WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Description

Bristol's most popular recreational ground. It is home to one of the rarest habitats on earth: chalk / limestone downland. Its condition is extremely poor due to over wellming numbers of people in particular Dog Walkers and party going gangs of people of which during lock down I have seen completely smother the area, numbering in groups of well over 100! Despite the Downs overall poor condition, some isolated pockets are still something to be prised at. Mainly around the Circular Road area where Common Spotted Orchids have a strong locality perhaps numbering over 500 plants. Southern Marsh Orchid has been recorded here in the recent past along with the Hybrid which still occurs is small numbers. Later in the Season, Autumn Lady's-tresses - the last orchid to flower in the year survives in pockets. A once numerous species throughout the Downs, its numbers have crashed.