Contact us at
info@fpwnr.org
We are counting down to the first ever Portishead Salt Marshes Day in just over 2 weeks (Saturday 14 August). ![]()
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We have been working hard behind the scenes creating graphics to tell the fascinating story of salt marshes. ![]()
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Portbury Wharf salt marsh is crucial to the success of the nature reserve as wildlife moves freely between the two habitats.![]()
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We hope to see you there.
***WHARF LANE update***![]()
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The Hinkley Connection Team have now finished the work in Wharf Lane and it has now been reopened.
Save the date for the first ever Portishead Salt Marshes Day!![]()
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We are celebrating our two salt marshes at Portbury Wharf and Battery Point.![]()
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The Friends of Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve are organising this event in collaboration with Plover Rovers - Talking the Coast. ![]()
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Plover Rovers are a science communication charity focusing on bringing marine science and coastal communities together. ![]()
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We are also delighted that Curlew Action will be coming to talk about Saving the Curlew. Curlew Action are dedicated to raising the awareness of the decline of the Eurasian Curlew across the UK and Europe.On Saturday 14th August we will be celebrating our Salt Marshes with Portishead Salt Marshes Day. ![]()
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The event will take place alongside the path between Portishead Marina and Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve between 11.00am – 5.00pm.
You can find out more at www.portburywharfnaturereserve.co.uk/salt-marshes-day/![]()
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So put the date in your diary and come along and say hello.
Roe deer are frequently seen on the nature reserve but has anyone else seen muntjac deer here?Well i have been going to this Reserve for many a year but have never seen one of these chaps before . A muntjac deer walked less than 6 feet from the north pool hide and was in fact so close that my lens would not fit him all in . he bolted - needless to say - but is this a first?
Two Long-tailed Ducks were still present on the North Pool this morning, having been first spotted by Chris Clarke on Friday. ![]()
It is really unusual to see these birds this far south at this time of year - they should be busy nesting in Iceland or Scandinavia! ![]()
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They are a male and female in their first year, so they probably paired up on their breeding grounds, but failed or were too young to breed and so headed south rather earlier then normal.![]()
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My bridge camera was not up to the task of getting a decent shot (though it is recognisable!) when I was there on Friday, but perhaps some of the others who have been to see them might like to add some better photos!![]()
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Don't forget that if you want to visit the either the Tower hide or the North Pool hide to see them, the only access is from the sea wall at the moment.
Time to get your camera / phone out and celebrate what you love about Portishead . . . and there is plenty to love!Photo competition!![]()
For all you keen photographers out there, we would love to see your snaps - see details below.![]()
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PLEASE NOTE - The deadline for entries is now Extended until 30th June.![]()
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Thank you and good luck!![]()
Portishead Town Council
Yesterday we did our first Dragonfly survey of the year on the reserve. June is very late to be starting, but the weather in May was so bad that the dragonflies have just not been hatching out - preferring to stay safe and warm as larvae under water!![]()
The special find of the day was a rare migrant species last seen on the reserve two years ago, a Red-veined Darter. It was on the South Pool and we did wonder whether it had actually hatched here from eggs laid 2 years ago. Will there be more in the coming weeks?![]()
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Numbers are still low for the time of year, but our list included: Azure, Blue-tailed and Large Red Damselflies and for dragons: Hairy, 4-Spot Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser and singles of Emperor and Black-tailed Skimmer.![]()
Hopefully, given more warm weather, the numbers and variety will now start to pick up. What new species will we see this year?
***Important Notice***![]()
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From Monday 7th June Wharf Lane footpath will be closed for about 6 weeks. ![]()
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So you will not be able to reach the hides via Wharf Lane. This is due to the trenching work between the substation and the port land. See more details below.A reminder that the Wharf Lane footpath will be closed from Monday 7th June for six weeks. There will be no public access to the substation area of the reserve during this time due to the scale of the works and to keep everyone safe.![]()
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This next phase of National Grid works at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve will involve trenching across the rhyne and the path from the substation to the neighbouring port land.![]()
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The closure will also include the path around the substation (from Wren Gardens) and the end of the seasonal path. There will not be any through route across the nature reserve. Access to the North Pools hides, however, will remain from the old sea wall. The South Pools hide will be out of use during this time. All other paths around the site and Ecology Park will remain open, as will the Wharf Lane car park. See map below.![]()
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Apologies for any inconvenience this will cause.![]()
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The works are planned for six weeks but we’re working closely with Balfour Beatty and Weston Power Distribution and we’ll reopen the section sooner if we can.![]()
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This work has been coordinated so not to impact on school holidays wherever possible.![]()
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For more information about the works you can contact National Grid:![]()
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📧 hinkleyconnection@nationalgrid.com![]()
💻 www.hinkleyconnection.co.uk![]()
📞 0800 377 7347 (24 hour)![]()
✉ Freepost, H POINT CONNECTION
As well as this upsetting spectacle of a dog loose in the South Pool we have received more reports of dogs chasing the swans in the Ecology Park pools by Fennel Road and Robin Place. ![]()
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There is a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) here banning dogs from the water and breach of a PSPO is a criminal offence!![]()
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Please report any incidents you witness to the police on 101, and on-line via www.n-somerset.gov.uk/pspo (click on "Dog Control" and then "Report a Dog Related Issue" at the bottom of the Dog Control page).
Hinkley Connection Project
Hinkley Connection Project
You can also catch up with the the latest briefings here:
Hinkley Connection Update June 2021
This update relates to the footpath closure on Wharf Lane for 6 weeks between 7 June 2021 and 16 July 2021. Access to the North Pool hides remains open from the old sea wall along the salt marsh. Please… Read More
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Hinkley Connection Update November 2020
This update relates to the continuation of work at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve. This is a briefing we have received from the Community Relations Team of the National Grid Hinkley Connection Project. We are posting these briefings so… Read More
Hinkley Connection Update April 2020
This update relates to the continuation of work at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve and the extra safety measures being taken during the Covid-19 pandemic. This is a briefing we have received from the Community Relations Team of the… Read More
Hinkley Connection Update February 2020
This update relates to closures and restrictions at Sheepway. This is a briefing we have received from the Community Relations Team of the National Grid Hinkley Connection Project. We are posting these briefings so you are kept up… Read More
Hinkley Connection Update September 2019
This update relates to the measures being taken to protect the environment and ecology of the reserve. This is a briefing we have received from the Community Relations Team of the National Grid Hinkley Connection Project. We are… Read More
About the project
The Hinkley Connection Project is a new high-voltage electricity connection between Bridgwater and Seabank near Avonmouth. It is a significant investment in the region’s electricity network and will enable National Grid to connect new sources of power to homes and businesses.
The project will play a vital role in delivering electricity efficiently, reliably, and safely and will support the UK’s move to reduce carbon emissions.
There’s a lot to do. Over the next few years in the Portishead area, we’re installing an underground cable, building a new line of T-shaped pylons and, as a result of public feedback, removing the two existing lines of pylons.
Protecting the environment
National Grid is committed to protecting the natural environment and recognises the potential impacts our construction work could have. To reduce and mitigate these impacts, we’ve carried out extensive surveys and discussed the best ways to carry out the work with specialists from Natural England, Historic England, local authorities and many others.
National Grid and our contractor, Murphy & Sons Limited, have been carrying out surveys along the route of the underground cable which includes Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve.
Environmental and ecological mitigation work at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve
During 2018 and 2019, several ecological surveys have been carried out in the reserve, including those for bats, badgers, great crested newts and reptiles, otters, water voles, and birds.
National Grid is in the process of implementing schemes to reduce disruption to wildlife and animals at the reserve, which includes installing temporary newt exclusion fencing and other specialised methods as listed below.
Bats
There are several bat roosts within the nature reserve. To prevent any disturbance to the roosts close to where construction activity will take place, specialised buffer zones with soundproof barriers will be established. These buffer zones also act as an exclusion zone, preventing any activity or personnel being near the tree that contains the roost.
Badgers
No badger setts have been found within the construction area. As a precautionary measure, mitigation measures will be used to ensure badgers do not become trapped in any excavations or stockpiles during the construction period.
Great crested newts (GCN) and reptiles
There is a medium size population of great crested newts at the reserve. In preparation for starting construction, temporary newt exclusion fencing is being installed along the construction corridor within the reserve. This fencing is specially designed to keep protected species, such as newts, from entering the site. Any newts found will be translocated to a designated receptor site within the nature reserve. This translocation will last for a period of at least 60 days to ensure that the construction area does not contain any newts when construction starts.
Much of the nature reserve has potential to support reptiles, any reptiles found will be translocated, using the same method as used for the translocation of the great crested newts.
Read more at https://hinkleyconnection.co.uk/portbury-wharf-nature-reserve-installation-of-fencing/
Otters and water voles
No otters were recorded during the surveys, but water voles were found in two of the large ditches in the north and west of the reserve. These ditches will not be impacted by the construction works, but as a precaution, a buffer zone will be established to ensure the water voles are protected.
Friends note: while otters have been spotted visiting Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve there is not a resident population.
Birds
The nature reserve contains several species of Schedule 1 birds, including barn owls and Cetti’s warbler. The nesting sites of these species will be protected during construction by establishing specialised buffer zones.
The barn owl boxes will need to be temporarily removed during construction activity. They will be replaced at a ratio of 2:1 on completion of construction. Read about the new barn own boxes already installed by the Hinkley Connection Team at https://hinkleyconnection.co.uk/new-barn-owl-boxes-safeguard-nesting-sites-at-portbury-wharf-nature-reserve/.
To prevent disturbance to wintering birds, construction activities (excluding vegetation removal) at the reserve will be avoided during the period from September to April in each year.
Landscaping and reinstatement
Any vegetation removed (trees and hedgerows) during this work will be reinstated in its original location or as close to the route as possible (subject to landowner agreement) on completion of construction.
To help reduce the overall impact of the new connection and enhance local landscape and biodiversity, National Grid is running a scheme for landowners to host additional native tree and hedgerow planting. Further details can be found here on the Hinkley Connection Project website.
Construction of the underground cable
National Grid has appointed, Murphy & Sons Limited, to carry out this work.Over the next few months, Murphy’s will finalise the exact route, design and timetable for construction of the underground cable.
Ahead of construction starting in January 2020, National Grid will be inviting residents and businesses along the route to attend public drop-in events during autumn 2019.
Community Relations Team
National Grid Hinkley Connection Project
www.hinkleyconnection.co.uk.
See also:
Frequently Asked Questions