Sweet violets are scented. The flowers are normally violet or white. These white violets were photographed in Baodck's Wood recently.
They provide nectar for early emerging butterflies.
Coronavirus Covid-19 and
visiting Badock's Wood
Please check latest government guidance on Covid-19 and on self isolating
but this applies to well people who are social distancing as at 20th March 2020
For some people who are staying home to stay well, a walk in Badock's Wood will be their only opportunity to get out into the fresh air and get some exercise.
Please remember to follow guidelines for social distancing.
Keep 2 metres away from others - even your best mate if you see them
If you see someone you know smile, wave, chat - but keep that distance
If you need to walk past someone - maintain that distance
You still need a tissue if you are coughing or sneezing - and yes hayfever season is starting for some
If the bins are full - don't assume they will be emptied as staff may be unwell - take your dog poo and tissues etc home to your own rubbish bin
Please be extra careful to control your dog as there may be more vulnerable people walking alone
Virtual Badock's Wood
If you are self isolating or staying at home to keep well and you can't get out for a walk, you will probably be missing your walks in Badock's Wood
So if you follow the link below to the media page on our website we have just added our Spring Walk slideshow accompanied by birdsong recorded in Badock's Wood on Monday afternoon (16th March 2020) http://www.fobw.org.uk/media.php There are other photo albums, videos etc on that page of the website.
If you are watching the videos don't forget to have the sound turned on!
Enjoy!
Friends of Badock's Wood AGM and talk by Alan Aburrow on 24th March POSTPONED
AGM & Climate and Ecological Emergency Resolution
Please read this and vote using the link below.
We have decided it is best to postpone the AGM as the advice regarding meetings and gatherings is to postpone or cancel.
We may have postponed the AGM but we are still in a Climate and Ecological Emergency.
Our AGM was due to vote on the following resolution:
Recognising and Responding to the Climate and Ecological Emergency Resolution:
That the Friends of Badock’s Wood recognises that there is a Climate and Ecological Emergency. The Friends group welcomes the declaration by Bristol and the publication of the One City Climate Strategy and resolves to take action through the group’s activities to respond to these emergencies.
Background to this resolution is on the agenda on our website and also see links below regarding these emergencies.
As this is an emergency and we don't know when we will be able to hold our rearranged meeting you can vote on the resolution through this Survey Monkey link and, if you would like to, you can also sign up to get involved in a small task group to look at the strategies and reflect on them in relation to our group and the things that we do.
The FOBW Annual Report and Accounts for 2019/20 will be up on the website soon and you are very welcome to contact us by replying to this e-news with any queries you may have.
Our Badock's Bird Day - part of the Festival of Learning - on Saturday 4th April is CANCELLED. We hope to run the events in the Autumn instead and will let people know the dates when we are in a position to rearrange them.
Meanwhile don't forget there are lots of online options for learning about birds. Roger - our Bird Group Leader - recommends the British Trust for Ornithology - BTO - website. If you are walking in the wood with your smartphone you might like to use one of the many apps out there to help you identify trees, flowers, butterflies, invertebrates as well as birds.
Climate and Ecological Emergency
We all know the impacts of the Climate Emergency and whilst we may not all be surrounded by devastating flood waters most of you will certainly have experienced weather changes. Wetter and windier weather in winter and hotter summers are becoming more frequent. Bees and other pollinators are struggling. A mismatch between, for example, fruit trees blossoming (often earlier now) and their pollinators not being present, is just one example. Studies of car windscreens and the lack of insects "splatted" on them in recent years and lack of hedgehogs on the roadside are ways that we have all been able to tell that wildlife is in crisis in many cases.
In November 2018 Bristol City Council declared a Climate Emergency and on 26 February 2020 the One City Environmental Sustainability Board published the One City Climate Strategy - https://www.bristolonecity.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/one-city-climate-strategy.pdf
In February 2020 the Bristol Mayor declared an Ecological Emergency and the Bristol Green Capital Partnership, of which Friends of Badock’s Wood is a member, responded by asking members to recognise and respond to these emergencies. https://bristolgreencapital.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BGCP-ecological-emergency_4-Feb-2020.pdf
We will be considering how we should recognise and respond to this twin emergency and review our work at the Friends of Badock's Wood AGM. Individuals can also take their own actions and the websites have information and advice for everyone.
Wessex Water River Rangers Project BE A POLLUTION SPOTTER Phone 0345 600 4 600 straightaway if you see pollution in rivers locally.
Wessex Water had been planning to come to our AGM to talk about their River Rangers project but as we have postponed it, they sent me a brief note about it instead and plan to attend the meeting when it is rearranged.
Their volunteer river rangers project is managed by a part time project officer. It aims to maintain the water quality in our watercourses / river ways to a high standard and enable the early detection of potentially damaging pollution incidents.
To do this, Wessex Water has told us that they want to build strong relationships with local environment groups who share an interest and concern for the environment like they do. Pollution incidents are the highest priority for their sewerage team and they aim to attend within 2 hours of notification. However, the sooner they are notified of an incident the quicker their team can attend to try to stop or reduce the impact to the watercourse, if it is due to the sewerage network. So Wessex Water would like to encourage local volunteer rangers to be their eyes on the ground and report incidents of pollution straightaway to our main operations number on 0345 600 4 600.
Frances Robertson, Secretary of Friends of Badock's Wood said, "People often send me photos of the pollution in the river by email which I do pass on and Wessex Water do attend but it would be much quicker to contact them direct. Why not adopt a section of one of the rivers in the wood and get to know what it looks like when the flow is low, or when it's been raining and it's full of water. Get a feel for what it should look like when it's clean. Then you will be able to tell more easily if you think there is something in the water that shouldn't be there!"
Please report problems in the wood such as
overflowing litter bins, fallen trees, blocked paths etc to
Bristol City Council through their online reporting system at:www.bristol.gov.uk/reportparkproblem
River pollution should be reported to the Wessex Water by calling 0345 600 4 600 and providing them with a location and description.
Donations
Just to let you know....
We don't currently charge for membership of the Friends, but do welcome donations towards our costs. Most of our walks leaders are kind enough to offer their time free but we also have to pay for room hire, leaflets, posters, etc and we also make some donations to organisations whose members kindly lead walks. Where we have to pay for room hire, walks leaders, etc., we do ask that attendees make a donation.
You can donate at most of our events and walks - there is usually a collecting jar - alternatively if you would like to make a one off or regular donation to the group please reply to this email and we will let you have the address / bank details. Thank you.
For more information or to contact us about the Friends of Badock's Wood you can visit our website - www.fobw.org.uk
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