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).
Portbury Wharf Plants
Wild Flowers, Plants and Trees
Portbury Wharf plants can be stunningly beautiful. They are also vital to the ecosystem being an important source of food and shelter for all sorts of wildlife.
At Portbury Wharf wild flowers grow around the ponds and along the banks of the rhynes and there is a flower meadow in the Sanctuary. As it is a predominantly wetland habitat, plants that prefer this sort of environment thrive here. Though don’t overlook the hedgerows which are home to many pollen and berry producing trees and plants. Where you see flowers and berries you may also see wildlife, so look closely.
This is just the beginning of a list of Portbury Wharf Plants. So we will keep adding to this page to build up a comprehensive list of the plants here.Page updated 4 October 2019
Berries Nov-Apr
Ivy (Hedera Helix) an evergreen ecosystem
This is a very important plant for wildlife providing shelter and food in autumn and winter!
Ivy is so important it has its own page . . .read more
Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
Ox-eye daisy or Moon Daisy is a familiar and attractive grassland perennial. It grows up to 60 cm and has large white flowers from June. It is our largest native member of the daisy family and thought to be the origin of the children’s petal-pulling game “loves me, loves me not”.
A mature plant can produce up to 26,000 seeds which can remain viable for many years. So it has the ability to spread relatively easily and as a result is considered invasive in more than 40 countries.
Reference and further reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucanthemum_vulgare
Dog Rose (Rosa canina)
Look out for the bright red rose hips in the autumn hedgerows. They are the seed pods of the wild Dog-rose. It has sweetly scented pink or white flowers that appear in June and July with rose hips ripening in autumn.
Reference and further reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_canina
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Height 20cm to 1m. Flowers have strong sweet scent. Food source for many beneficial insects. Attracts predatory insects such as ladybirds and hover flies which eat pests, so used as a companion plant. Birds such as starlings line their nests with yarrow. So all in all a great plant for wildlife.
Reference and further reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achillea_millefolium