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).
FAQs
FAQs about the pylon work at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve
These are some of the questions which we have been asked about the pylon work taking place on the nature reserve.
We will answer questions to the best of our knowledge based on information we have received. However, for a definitive answer please contact the Hinkley Connection Team (HCT) directly at www.hinkleyconnection.co.uk. You can also read the latest briefings from HCT at the bottom of this page.
What will happen to our reserve when a temporary road is driven through it by the Hinkley work? Vital habitats will be destroyed for ever?
Answer: The Hinkley line is not going to destroy the reserve!The temporary road crosses the rough grazing fields, avoiding the pools and newt ponds. The most serious damage will be the removal of sections of hedgerows. These will be replaced, but will take some years to recover.
The work to replace the pylons and put in new lines will cause several years of disturbance and disruption, but the reserve will recover in the long term. There are lots of different threats to the future of the reserve and its wildlife, the Hinkley line is a temporary one and not as serious as many others.
At a meeting in the Folk Hall last year representatives from the Hinkley Point Connection Team addressed the public. They said that work would stop during the breeding season.
Answer: National Grid have been advised by Natural England that the biggest threat is to the wintering wildfowl, many of which are on the red and amber lists of birds under threat. They migrate to the reserve in the autumn and leave again in the spring. The Hinkley Connection Team have confirmed in writing that there will be no construction between September and April to minimise any effects on wintering birds.See Hinkley Connection Project at PWNR where other wildlife mitigation measures are outlined for Cetti’s Warblers, Barn Owls, Great Crested Newts, Water Voles and Bats.
What access to the reserve will the public have once work has started?
Answer: The public paths should remain open during the construction work. However, they might be temporarily closed for safety reasons when heavy machinery is being moved around the site.
However we have been advised that the car park at the Sheepway bridge will be closed until 2025. Please see the February 2020 Hinkley Connection briefing for more information about this.
There are low plastic fences at floor level in the fields, what are they for?
Related pages
Hinkley Connection Project at PWNR
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