Contact us at
info@fpwnr.org
Look out for these when you next take a walk on the reserve.![]()
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This fibrous growth is usually found on wild roses like the Dog Rose. It is easy to spot, especially in autumn when it matures and turns red.![]()
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It is a hard, woody structure with an outer covering of soft moss-like leaves. It is called a gall and is the winter home of the larvae of a tiny gall wasp, Dipoloepis rosae.![]()
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In the summer the adult gall wasp lays eggs in a developing rosebud, stem or leaf. When the larvae hatch they secrete chemicals which cause abnormal growth creating multiple chambers and food for the larvae.They will winter inside the gall and emerge as fully grown adult gall wasps in spring. The galls are not harmful to the rose.![]()
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It is not just the Dog Rose which offers this “insect overwintering” service. There are more than 900 insects that form plant galls from wasps and beetles to flies and mites. Look hard and you will find other galls on the nature reserve such as the Silk Button Spangle Gall, Apple Gall, Knopper Gall and Marble Gall which are often found on Oak Trees.![]()
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However, this red-breasted, rose gall is one of the most distinctive and comes with a lovely descriptive name . . . the Robin’s Pincushion Gall.
Been monitoring rainfall etc for 11 years now and never seen such a high rainfall forecast. In old money it’s about and inch and a half - today.
The brazen sun of summer has started to fade from our skies; to become more gentle, more polished, more subtle. Its work in the fields and hedgerows is largely accomplished for the year, the joy and frivolity of wildflowers have passed to leave so many different forms of bounty for the winter ahead. Some will be gone in a trice, whilst others, like hawthorns, and rose hips, will last deep into the hungry months of winter to welcome and nourish our returning fieldfares and redwings from Scandinavia. Goldfinch will gorge themselves on thistledown and the seeds of greater napp weed. Warblers and their fellow travellers from way up in the north will stock up for the journey down to France then onward to northern sub-Saharan Africa. Blackbirds are busy stuffing themselves full of blackberries and service berries whilst they jealously guard their own patch of berries from interlopers. Even so, foxes, badgers and deer will also be foraging the brambles and even the most bombastic blackbird can do little to fend them off!![]()
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Autumn is a season of change. Our wildlife knows deep in their bones and DNA that winter is coming and now, more than at any other time, they are planning ahead, readying, preparing themselves for cold nights when even if they roost together, the outliers may still perish. Winter is a time of challenge and reckoning for wildlife around the world, and it is only the canny ones who make it through to spring. Nature still operates on the principle of survival of the fittest.![]()
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So, it will come as no surprise for you to realise that today I have been investigating the hedgerows for fruits and seeds, and there really is a huge variety out there. Have a look when next you walk across our wonderful wild spaces. Summer maybe over, but the highlights of autumn and winter can rival anything seen in the summer.
Sometimes wildlife can be easy to spot but not always . . .This Little Egret is fast becoming a regular in Portishead Hole. Its white plumage makes it easy to spot on the mud but look closely and you will see something else too! A very special bird with a beautiful call, long legs, a curved beak and plumage which blends it into the background . . . a Curlew.
Huge contrast between todays and yesterday's weather! We had a wonderful walk down to the Lake Grounds Yesterday, but got rained off after only two holes of golf today! BTW, I have named the egret Hilary as that was who first spotted it on the reserve a few days ago. Nature's bounty is everywhere as our resident bird population fatten up for the winter ahead.
The ivy flowers are buzzing with pollinators at this time of year. Look out for them on your next walk and count how many different bees, hoverflies, wasps and other insects you see. I lost count! If you get lucky you might even see butterflies feeding on the ivy nectar too.
Plenty of activity in Portishead Hole, just outside the lock gates . . . I lost count at over 70 Redshank. Always a great sight at this time of year, but they weren't alone . . . a Little Egret came along too.![]()
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Keep an eye out for them on the North Pools, especially at high tide when the salt marsh and mud banks are underwater and they are looking for somewhere to rest up.
You never know who might be out and about on the reserve . . . like this roe deer having a gander at the visitors.![]()
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A young Marsh Harrier was spotted by the South Pool last weekend too, so keep your eyes peeled and let us know what you see.
It's the beginning of July and I have just been down to the Seawall notice board to change the Dog Ranger of the Month Poster. This month Patch is on duty! Whilst I was down there I could hear curlew trilling out on the Portishead Salt Marshes. I think this is one of the most evocative sounds I have ever heard. Have a listen next time you are along the sea front. Haunting isn't in it!![]()
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We are always looking to recruit more Dog Rangers; the duties aren't exactly demanding and we welcome local dogs who may not even walk on the Salt Marsh and Reserve. I have attached this month's poster. You will see a QR Code that will take you to our sign on page - come and join us!
Nature Reserve
Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve
This is a 150 acre nature reserve on the edge of the Severn Estuary between Portishead and Royal Portbury Dock. It was in 2008 that Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve was first conceived to offset the impact of building 2500 new houses in Portishead.
Who owns the reserve?
The nature reserve is owned by Persimmon Homes and managed by North Somerset Council. However the Council plans to take ownership of the reserve in the long term.
Why is it so important?
Nestled between housing on one side and industry on the other it is a crucial green buffer. It gives people access to green spaces and provides a vital haven for wildlife.
It is also a safe route for wildlife moving between the Severn Estuary and the important reserves of the Gordano Valley.
Some of the species here are of great conservation concern as nationally numbers are falling. So it is important to safeguard and encourage these species. We can help through careful land management but also by allowing wildlife to feed and rest undisturbed.
Why is the reserve so attractive to wildlife?
It is the ponds and wet ditches that make this reserve so varied. They attract wildfowl and are home to water voles, great crested newts, dragonflies and more. The rough pastures are perfect hunting grounds for owls and birds of prey. The hedgerows and scrubby woodland provide food and nesting sites for birds and mammals. The wildflower meadow is a haven for butterflies and other insects.
A salt marsh lies next to the nature reserve. Although not part of the nature reserve, it is a place where birds and mammals feed and rest. So it is very important both for the wildlife and for the success of the reserve. It is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). You can read more about it on our Portbury Wharf Salt Marsh page.
These varied habitats makes this a species rich area. Spoonbills, bitterns and other rarities have even been recorded here from time to time.
To see more about the wildlife go Wildlife.
Why is the reserve so attractive to people?
If you are a wildlife lover, the answer is obvious. You can watch wildlife from the relative comfort of the 3 wooden hides overlook the larger ponds. One of these, the Tower Hide also has terrific views across the Severn Estuary to the Welsh hills.
As the paths are flat and easy to walk, jog or cycle along, it is enormously popular and family-friendly. It is free and open to people 24/7. Green areas like this are beneficial in many ways, not least to our health and well being. So it is a great amenity, especially for those lucky enough to live on its doorstep.
To see a map and visitor stuff go Visitor Info.