfill tax (Yansec).

Text Box: Towerhouse Wood, a site of semi-natural ancient woodland about 1 km to the north of Nailsea owned by The Woodland Trust is famous for its bluebells and veteran oak trees. Unfortunately, the wood is being invaded by a variety of alien trees and shrubs that could overwhelm our native plants if they are not controlled. Removal of these is one of the tasks that is undertaken by the Friends of Towerhouse Wood.

Join the Friends of Towerhouse Wood

email t.a.smith@blueyonder.co.uk

to receive an e-newsletter with information about events there.

There is no subscription.

For more information on the Friends of Towerhouse Wood, click here.

Information on the wildlife and other aspects of the environment around Nailsea.

Click on the headings below to access further information.

‘Trees in and around Nailsea’

by Terry Smith

– Price £5

The book ‘Trees in and around Nailsea’, printed with financial assistance from Nailsea Town Council, describes some of the important trees in our neighbourhood, with historic and contemporary photographs, most in full colour. This 52 page book also has national grid references to guide those interested in locating these trees. The author, who established the nature reserve at Stockway North in 1996 and at Moorend Spout in 2008, has also written a book entitled ‘The Natural History of Nailsea’.

These books may be purchased from ‘Nailsea Bookshop’ in the High Street, from ‘Let’s Walk’ in Colliers Walk, Nailsea Town Council, (now located in the Tithe Barn close to Holy Trinity Church), and from Terry Smith (tel. 01275 854317; t.a.smith@blueyonder.co.uk).

The English Oak