Charlcombe Community Nature Group
Brief Description of Organisation
Conservation, protection and improvement of Charlcombe Community Nature Reserve which we run in partnership with BANES council, which owns the land. We work following the advice of ecologists and hold regular volunteering sessions on the reserve. We are committed to involving local people.
Full Description of Organisation
Since 2024, a group of local residents have been working to improve former grazing land in Charlcombe Valley into a new community-run wildlife site, including a species-rich meadow and fragments of ancient woodland. The 16-acre reserve has footpaths that take visitors through beautiful fields, streams and woodland.
The UK is now one of the most nature depleted countries on the planet and many species that we once took for granted are in trouble. This new reserve — the size of eight football pitches — gives local residents the chance to connect with and protect this incredible natural space.
In the first year the focus has been on:
Improving access to the reserve by replacing a stile with a new kissing gate and installing new steps to improve access for walkers through the woodland area.
Holding volunteer sessions to help with nature recovery, including bramble bashing ahead of some mixed scrub planting, coppicing to help let the light in for woodland plants and flowers, and clearing of barbed wire.
Running citizen science projects - such as butterfly, bird and reptile surveys to identify and record species in the reserve.
Hosting walks for local residents, such as the Festival of Nature and the Bathscape Walking Festival.
Leading 'Noticing walks' for local families to celebrate the reserve's beautiful landscape.
our Land Management Plan 2025 to 2030 is available on our website.
Charlcombe Community Nature Group
Brief Description of Organisation
Conservation, protection and improvement of Charlcombe Community Nature Reserve which we run in partnership with BANES council, which owns the land. We work following the advice of ecologists and hold regular volunteering sessions on the reserve. We are committed to involving local people.