Have you tried the Wetlands Trail yet?

It is a permanent trail which you can enjoy every time you visit the reserve.

This trail changes often!

The WINTER trail is now up but will be replaced at the end of March with the SUMMER trail.

Download a digital map / quiz to your mobile

You don’t need any technology to enjoy the Portishead Wetlands Trail but, if you wish, you can download a digital map / quiz to your phone to use during the trail.

Download Winter Trail Map

About the trail

There are 12 permanent posts in the Wetlands Trail. Eleven are installed by the key habitats on Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve and one post (No. 9) is on the Ecology Park. They tell you about each of the habitats and show you the creatures that you might see there.

Overview:

Wildlife is not always easy to see as it tends to hide itself away, especially as we get close. So the aim of the Portishead Wetlands Trail is to show you what creatures to look out for and where.

While some of our wildlife is resident all year, many species just visit us in summer or winter. So there will be two trails.

• Summer Wetlands Trail (displayed from April to September)
• Winter Wetlands Trail (displayed October to March)

Wetland Trail Panels

There are 24 habitat panels, comprising 12 summer and 12 winter panels, but that’s not all! The squares on each panel will be changed every month or so to give you more facts about the wildlife currently on the reserve. We currently have over 48 squares to share with you, from What am I? to How do birds keep warm?.

Wilbur the Water Vole

It is hard to see our endangered Water Voles. You might hear a plop as one dives underwater but, like most wildlife, they are good at hiding . . . but you might see a Wilbur? Wilbur is our Water Vole mascot. There are 12 metal Wilburs to find as you walk between the posts . . . can you spot them?

Click here to find out about our real-life water voles.

Portbury Wharf Reserve Bug House

We have included a Bug House as part of the nature trail. We hope this will increase both the summer nesting and winter hibernating opportunities for invertebrates on the reserve.

Over 75% of all animals on the planet are insects. They are hugely important for pollinating plants and as part of the food chain.

Unable to visit the reserve?

You can follow the trail even if you are unable to visit the reserve. Click here to see the winter panels.

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With thanks . . . 

This Wetlands Trail is created by the Friends of Portbury Wharf and funded by National Grid’s Community Fund. It is undertaken with the kind permission and support of North Somerset Council who own Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve.

So thank you to both National Grid and North Somerset Council for supporting the Friends with this project.