WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Description

Approximately 17 Ha in area (if including Wellington Playing Field), Horfield Common is one of the most popular public green spaces in Bristol and is part of one of the highest elevations in the City; at its highest point (top of Kelleway Ave) being about 87 m above sea level. It is a very exposed hilly site and consists of mainly large expanses of short grass with lines of free standing trees (typical parkland) but great effort is currently under way to improve it for wildlife by managing different areas on different cutting regimes. Habitats include: grassland, meadows, scrub, copses, hedgerows, ponds/ditches, cultivated/garden (Ardargh) along with many micro habitats such as rotting logs, stumps etc.

The name Horfield derives from Nordic 'Hor' - which roughly translates to muddy; referring to a useless field in which nothing can be cultivated. This is a very accurate description as up until the turn of the 20th century, the area would have been marshy wet pasture with a series of ponds scattered throughout. The soil type is loamy clay which after digging to a depth of about 20 cm hits thick solid yellow clay. As a result of its 'unworkable state,' the land was instead used for grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, pigs and geese. Per farm, one horse, or two cows, or three yearlings (1 - 2 years old) were allowed to graze the land (at its peak as many as '54 yearling beasts' may have been grazed on the Common) which was surrounded by 7 farm houses. Remnants of the past still remain today. At the beginning of the 1900s shortly after many of the houses were built, the land was converted into public fields by digging a series of drainage systems.

Although (currently) largely biodiversity poor being constantly disturbed by the activity of humans in particular dog walkers! Some quite special wildlife manages to make frequent appearances such as Sparrowhawks - often seen using the wall running across the length of the Common for cover when hunting. Very occasionally Peregrine Falcons may fly over and have even been known to land. Two species of Bat are commonly seen (Common and Soprano Pipistrelle's) along with most garden birds such as Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robins, House Sparrows etc. In the Summer, Swifts can be seen darting around in the sky, feeding on insects (especially flying Ants). The large quantity of free standing trees - mainly Common Lime and other standing objects such as benches, has led to a good variety of Lichen, Moss and Fungi species. The most biodiverse area on Horfield Common is the cemetery/churchyard around Horfield St Trinity Parish Church (which is over 600 years old. The first evidence points that the site may have been in use for ceremonial reasons since the year 637) as it is wild and less touched by the public but with new management in place to improve the Common for wildlife elsewhere, this is looking to change.

Useful Links:

History of Horfield Common