Frome Banks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frome Banks |
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Example – tree creeper (Certhia familiaris)
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| Type | Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust nature reserve |
| Location | between River Frome and Stroud by-pass |
| Area | 3.2 acres (1.3 ha) |
| Created | 1990 |
| Operated by | Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Gloucestershire County Council and private owner |
| Status | Open all year |
Frome Banks is a special nature reserve in Gloucestershire, covering about 1.3 hectares (that's like 3 football fields!). It's a place where nature is protected and can thrive.
This reserve is looked after by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, working with the Gloucestershire County Council and a private owner. It was set up in 1990 and also works with the Stroud Valleys Project to keep it amazing.
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Where is Frome Banks?
Frome Banks is a long, thin piece of land. It sits right between the River Frome and the main road (the Stroud by-pass). This by-pass is on the south side of the town of Stroud.
Stroud is located near the beautiful Cotswold Hills. This whole area is known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which means it's a really special landscape. You can get to Frome Banks from the A419 road in Stroud, between the Wallbridge and Waitrose roundabouts.
A Special Woodland Habitat
This reserve is a riverside woodland. A big part of it actually grew over an old rubbish tip! But don't worry, the land was cleaned up, and any dangerous materials were removed before nature took over.
There are public footpaths at both ends of this long reserve. These paths connect to another path that you are allowed to use. On the other side of the river are Rodborough Fields, and you can link up paths there for longer walks.
Plants You Can Find
The woodland at Frome Banks is mostly made up of ash and sycamore trees. You can also find hazel, field maple, hawthorn, holly, guelder-rose, pedunculate oak, goat willow, and beech trees.
Along the river's edge, you'll see alder and crack willow trees. There are also bushes of different kinds, including cherry laurel.
Beautiful Flowers and Ferns
Frome Banks has many lovely flowers. Look out for sanicle, common dog-violet, ramsons, and ferns like hart's tongue. In the more open areas, you might spot plants such as common valerian, great willowherb, meadowsweet, and Pendulous sedge.
Near the river and in wet spots, you'll find marsh-marigold, water mint, purple-loosestrife, and yellow iris. If you look into the river itself, you might even see water-crowfoot growing!
Birds of Frome Banks
This reserve is a great home for many woodland birds. You might see a treecreeper climbing up trees, or a long-tailed tit flitting through the branches. Other birds here include nuthatch, wren, and chaffinch.
Birds that love the river also visit Frome Banks. Keep an eye out for a dipper bobbing in the water, a flash of blue from a kingfisher, or a grey wagtail wagging its tail. You might also spot moorhen and mallard ducks enjoying the river.
Protecting Frome Banks
Frome Banks was made into a special part of Stroud's "green heritage" thanks to a lot of hard work. Groups like Gloucestershire Wildlife Management, the Stroud Valleys Project, and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) helped to create it. Before their work, this area was hard to get to.
Now, regular maintenance is needed to keep the pathways clear for visitors. They also remove any tree branches that block too much sunlight, making sure that the smaller plants on the ground can grow well.
