WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Description

Westbury Wildlife Park is an area of about 4.85 Ha (12 acres) in size, comprised of woodland, stream, ponds, rock-face, old walls, grassland, meadow, scrub and cultivated land. It was cordoned off from the public after an animal sanctuary closed down in the 1980s. It is now being turned into a space for the local community / nature reserve.

The area is within a land dip with part of the location replicating a ravine and because of this, has a unique micro climate that is far from that of the surrounding area. At the lowest point conditions stay fairly constant all year round. Following the stream the site is extremely damp and humid; Perfect conditions for the many species of non-flowering plant inhabitants i.e. Ferns, Mosses and Liverworts. Whereas on the more treeless slopes and high ground, conditions are more variable; being sunny, warm and baked in the summer and cold, wet and windy in the winter. These varied sites with different levels of exposure and climatic conditions are what allows for the diverse range of wildlife to be seen here.

Some rarities and scarcities I've discovered here include:

• Wild service Tree (Only 1 individual)
• Ivy Broomrape (nationally scarce)
• Maiden Hair Fern (most definitely naturalised as a garden escape)
• Bloxam's Bramble (Rubus bloxamii) Regionally rare
• Round-mouthed Snail (on the red list)
• Cricket-bat Orb Weaver Spider (nationally rare).