Nature reserves in Nailsea

[1] Moorend Spout [2] lies on six acres of land between Tickenham and Nailsea (ST466715), which was purchased in 2009 with a grant provided by the Landfill Communities Fund.

Stockway North Nature Reserve [7] is in the 19th century Pennant Sandstone quarries behind the Garden of Rest and occupy about 0.75 acres in the centre of Nailsea (ST472708).

After being filled with domestic refuse in the early 20th century, these were neglected, and with natural regeneration it was occupied by local wildlife.

With financial assistance from Nailsea Town Council and North Somerset Council, a group – The Friends of Stockway North Nature Reserve – was formed in 1998 to manage this land, involving the community in a project to encourage the wildlife, to raise awareness of the public to the natural environment, as a teaching resource for schools, and as an extension to the adjacent Garden of Rest.

They are home to many rare species, including the Hazel Dormouse, Greater Horseshoe Bat and the Yellow Birds-nest plant (Monotropa hypopitys).

They also have some fascinating archaeology dating back over 5000 years with an adjacent Neolithic human burial cave, a 14th-century rabbit warren and cottage, 17th-century lead mines and a 19th-century limekiln.

A group, The Friends of Trendlewood Park, has now been established to restore the wood, the surrounding parkland and meadows and to encourage the wildlife.

The female Glow Worm (Lampyris noctiluca) may be seen on a warm June night in the area close to the house at Tyntesfield.

A large variety of wild animals are found in the wood, now including dormice, rabbits, roe deer, badgers, grey squirrels, and five species of bat.

Scrub and trees that normally cover roadsides are kept in check, and this management has produced a site that has now been officially designated as a Local Nature Reserve.